v 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



-OP"- 



D A M 







COUMTY, 



Containing Biograpljicnl 6kctcl)cs of |3ioncci5 anb ficabing vEiti^cns. 



'Biography is i. only true history." ■■Emeri'nn. 



%\ 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW PUBLISHING CO. 
1893. 



/ 



f 






? 




Cv=^ 




PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Geiirge VVasliingtou (! 

John Adams 14 

Thmnas .Ietfei-s(ui 20 

James Madison ~9 

James Monroe -^3 

Jolin Quinc)' Adams 38 

Andrew Jackson 47 

Martin Van Buren 53 

William Henry Harrison 56 

Jobn Tyler 60 

James K. Polk 64 

Zaubary Taylor 68 



Millanl Fillmore 13 

Franklin Pierce — 76 

James I!nchanan 80 

Aliialiara Lincoln 84 

Andrew Jolmson 93 

Ulysses S. Grant 96 

U.IS Hayes 103 

J. A. Garfield 1U9 

Chester A. Arthur 113 

Grover Cleveland 117 

Lienjamin Harrison 130 







-i.v- 0^^ 



HIOGl^APHIGAL SI^ErnGHES. 



A 

AbboU, C. K ;{11 

AdaiTia, C. ' : 247 

Adams, II. C H78 

Adrnns, liewis li ;i07 

AiiiHWorlh, Mrs. .1. W 128 

Alloi-d, JjiliHs 524 

Aliiie, 11. () 512 

Anderson, Miitlliew 540 

Andei-Kiin, N 217 

Aniierson, K. H 443 

Angell, W. II 168 

Ariiuis, Charles 541 

Alkins, Tlinmas 554 

Atkinson, \V. H 175 

Alwood, |)Hvid 365 

B 

Babcock, I). I. 268 

Habcock, S. i\I 201 

Haoon, ICliza 314 

Baker, , I. V 483 

Baker, Otis 555 

Baldwin, P 384 

Bancioft, II V 343 

Barlsrh, A. W 134 

Biisbfonl. K. M 221 

'Beat tie, 'riionias 172 

Becblel, Daniel 324 

Beck. J. L 338 

Beebo, II. H 166 

Bell, Alinon 402 

Bennett, Eijbert 5.53 

Benson, W. B 470 

Bernard, ( 'barles 456 

Bird, A. A 241 

Bird, (J. W 270 

Bird, Ira W 418 

Binl, Kale |{ 41!) 

Birrenkott, A 337 

Blake, James 438 

Blanchard, (\ S 405 

Bonner, James 2'28 

Bowman, J. A 559 

Boyee, A. A 356 

Boyre, L. L 331 

Hoyce, Keulien 362 

Brereton, A. J ... 525 

Brown, A. S 180 

Brown, O. F 321 

Brown, 1>. S 535 

Brown, Timotby 317 

Bryant, I). I) 4!)8 

Bryant, <i. K 534 

Bull, .Storm 16U 

Bunker, George 236 

Bunn, U 252 

Busbv. Jolin 523 

Bushuell. A. 11 472 

Butler, J. D 387 



(' 

( 'ariMori. .1. (' W.) 

(larpenier, J. II 407 

Cassoday, J. B 2li.") 

Chandler, J. C 3';!t 

(Chandler, L. S 5:14 

Chandler, W. II 188 

Chapin, T. I' ,518 

Cholvin, S 433 

Chirke, B. B 435 

Cleveland, Benj 533 

(Meland, VV. A 330 

Comstock. (1. C 251 

(."omstock, (;. |j 561 

('onklin, James 232 

(-'onover, l'\ K 1!)1 

(lonover, (). iM 567 

Conradson, C M 56'.l 

Cooley, Charles 44 1 

Coon, II. C ,540 

Corscot, J. II 415 

(.'ory, .lohn 4;il 

(Jrabtree, J. (! ITi'J 

(Iraif;-, .1. A 4i)ll 

Crocker, Ilollis 'Ml 

Croi'ker, W. W 1!H 

Currier, G. W 54;t 

I) 

Daniells, W. VV 542 

Davidson, Thomas HI 

De Bower, Gerl .idO 

De Bower, .Simeon. . 461 

Delaney, .lohn (){'.) 

Denison, W. 11 5!I3 

De Vail, Solon 153 

Delaplaine, G. I' 283 

Dick, W. M 487 

Doan, N. K .')'.i4 

DodLje, J. \V 508 

Dod^e, 11. G 563 

Dod^e, McC 5(;i 

Dolim, John 27!( 

Dolir, .lames 562 

Dorn, Frank M ..., 230 

Doty, K. F 633 

Downey, Patrick , 572 

Doyle, Michael A 351 

Doyon, M. K 263 

Dudley, John 148 

Dufrenne. Fred VV 218 

Durkee, George 107 

Durrie, I). S .573 

Dwight, F. VV 552 

F 

Edwards, Gunder 572 

Finlimy, F 327 

Elb'slad, N. J 486 



Fllis, (Claudius 173 

Fiver, Charles 543 

Fly, Kichard T 211 

Frdall, .1. L ."jUS 

F'lser, .lacob 020 

Fsser, Mathia,s ,')(;f; 

Estes, A. G 36;j 

F.stes, J, M ;i5<) 

ICvans, N, C rAit 

Everill, T. A 500 

F 

Fajrg, i'eter 3<jy 

Fail-child, L 373 

Falk, (). N 170 

Farness, O. II 309 

Farnsworlh, VV. II 504 

Favill, II B .-,31 

Fehlandt, Carl 410 

Fehlandt, II, F, VV 425 

Fe,s,s, (i, F 467 

Feiilini;, .M 420 

Field, Samuel 632 

Find lay, A 244 

Finger, Joseph 341 

Fischer, William 383 

Fish, VV. 'I' 254 

Fisher, J. 10 270 

Filch, Denning 428 

Filzgibbon, VV, A 325 

Flower, (Calvin 395 

Ford, (;, F 449 

Forcsman, CM 232 

Foresmun, \V. M 218 

Fox, O. II 140 

Francis, G. L 392 

Fraiuds, Judson 237 

Frankenburger, D, B 636 

Frary, J, S 281 

Fredrickson, Nils 501 

Freeman, J, C 509 

French, .\I, B 150 

Froggalt, John 490 

Frost, K. D 145 

O 

Galhigher, .1 576 

Gammons, Warren 210 

Garlon, A, (; 300 

Gay, .VI. II 382 

(Jerard, E. II 208 

Giles, Hiram II 417 

Gill, VV. VV 250 

Gillelt,Kobert 579 

Gillies, James 507 

Goddard, W. K 130 

Graves, 8. W 280 

Green, J. W - 28t) 



CONTENTS 



Green, JI. M 133 

Greenmaii, J. W 459 

Gregory, C. N 406 

Gross, Frank 139 

GroTe, H 249 

Gunzolas, M. V 432 

Gurnee, J. D «2S 

Gurnee, S. O. Y 5S0 

H 

Haight, N 344 

Hall, Charles 577 

Hanson, H. D 18G 

Harnden, Henry 255 

Harrington, C. F (i04 

Harmon, G. F 422 

Haseltine, O. B 427 

Hastings, S. D 410 

Hawley, Samuel - 3'Jl 

Hayes, J. D G04 

Heath, E. H 581 

Heim, J. B 425 

Jlemsing. H. O 582 

Heuser, Justus 582 

Hibbard, J. M 202 

Hicks, J. B 583 

Hidden, W. S 132 

Higham, Samuel 260 

lliigers, VV 597 

Hoobins, Joseph 530 

Hobbs, Wni. H 513 

Hoff, Andrew 554 

Hogbin. Wm 385 

Hoven, M.J 597 

Howie, John 457 

Hoyt, L. W 292 

Hudson, Charles 355 

Hudson, J. W r.21 

Humphrey, D 290 

Ilurd, Philetus 138 

I 

Isham, Chancy 588' 

I verson, M 432 



Jackson, Kbenezer 337 

Jackson, Edson B 315 

Jeirefson, B 401 

Jenks, Arthur \V 481 

Jenks, iMrs. L. J 482 

Johnson, CD 471 v 

Johnson, c. T r^■■^^ 

Johnson. J. A 439 

Johnson, J. C 434 ^ 

Johnson, Julius 330 y 

Johnson. Nels P 475 

.lohnsi on, George 657 

Jones, Burr W 285 

•Jones, 1'. J 485 



Kenlzler, A 521 

Kerr, Alex 404 

Kerr, J. B 430 

Keyes, E. W 295 



King, P. H 346 

King, J. T 589 

Kingsley, G. P 493 

Kittilsen, Levi 482 

Klubertanz, J. T 217 

Klueter, H 584 

Knox, P. B 575 

Krehl, Fred 358 

Knigh, P. G 328 

Kuehne, A. J 506 

L 

Ladd, E. E 340 

La Follette, K. jM 575 

Lamont, T. G 197 

Lansing, A. E 585 

Lappley, John 191 

Leary, J. W 4(14 

Lee, J. I) 450 

Lewis, Henry M 394 

Lewis, L. H 586 

Libliy, S. D 591 

Lindley, J. S 592 

Linley , Henry 132 

Livesey, James 452 

Livesey, R. B 320 

Loebrer, P.J 008 

Logan, I). D 23s 

Loper. J. C 198 

Lonsifield, S. H 609 

Lovejoy, H. W 220 

Lund, T. C 540 

Luchsinger, F (;02 

Lulher, H. C 193 

Lyon, W. P 157 

M 

Main, A. H 603 

Main, E. D 538 

Main, W. S 170 

Mandt, G. G 492 

^Martin, N 514 

Mason, John 631 

Malls. P. W 15(1 

Mayer, Casper 490 

Mayers, C.G 178 

McCaughn, Alex 240 

McChesney, F. S 401 

McConnell, James 601 

McConnell, W. T 030 

McFarland, Joseph 438 

Mc.Murran, A 154 

McNeil, Charles 545 

Mears, C. S 413 

Melvin, J. U 417 

Meniiedolh, A 316 

Merrill, Allred 249 

Meyers, J. S 143 

Miller, G. P 587 

Miller, J C 390 

Mills, J. F 480 

Mills, Maria L 127 

Mills, Simoon 125 

Minch, Wm 234 

Moore, Mrs. A. W 348 



Moreth, Carl 421 

Moulton, H. N 258 

Mueller, J. G 485 

Murphy, Abraham 4^^8 

I Mutchler, Levi 588 

' Muzzy, Samuel 494 



N 



Nader, John 215 

Naset I. J 174 

Naset, J. J 231 

NetherwoodC. W 304 

Nevin. James 507 

-Newton. J. L. W 595 

Nichols, G. M 005 

Nienaber, B. H 501 

Noe, W. C 590 

Norsman, O. S 154 



O 



Oakley, G. M 416 

O'Connor, J. L 253 

O'Dwyer, .Alichael 226 

Ogden. F. A 423 

Oleson, John 584 

Oliu, J. M 259 

Olson, J. E 184 

Olson, Tortrrim 183 

Olson, W. T 429 

O'Malley, J. K 353 

O'Malley, Joseph 354 

O'Mallev, Thomas 162 

Orton, H. S 262 

Owen, E. T 001 



Papc, Ferdinand 013 

Pargeter, W. G 516 

Parish, C. E 455 

Parker, F. A 403 

Parker, Amasa 014 

Parkinson, F. E 299 

Parkinson, J. B 590 

Parkinson, .M. M 013 

Parsons, A. S 301 

Parsims, W. K 396 

Parlridge,A. M 341 

Patterson, J. 479 

Peck, George W 397 

Peck, V. E 599 

Petlenaill. A. E 129 

Pfund, Hermann 180 

Pierce, N. W 590 

PierslorlV. \V. F 209 

Pinney, S. U 477 

Platte, A. B 016 

Polleys. T. A 531 

Porter, W. H 160 

Poyniir, Charles 136 

Pritchard, P. M....3L./.:2^. 159 

Pyburn, Cornelia 283 



CONTENTS. 



R 



Risilall. W. M 488 

Keffan, Thomas 381 

Heutpr, C. K. L. F (!C4 

Httyuokls, G. W 035 

Kichimis, J 3(54 

KicliardsoD, David 617 

Kicbmoufi, E. W 377 

Kiley.E. F •-'07 

Roe, H. K ^''J"' 

Roe, O. K 450 

Rogeis, W :i 469 

Rood, J. Q. A rjOl 

Ross, J. A 181 

Rowley, A. A 544 

Rowley, M. S '-'14 

S 

Sai-htjen, Herman 302 

SiU-i^eul, C 474 

Sawii., Mrs. L. M 21:! 

Scheler, Heiirv 30.S 

t^dieler, O. C."n. & C. L 200 

Schernecher. George 615 

Schilliuger, A Oil 

SchlimgeD, J 881 

Sclioen,"Pliilip 529 

Sc'lilotllKiuer, () 318 

Schuermann, II 346 

Schweinem, .1 612 

Scoleu, .leroine 453 

SeamoDson, VV 23'.( 

Seemann, J <i2S 

Semit, Peler 204 

Severson, S. H 26!l 

Sharp, Edward 201 

Sheldon, C. S 345 

Sheldon, D. G 147 

Sheldon, R. A 385 

Sholts, E. D 338 

Simons, John 490 

Sloan, I. C 629 

Smith, W.J 196 

Soelch, J. G 312 

Solheim, O. A 175 



Sparks, E. J 505 

Spoouer, P. L "-'72 

Spreeher, E. C 309 

Starck, J. H 4S3 

Steele, Robert 394 

Stein, C. R 383 

Steenslaud, H 189 

Stephens, David 55S 

Sterling, J. W 550 

Stickney, Fred 385 

Slickney, J. B 371 

Sloner, G. AV 288 

Stone, J. B 206 

Stowe, La Fayette 388 

Siihr, .1. .1 466 

Sutherland, C 319 

T 

Taylor, David 171 

Taylor, T. G 301 

Tauuert, Paul 364 

Teisberg, O. K 334 

Tenney'C. K 520 

Thein, George 205 

Thompson, S. W 465 

Thomson, George 350 

Tipple, Mrs. Emma R 451 

Tipple, H 306 

Tipple, O. F 368 

Tipple, R. E 586 

Tolman, H. C 443 

Tompkins, D. W 233 

Tostenson, H 60S 

Townsend, J. H 460 

Travis, James 361 

Trumbull, Mrs. Marv 140 

Turk, John 607 

Turner, F. A 267 

Tuschen, Andrew 206 

Turner, P. A 267 

Turner, O. M 387 

Tusler, James 438 

U 

Updike, E. G 446 

Usher, F. W 580 



Vance, J. W 8(;9 

Van Oleef, F. L 402 

Van Ilise, C. K 389 

Van Norman, iM. F 338 

Van Slyke, N. 15 406 

Veerhusen, I? 478 

Vernon, R. C 187 

Vromau, Wm 5C8 

W 

Wagner, Adolpb 137 

Wakeley, C. T 509 

Wakeman, John 610 

Wakeman, T. B 623 

Wall, John ■ 634 

Wallace F. E 454 

Warner, VV. W 283 

Weeks, George 518 

Welton, C. B 487 

Wellleson, Ole 480 

Wheelwright, W. S 1,58 

Williams, W. C 527 

Williamson, E. M 144 

WiUsey, C. B 300 

Willson, H. C 434 

Wilson, Estes 243 

Wilson, Henry 880 

Woelfel, S. G 634 

Wood, Wm. S 485 

Woodard, W 489 

Woollou, Robert 414 

Worthing, S. T 833 

PORTRAITS- 

Atwood, David 865 - 

Bashford, R. M 221 

Brown, Timothy 817 

tjoues. Burr W 285 ■ 

Lyon, Wm. P 157' 

Mills, Simeon 125 

Mills, Mrs. Simeon 125 

O'Connor, J. L 258 

Pinney, S. U 477 

Steenslaud, Halle 189 






^n.^^4?^,^^^^ 









r.EORCE WASHINGTON. 



^^Mt""""" •.■•:■•;■••: • • •.■■■"—■m^'- 



E®ie©K WASIi™©^ 









■I- ti;5 •!- c^J 








RORCE WASHING- 
TON, the "Father of 
his Country" and its 
first President, i7''^9- 
'97, was born Febru- 
ar}' 22, 1732, in Wash- 
ington Parish, West- 
moreland C o u n t \', \'irginia. 
His father, Augustine Wash- 
ington, first married Jane But- 
ler, who bore him four chil- 
dren, and Marrh 6, 1730, he 
married Marv Ball. Of six 
children by his second mar- 
riage, George was the eldest, 
the others being Betty, SanuK'l, John, Au- 
gustine, Charles and Mildix'd, ol whom the 
youngest died in infrmcv. Fittle is known 
of the early years of Washington, beyond 
the fact that the house in which he was 
born was burned during liis early child- 
hood, and that his father thereupon moved 
to another farm, inherited frcjm hisiiatcrnal 
ancestors, situated in Stafford County, on 
the north bank of the Rappahannock, where 
he acted as agent of the F^rincipi(j Iron 
Works in the immediate vicinilv, and died 
there in 1743. 

Fi'om earliest childh(jod George devel- 
oped a noble character. He had a vigorous 
constitution, a fine form, and great bodily 
Strength. His education was somewiiat de- 



fective, being ccjnfuied to the clemen.taiy 
branches taught him bv his mother and at 
a neighboring school. He developed, how- 
ever, a fonrlness for mathematics, an<_l en- 
joyed in that branch the instructions of a 
[)rivate teacher. On leaving school he re- 
sided for some time at Mount Vernon with 
his half brother, Lawrence, who acted as 
his guardian, and who had married a daugh- 
ter of his neighbor at Belvoir on the Poto- 
mac, the wealthy William Fairfax, for some 
time j)resident of the executive council of 
the colony. Both Fairfax and his son-in-law, 
Lawrence Washington, had served with dis- 
tinction in 1 740 as officers of an American 
battalion at the siege of Carthagena, and 
were fi"iends and correspondents of Admiral 
\'ernon, for whom the lattcr's residence on 
the Potomac has been named. George's 
inclinations were for a similar career, and a 
midshipman's warrant was procured for 
him, probabi}' through tiie influence of the 
Admiral ; but through the o[>position of his 
mother the project was abandoned. The 
family connection with the Fairfaxes, how- 
ever, opened another career fiir the young 
man, who, at the age of sixteen, was ap- 
pointed surveyor to the immense estates of 
the eccentric Lord Fairfax, who was then 
on a visit at lielvoir, and who shortly after- 
ward established his baronial residence at 
Grccnway Court, in the Shenandoah Valley- 



PRES/DliNTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Three years were passed by j'oung Wash- 
inf:^ton in a rous^^h froiitit-r life, gaining ex- 
perience whicli afterward proved very es- 
sential io him. 

In 1 75 1, when the Virginia militia were 
put under training with a view to active 
service against France, Washington, though 
only nineteen years of age, was appointed 
Adjutant with the rank of Major. In Sej)- 
tember of that year the failing health of 
Lawrence Washingtcjn rendered it neces- 
sary for him to seek a warmer climate, and 
Ge irge accompanied him in a voyage to 
Bar xidoes. They returned early in 1752, 
and Lawrence shortly afterward died, leav- 
ing hiS large property to an infant daughter. 
In his will George was namc-d one of the 
executors and as eventual heir to Mount 
Vernon, and by the d(^ith of the infant niece 
soon succeeded to tliat estate. 

On the arrival of Robert Dinwiddle as 
Lieutenant-Governor of Virginia in 1752 
llic militia was reorganized, and the prov- 
ince divided into four districts. Washing- 
ton was commissioned by Dinwiddle Adju- 
tant-General of the Northern District in 
1753, and in November of that year a most 
imi)ortant as well as hazardous mission was 
assigned him. This was to proceed to the 
Canadian posts recently established on 
French Creek, near Lake Erie, to demand 
in the name of the King of England the 
withdrawal of the French from a territory 
claimed by Virginia. This enterprise had 
been declined by more than one officer, 
since it involved a journey through an ex- 
tensive and almost unexplored wilderness 
in the occupancy of savage lndi:m tribes, 
eillu 1 liostile to the English, or of doubtful 
attachment. Major Washington, however, 
accepted the commission witii alacrity ; and, 
accompanied by Captain Gist, he reached 
Fort Le BfEuf on French Creek, delivered 
his dispatches and received reply, which, of 
course, was a polite refusal to surrender the 
posts. This reply was of such a character 



as to induce the Assembly of Virginia to 
authorize the executive to raise a regiment 
of 300 men for the purpose of maintaining 
the asserted rights of the British crown 
over the territory claimed. As Washing- 
ton declined to be a candidate for that post, 
the command of this regiment was given to 
Colonel Joshua Fry, and Major Washing- 
ton, at his own request, was commissioned 
Lieutenant-Colonel. On the march to Ohio, 
news was received that a party previously 
sent to build a fort at the confluence of the 
Monongahela with the Ohio had been 
driven back bv a considerable French force, 
which had Cf)mplctcd the work there be- 
gun, and named it Fort Duquesne, in honor 
of the Marquis Duquesne, then Governor 
of Canada. Tliis was the beginning of the 
great " French and Indian war,'' wiiich con- 
tinued seven years. On the death of Colonel 
Fry, Washington succeeded t(j the com- 
mand of the regiment, and so well did he 
fulfill his trust that the Virginia Assembly 
commissioned him as Commander-in-Chief 
of all the forces raised in the colony. 

A cessation of all Indian hostility on the 
frontier having followed the expulsion of 
the French from the Ohio, the object of 
Washington was accomplished and he re- 
signed his commission as Commander-in- 
Chief of the Virginia forces. He then pro- 
ceeded to Williamsburg to take his seat in 
the General Assembly, of which he had 
been elected a member. 

January 17, 1759, Washington married 
Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Custis, a young 
and beautiful widow of great wealth, antl de- 
voted himself for the ensuing fifteen years 
to the quiet ])iirsuits of agriculture, inter- 
rupted only bv his aiuiual attendance in 
winter upon the CoU)niaI Legislature at 
Williamsburg, until summoned by his 
country to enter upon that other arena in 
which his fame was to become world wide. 

It is unnecessary here to trace the details 
of the struggle upon the question ol local 



GEORGE WASHINGTON. 



self-government, which, after ten years, cul- 
minated by act of Parliament of the port of 
Boston. It was at the instance of Virginia 
that a congress of all the colonies was called 
to meet at Philadeljihia September 5, 1774, 
to secure their common liberties — if possil)le 
by peaceful means. To this Congress 
Colonel WashingtcMi was sent as a dele- 
gate. On dissolving in October, it recom- 
mended the colonies to send deputies to 
another Congress the following spring. In 
the meantime several of the colonies felt 
impelled to raise local forces to repel in- 
sults and aggressions on the part of British 
troops, so that on the assembling of the next 
Congress, May 10, 1775, the war prepara- 
tions of the mother country were unmis- 
takable. The battles of Concord and Lex- 
ington had been fought. Among the earliest 
acts, therefore, of the Congress was the 
selection of a commander-in-chief of the 
colonial forces. This ofifice was unani- 
mously conferred upon Washington, still a 
member of the Congress. He accepted it 
on June 19, but on the express condition he 
should receive no salary. 

He immediately repaired to the vicinity 
of Boston, against which point the British 
ministrj- had concentrated their forces. As 
early as April General Gage had 3,000 
troops in and around this proscribed city. 
During tiie fall and winter the British policy 
clearly indicated a purjiose to divide pub- 
lic sentiment and to build up a British party 
in the colonies. Those who sided with the 
ministry were stigmatized by the patriots 
as " Tories," while the patriots took to them- 
selves the name of " Whigs." 

As early as 1776 the leading men had 
come to the conclusion that there was no 
hope except in separation and indepen- 
dence. In May of that year Washington 
wrote from the head of the army in New 
York: "A reconciliation with Great Urit- 
am is impossible. , , , . When 1 took 
comuiv».ii Jt the army ' abhorred the ides 



of independence ; but I am now fully satis- 
fied that nothing else will save us." 

It is not tlie object of this sketch to trace 
the military acts of the patriot hero, to 
whose hands the fortunes and liberties of 
the United Stales were confided during the 
seven 3'ears' bloody struggle that ensued 
until the treat}' of 1783, in which England 
acknowledged the independence of each of 
the thirteen States, and negotiated with 
them, jointly, as separate sovereignties. The 
merits of Washington as a military chief- 
tain have been considerably discussed, espe- 
cially by writers in his own country. Dur- 
ing the war he was most bitterly assailed 
for incompetency, and great efforts were 
made to displace him ; but he never for a 
moment lost the confidence of either the 
Congress or the people. December 4, 1783, 
the great commander took !eave of his ofli- 
cers in most affectionate and patriotic terms, 
and went to Annapolis, Mai-}land, where 
the Congress of the States was in session, 
and to that body, when peace and order 
prevailed everywhere, resigned his com- 
mission and retired to Mount Vernon. 

It was in 1788 that Washington was called 
to the chief magistracy of the nation. He 
received every electoral vote cast in all the 
colleges of the States voting for the office 
of President. The 4th of March, 1789, was 
the time appointed for the Government of 
the United States to begin its operations, 
but several weeks elapsed before quorums 
of both the newly constituted houses of the 
Congress were assembled. The city of New 
York was the place where the Congrefs 
then met. April 16 Washington left his 
home to enter upon the discharge of his 
new duties. He set out with a purpose of 
traveling privately, and without attracting 
any oublic attention ; but this was impossi- 
ble. Everywhere on his way he was met 
with thronging crowds, eager to see the 
man whom they regarded as the chief de- 
lendc of their liberties, and everywhere 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UN/TED STATES. 



he was hailed with those public manifesta- 
tions of joy, regard and love which spring 
spontaneoiislv from the hearts of an aflec- 
tionate and grateful people. His reception 
in New York was marked by a grandeur 
and an enthusiasm never before witnessed 
in that metropolis. The inauguration took 
place April 30, in the presence of an immense 
multitude which had assembled to witness 
the new and imposing ceremony. The oath 
of office was administered by Robert R. 
Livingston, Chancellor of the State. When 
this sacred pledge was given, he retired 
with the other f)fl[icials into the Senate 
chamber, where he delivered his inaugural 
address to both houses of the nowlv con- 
stituted Congress in joint assembly. 

In the manifold details of his civil ad- 
ministration, Washington proved himself 
etjual to the requirements ol his position. 
The greater portion of the first session of 
the first Congress was occupied in passing 
the necessary statutes for putting the new 
organization int(j complete operation. In 
the discussions brought up in the course of 
this legislation the nature and character of 
the new system came under general review. 
On no one of them did any decided antago- 
nism of opinion arise. All held it lo be a 
limited government, clothed only with spe- 
cific powers conferred by delegation from 
the States. There was no change in the 
name of the legislative department; it still 
remained " the Congress of the United 
States of America." There was no ciiange 
in the original flag of the country, and none 
in the seal, which still remains with the 
Grecian escutcheon borne by the eagle, 
with other einl)lems, under the great and 
expressive motto, "/i Pluribus Umtnt." 

The first division of parties arose upon 
the manner of construing the powers dele- 
gated, and they were first styled "strict 
constructionists" and " latitudinarian con- 
structionists." The former were for con- 
fining the action of the Government strictly 



within its specific and limited sphere, while 
the others wore for enlarging its powers by 
inference and implication. Hamilton and 
Jefferson, both members of the first cabinet- 
were regarded as the chief leaders, respect 
ively, of these rising antagonistic parties 
which have existed, luider different names 
from that day to this. Washington 'vas re- 
garded as holding a neutral position between 
them, though, by mature deliberation, he 
vetoed the first apportionment bill, in 1790, 
jiassed by the party headed by Hamilton, 
which was based upon a principle construct- 
ively leading to centralization or consoli- 
dation. This was the first exercise of the 
veto ])owcr under the present Constitution. 
It created considerable excitement at the 
time. Another bill was soon passed in pur- 
suance of Mr. Jefferson's views, which has 
been adhered to in principle in every ap 
portionment act passed since. 

At the second session of the new Con. 
gress, Washington announced the gratify^ 
ing fact of " the accession of North Caro- 
lina" to the C(jnstitution of 1787, and June 
1 of the same year he announced by special 
message the like " accession of the State of 
Rhode Island," with his congratulations on 
the happ3' event which " united inider the 
general Government" all the States which 
were originally confederated. 

In 1792, at the second Presidential elec- 
tion, Washington was desirous to retire ; 
but he yielded to the general wish of the 
country, and was again chosen {'resident 
by the unanimous vote of every electoral 
college. At the third election, \7cf1, he was 
again most urgently entreated to consent to 
remain in the executive chair. This he 
positively refused. In September, belore 
the election, he gave to his countrymen his 
memorable Farewell Address, which in lan- 
guage, sentiment and patriotism was a fit 
and crowning glory of his illustrious life. 
After March 4, 1797, he again retired to 
Mount \'ernon for peace, quiet and repose. 



(iEORcn WASlUNa TON. 



n 



His administration foi" the t\v(j terms had 
been successful bevond the expectation and 
hopes of even the most sanguine of his 
friends. The finances of tlie country were 
no longer in an embarrassed condition, the 
public credit was fully restored, life was 
given to every department of industry, the 
workings of the new system in allowing 
Congress to raise revenue from duties on 
imports proved to be not only harmonious 
in its federal action, but astonishing in its 
results upon the commerce and trade of all 
the States. The exports from the Union 
increased from $19,000,000 to over $56,000,- 
000 per annum, while the imports increased 
in about the same proportion. Three new 
members had been added to the Union. The 
progress of the States in their new career 
under their new organization thus far was 
exceedinglv encouraging, not only to the 
friends of libertv within their own limits, 
but to their sympathizing allies in all climes 
and countries. 

01 the call again made on this illustrious 



chief to quit his repose at Mount Vernon 
and take command of all the United States 
forces, with the rank of Lieutenant-General, 
when war was threatened with France in 
1798, nothing need here be stated, except to 
note tiie fact as an immistakable testimo- 
nial of the high regard in which he was still 
held by his countrymen, of all sliades of po- 
litical opinion. He patriotically accepted 
this trust, but a treaty of peace put a stop 
to all action under it. He again retired to 
Mount Vernon, where, after a short and 
severe illness, he died December 14, 1799, 
in the sixty-eighth year of his age. The 
whole country was filled with gloom by this 
sad intelligence. Men of all parties in poli- 
tics and creeds in religion, in every State 
in the Union, united with Congress in " pay- 
ing honor to the man, first in war, first in 
peace, and first in the hearts of his c<juntry- 
men" 

His remains were deposited in a family 
vault on the banks of the Potomac at Mount 
Vernon, where they still lie entombed. 



*^- 




-.<'^''-" 



>4 



PUBS/DENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 












^ .^<.^A 



^.» 




OHN ADAMS, the second 
President of the United 
States, 1797 to 1801, \v:is 
born in the present town 
of Qiiincy, then a portion 
of Braintree, Massachu- 
setts, October 30, 1735. His 
father was a farmer of mod- 
erate means, a worthy and 
industrious man. He was 
a deacon in the church, and 
was very desirous of giving 
his son a collejjia*e educa- 
tion, hoping that he wcvdd 
become a minister ot the 
gospel. But, as up to this 
time, the age of fourteen, he had been only 
a play-boy in the fields and forests, he had 
no taste for books, he chose farming. On 
being set to work, however, by his father 
out in the field, the very first day con- 
verted the boy into a lover of books. 

Accordingly, at the age of sixteen he 
entered Harvard College, and graduated in 
1755, at the age of twenty, highly esteemed 
for integrit}', energy and ability. Thus, 
having no capital but his education, he 
started out into the stormy world at a time 
of great political excitement, as France and 
England were then engaged in their great 
seven-years struggle for the mastery over 
the New World. The tire of patriotism 



seized j-oung Adams, and for a time he 
studied over the question whether he 
should take to the law, to politics or the 
army. He wrote a remarkable letter to a 
friend, making prophecies concerning the 
future greatness of this country which have 
since been more than fulfilled. For two 
years he taught scliool and studied law, 
wasting no odd moments, and at the cariy 
age of twenty-two years he ()]>cned a law 
office in his native town. His inherited 
powers of mind and untiring devotion to 
his profession caused him to rise rapidly 
in public esteem. 

In October, 1764, Mr. Adams married 
Miss Abigail Smith, daughter of a clergy- 
man at Weymouth and a lady of rare per- 
sonal and intellectual endowments, who 
afterward contributed much to her hus- 
band's celebrity. 

Soon the oppression of the British in 
America reached its clima.x. The Boston 
merchants cmploved an attorney by the 
name of James Otis to argue the legality o. 
oppressive tax law before the Superior 
Court. Adams heard tne argument, and 
afterward wrote to a friend concerning the 
ability displayed, as follows : " Otis was a 
flame of fire. With a promptitude of 
classical allusion, a depth t)f research, a 
rapid summary of historical events and 
dates, a profusion of legal authorities and a 




1 




m/L jia 




JOHN AOAMS. 



'7 



prophetic glance into futurity, he hurried 
awav all before him. American independence 
zvas then and tliere born. Every man of an 
immensely crowded audience appeared to 
me to go awav, as I did, ready to take up 
arms." 

Soon Mr. Adams wrote an essay to be 
read before the literary club of his town, 
upon the state of affairs, which was so able 
as to attract public attention, it was pub- 
lished in American journals, republished 
in England, and was pronounced by the 
friends of the colonists there as " one o( the 
very best prv^ductions ever seen from North 
America." 

The memorable Stamp Act was now 
issued, and Adams entered with all the 
ardor of his soul into political life in order 
to resist it. He drew up a series of reso- 
lutions remonstrating against the act, which 
were adopted at a public meeting of the 
citizens of Braintree, and which were sub- 
sequently adopted, word for word, by more 
than forty towns in the State. Popular 
commotion prevented the landing of the 
Stamp Act papers, and the English author- 
ities then closed the courts. The town of 
Boston therefore a|>pointe<l Jeremy Grid- 
lev, James Otis and John Adams to argue a 
petition before the Governor and council 
for the re-opening of the courts; and while 
the two first mentioned attorneys based 
their argument upon the distress caused to 
the people by the measure, Adams boldly 
claimed that the Stamp Act was a violatioti 
both of the English Constitution and the 
charter of the Provinces. It is said that 
this was the first direct denial of the un- 
limited right of Parliament over the colo- 
nies. Soon after this the Stamp Act was 
repealed. 

Directly Mr. Adams was emplo3cd to 
defend Ausell Nickerson, who had killed ;in 
Englishman in the act of impressing him 
(Nickerson) into the Iving's service, and his 
client was acquitted, the court thus estab- 



lishing the principle that the infamous 
royal prerogative of impressment couhi 
have no existence in the colonial code. 
But in 1770 Messrs. Aflams and Josiah 
Quincv defended a party of British soldiers 
who had been arrested for murder when 
they had been only obeying Governmental 
orders; and when reproached for thus ajj- 
parentlv deserting the cause of popular 
liberty, Mr. Adams replied that he would a 
thousandfold rather live under the domina- 
tion of the worst of England's kings than 
under that of a lawless mob. Next, after 
serving a term as a member of the Colonial 
Legislature from Boston, Mr. Adams, find- 
ing his health affected by too great labor, 
retired to his native home at Braintree. 

The year 1774 sijon arrived, with its fa- 
mous Boston '"Tea Party," the first open 
act of rebellion. Adams was sent to the 
Congress at Philadelphia; and when the 
Attorney-General announced that (ircat 
Britain had " determined on her system, 
and that her power to execute it w;is irre- 
sistible," Adams replied : " I know that 
Great Britain has determined on her sys- 
tem, and that very determination deter- 
mines me (jii mine. You know tliat I have 
been constant in my opposition to her 
measures. The die is now cast. I have 
passed the Rubicon. Sink or swim, live or 
die, with my country, is my unalterable 
determination." The rumor lieginning to 
prevail at Philadelphia that the Congress 
had independence in view, Adams foresaw 
that it was too soon to declare it openly. 
lie advised every one to remain quiet in 
that respect; and as soon as it became ap- 
parent that he himself was for independ- 
ence, he was advised to hide himself, which 
he did. 

The next year the great Revolutionary 
war opened in earnest, and Mrs. Adams, 
residing near Boston, kept hei husband ad- 
vised by letter of all the events traiis[)iring 
in her vicinity. The buttle of Bunker Hill 



i8 



f RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



came on. Congress had to do something 
immediately. The first thing was to 
choose a commander-in-chief for tiic — we 
can't say " army "^the fighting men of tiie 
colonies. The New England dciegaticm 
was almost unanimous in favor of appoint- 
mg (ieueral Ward, then at the head of the 
Massachusetts forces, but Mr. Adams urged 
the appointment of George Washington, 
then almost unknown outside of his own 
State. He was appointed without oppo- 
sition. Mr. Adams offered the resolution, 
which was adopted, annulling all the royal 
authority in the colonies. Having thus 
prepared the way, a few weeks later, viz., 
June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee, of Vir- 
ginia, who a few months before had declared 
that the British CTOvernment would aban- 
don its oppressive measures, now offered 
the memorable resolution, seconded by 
Adams, "that these United States arc, and 
of right ought to be, free and independent." 
Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Sherman and 
Livingston were then ap[jointed a commit- 
tee to draught a declaration of independ- 
ence. Mr. Jefferson desired Mr. Adams 
to draw up (he bold document, but the 
latter persuaded Mr. Jefferson to perform 
that responsible task. The Declaration 
drawn up, Mr. Adams became its foremost 
defender on the floor of Congress. It was 
signed by all the fifty-five members present, 
and the ne.xt day Mr. Adams wrote to his 
wife how great a deed was done, and how 
proud he was of it. Mr. Adams continued 
to be the leading man of Congress, and 
the leading advocate of American inde- 
pendence. Above all other Americans, 
he was considered by every one the prin- 
cipal shining mark for British ventreance. 
Thus circumstanced, he was appointed to 
the most dangerous task of crossing the 
ocean in winter, exposed to capture bv the 
British, who knew of his mission, which 
was to visit Paris and solicit the co-opera- 
tion of the French, Besides, to take liim- 



sclf away from the country of which he 
was the most prominent defender, at that 
critical time, was an act of the greatest self- 
sacrifice. Sure enough, while crossing the 
sea, he had two very narrow escapes from 
capture ; and the transit was otherwise a 
stormy and eventful one. During the 
summer of 1779 he returned home, but was 
immediately dispatched back to France, to 
be in readiness there to negotiate terms of 
peace and commerce with Great Britain as 
scjon as the latter power was ready for such 
business. But as Dr. Franklin was more 
popular than heat the court of France, Mr. 
Adams repaired to Holland, where he was 
far more successful as a diplomatist. 

The treaty of peace between the United 
States and England was finally signed at 
Paris, January 21, 1783; and the re-action 
from so great excitement as .Mr. Adams had 
so long been experiencing threw him into 
a dangerous fever. Before he fully re- 
covered he was in London, whence he was 
dispatched again to Amsterdam to negoti- 
ate another loan. Compliance with this 
order undermined his physical constitution 
for life. 

In 1785 Mr. Adams was appointed envoy 
to the court of St. James, to meet face to 
face the very king who had regarded him 
as an arch traitor! Accordingly he re- 
paired thither, where he did actually meet 
and converse with George III.! After a 
residence there for about three years, he 
obtained permission to return to America. 
While in London he wrote and j)ublished 
an able work, in three volumes, entitled: 
" A Defense of the American Constitution." 

The Articles of Confederation proving 
inefficient, as Adams had proiihesietl, a 
carefuHv draughted Constitution was 
adopted in 17S9, when George Washington 
was elected President of the new nation, 
and Adams Vice-President. Congress met 
for a time in New York, but was removed 
to Philadelphia for ten years, until suitable 



JOHN ADAMS. 



19 



buildings should be erected at tlie new 
capital in the District of Columbia. Mr. 
Adams then moved his family to Phiia- 
deiphia. Toward the close of his term of 
office the French Revolution culminated, 
when Adams and Washington rather 
sympathized with England, and Jefferson 
with France. The Presidential election of 
1796 resulted in giving Mr. Adams tlie first 
place by a small majority, and Mr. Jeffer- 
son the second place. 

Mr. Adams's administration was consci- 
entious, patriotic and able. The period 
was a turbulent one, and even an archangel 
could not have reconciled the hostile par- 
ties. Partisanism with reference to Eng- 
land and France was bitter, and for four 
years Mr. Adams struggled tiirough almost 
a constant tempest of assaults. In fact, he 
was not trul}' a popidar man, and his ciia- 
grin at not receiving a re-election was so 
great that he did not even remain at Phihi- 
delphia to witness the inauguration of Mr. 
Jefferson, his successor. Tiie friendly 
intimacy between these two men was 
interrupted for about thirteen years of their 
life. Adams finally made the first advances 
toward a restoration of their mutual friend- 
ship, which were gratefully accepted by 
Jefferson. 

Mr. Adams was glad of his opportunity 
to retire to private lite, where he could rest 
his mind and enjoy the comforts of home. 
By a thousand bitter experiences he found 
the path of public duty a thorny one. For 
twenty-six years his service of the public 
was as arduous, self-sacrificing and devoted 
as ever fell to the lot of man. In one ini- 
[lortant sense he was as much the " Father 
oi his Country " as was Washington in 
another sense. Du'ing these long years of 
anxiety and toil, in which he was laying, 
broad and deep, the foundations of the 



greatest nation the sun ever shone upon, he 
received from his impoverished country a 
meager support. The only privilege he 
carried with him into his retirement was 
that of franking his letters. 

Although taking no active part in public 
affairs, both himself and his son, John 
Quincy, nobly supported the policy of Mr. 
Jefferson in resisting the encroachments of 
England, who persisted in searching 
American ships on the high seas and 
dragging from them any sailors that might 
be designated by any pert lieutenant as 
British subjects. Even f(3r this noble sup- 
port Mr. Adams was maligned by thou- 
sands of bitter enemies ! On this occasion, 
for the first time since his retirement, he 
broke silence and drew up a very able 
paper, exposing tiie atrocit}^ of the British 
pretensions. 

Mr. Adams outlived nearly all his family. 
Though his physical frame began to give 
way many years before his death, his mental 
powers retained tlieir strength and vigor to 
the last. In his ninetieth year he was 
gladdened by the popular elevation of his 
son to the Presidential office, the highest in 
the gift of the people. A few months more 
passed away and the 4th of July, 1826. 
arrived. The people, unaware of the near 
approach of the end of two great lives — 
that of Adams and Jefferson — were making 
unusual preparations for a national holiday. 
Mr. Adams lay upon his couch, listening to 
the ringing of bells, the waftures of martial 
music and the roar of cannon, with silent 
emotion. Only four days before, he had 
given for a public toast, " Independence 
forever." About two o'clock in the after- 
noon he said, "And Jefferson still survives." 
But he was mistaken by an hour or so: 
and in a few minutes he had breathed his 
last. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 






"•£#• 



ir/ 



t 



<i 



^ 



»Jm~;»»J>— j'*J>->-;*t^j T Xi 



.V- 



«^-<:— -"gW ^<<*c - 






T^ 



^^ 






1^1 
1} 



w 

•I 



Offi% 










«^^^ 



[h o m a S J E F F E R- 

son, the tliird Presi- 
dent f>i tlie ''iiitcd 
Stales, i8oi~'9, was 
born April 2, 1743, 
the eldest child of 
his ])arents, Peter 
and Jane (Randolph) Jef- 
ferson, near Charlottes- 
ville, Albemarle County, 
Virginia, upon the slopes 
of the Blue Ridge. When 
he -was fourteen years of 
age, his father died, leav- 
ing a widow and eight 
children. She wasa beau- 
tiful and accomplished 
lady, a good letter-writer, with a fund of 
humor, and an admirable housekeeper. His 
parents belonged to the Churcli of England, 
and arc said to be of Welch origin. But 
little is known of them, however. 

Thomas was naturally of a serious turn 
of mind, apt to learn, and a favorite at 
school, his choice studies being mathemat- 
ics and the classics. At the age of seven- 
teen he entered William and Mary College, 
in an advanced class, and lived in rather an 
expensive style, consequently being much 
caressed by gay society. That he was not 
ruined, is proof of his stamina of character. 
But during his second year he discarded 



society, his horses and even his favorite 
violin, and devoted thenceforward fifteen 
hours a day to hard study, becoming ex- 
traordinarily proficient in Latin and Greek 
authors. 

On leaving college, before he was twenty- 
one, he commenced the stud}- of law, and 
pursued it diligently until he was well 
qualified for practice, upon which he 
entered in 1767. By this time he was also 
versed in French, Spanish, Italian and An- 
glo-Saxon, and in the criticism of the fine 
arts. Being very polite and polished in his 
manners, he won the friendship of all whom 
he met. Though able with his pen, he was 
not fluent in public speech. 

In 1769 he was chosen a member of the 
Virginia Legislature, and was the largest 
slave-holding member of that body. He 
introduced a bill empowering slave-holders 
to manumit their slaves, but it was rejected 
by an overwhelming vote. 

In 1770 Mr. Jefferson met with a great 
loss; his house at Shadwell was burned, 
and his valuable library of 2,000 volumes 
was consumed. But he was wealthy 
enough to replace the most of it, as from 
his 5,000 acres tilled by slaves and his 
practice at the bar his income amounted to 
about $5,000 a year. 

In 1772 he married Mrs. Martha Skelton, 
a beautiful, wealthy and accomplished 





'i^/c^ey/^/r^^ 



THOMAS JEFFERSON. 



n 



young widow, who owned 40,000 acres of 
land and 130 slaves; yet he labored assidu- 
ously for the abolition of slavery. For liis 
new home he selected a majestic rise ol 
land upon his large estate at Shad well, 
called Mt)nticello, whereon he erected a 
mansion of modest yet elegant architecture. 
Here he lived in luxury, indulging his taste 
in magnificent, high-blooded horses. 

At this period the British Government 
gradually became more insolent and o|)- 
pressive toward the American colonies, 
and Mr. Jefferson was ever one of the most 
foremost to resist its encroachments. From 
time to time he drew up resolutions of re- 
monstrance, which were finally adopted, 
thus proving his ability as a statesman and 
as a leader. By the year 1774 he became 
quite busy, both with voice and pen, in de- 
fending the right of the colonies to defend 
themselves. His pami:)hlet entitled: "A 
Summary View of the flights of British 
America," attracted mucii attention in Eng- 
land. The following year he, in company 
with George Washington, served as an ex- 
ecutive committee in measures to defend 
by arms the State of Virginia. As a Mem- 
ber of the Congress, he was not a speech- 
maker, yet in conversation and upon 
committees he was so frank and decisive 
that he always made a favorable impression. 
But as late as the autumn of 1775 he re- 
mained in hcjpes of reconciliation with the 
parent country. 

At length, however, the hour arrived for 
draughting the " Declaration of Indepen- 
dence," and this responsible task was de- 
volved upon Jefferson. Franklin, and 
Adams suggested a few verbal corrections 
bef(3re it was submitted to Congress, which 
was June 28, 1776, only si.x days before it 
was adopted. During the three days of 
the fiery ordeal of criticism through which 
it passed in Congress, Mr. Jefferson opened 
not his lips. John Adams was the main 
chamiMDn of the Declaration on the floor 



of Congress. The signing of this document 
was one of the most solemn and momentous 
occasions ever attended to by man. Prayer 
and silence reigned throughout the hall, 
and each signer realized that if American 
independence was not finally sustained by 
arms he was doomed to the scaffold. 

After the colonies became independent 
States, Jefferson resigned for a time his seat 
in Congress in order to aid in organizing 
the government of Virginia, of which State 
he was chosen Governor in 1779, when he 
was thirty-six years of age. At this time 
the Britisli had possession of Georgia and 
were invading South Carolina, and at one 
time a British officer, Farleton, sent a 
secret expedition to Monticello to capture 
the Governor. Five minutes after Mr. 
Jefferson escaped with his family, his man- 
sion was in possession of the enemy ! The 
British troops also destroyed his valuable 
plantation on the James River. " Had they 
curried off the slaves," said Jefferson, with 
characteristic magnanimity, " to give them 
freedom, they woulil have done right." 

Tiie year 1781 was a gloomy one for the 
Viiginia Governor. While confined to his 
secluded home in the forest by a sick and 
dying wife, a party arose against iiim 
throughout the State, severely criticising 
his course as Governor. Being very sensi- 
tive to reproach, this touched him to the 
(juick, and the heap of troubles then sur- 
rounding him nearly crushed him. He re- 
solved, in despair, to retire from public life 
for the rest of liis days. For weeks Mr. 
Jefferson sat lovingly, but with a crushed 
heart, at the bedside of his sick wife, during 
which time unfeeling letters were sent to 
him, accusing him of weakness and unfaith- 
fulness to duty. All this, after he had lost 
so much propcrt\ and at the same time 
(.lone so much for his country ! After iier 
death he actually fainted away, and re- 
mained so Ujutr insensible that it was feared 



h 



c never wouK 



1 recover! Several we;;ks 



P/iESfDE.VTS OF THE U.VITED STATES. 



passed before he could fully recover his 
equilibrium. He was never married a 
second time. 

In the spring of 1782 the people of Eng- 
land compelled their king to make to the 
Americans overtures of peace, and in No- 
vember following, Mr. Jefferson was reap- 
pointed by Congress, unanimously and 
without a single adverse remark, minister 
plenipotentiary to negotiate a treaty. 

In March, 1784, Mr. Jefferson was ap- 
pointed on a committee to draught a plan 
for the government of the Northwestern 
Territory. His slavery-prohibition clause 
in that plan was stricken out by the pro 
slavery majority of the committee; but amid 
all the controversies and wrangles of poli- 
ticians, he made it a rule never to contra- 
dict anybody or engage in any discussion 
as a debater. 

In company with Mr. Adams and Dr. 
Franklin, Mr. Jefferson was appointed in 
May, 1784, to act as minister jjlenipotentiary 
in the negotiation of treaties of commerce 
with foreign nations. Accordingly, he went 
to Paris and satisfactoril)- accomplished his 
mission. The suavity and high bearing of 
his manner made all the French his friends; 
and even Mrs. Adams at one time wrote 
to her sister that he was " the chosen 
of the earth." But all the honors that 
he received, both at home and abroad, 
seemed to make no change in the simplicity 
of his republican tastes. On his return to 
America, he found two parties respecting 
the foreign commercial policy, Mr. Adams 
sym])athizing with that in favor of England 
and himself favoring France. 

On the inauguration of General Wash- 
ington as President, Mr. Jefferson was 
chosen by him for the office of Secretary of 
State. At this time the rising storm of the 
French Revolution became visible, and 
Washington watched it with great anxiety. 
His cabinet was divided in their views of 
cunslitutional government as well as re- 



garding the issues in France. General 
Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, was 
the leader of the so-called Federal party, 
while Mr. Jefferson was the leader of the 
Republican party. At the same time there 
was a strong monarchical party in this 
country, with which Mr. Adams sympa- 
thized. Some important financial measures, 
which were proposed by Hamilton and 
finallv adopted by the cabinet and ajiproved 
by Washington, were opposed by Mr. 
Jefferson ; and his enemies then began to 
reproach him with holding office under an 
administration whose views he opposed. 
The President poured oil on the troubled 
waters. On his re-election to the Presi- 
dency he desired Mr. Jefferson to remain 
in the cabinet, but the latter sent in his 
resignation at two different times, probably 
because he was dissatisfied with some of 
the measures of the Government. His 
final one was not received until January i, 
1794, when General Washingtcjn parted 
from him with great regret. 

Jefferson then retired to his quiet home 
at Monticello, to enjoy a good rest, not even 
reading the newspapers lest the political 
gossip should disepiiet him. On the Presi- 
dent's again calling him back to the office 
of Secretary of State, he replied that no 
circumstances would ever again tempt him 
to engage in an^'thing public ! But, while 
all Europe was ablaze with war, and France 
in the throes of a bloody revolution and the 
principal theater of the conflict, a new 
Presidential election in this country came 
on. John Adams was the Federal candi- 
date and Mr. Jefferson became the Republi- 
can candidate. The result of the election 
was the promotion of the latter to the Vice- 
Presidency, while the former was chosen 
President. In this contest Mr. Jefferson 
really did not desire to hav^ either office, 
he was "so weary" of party strife. He 
loved the retirement of home more than 
any other place on the earth. 



THOhfAS 'JEFFERSON. 



25 



But f(ir four long years his Vice-Presi- 
dency passed joylessly away, while the 
partisan strife between Federalist and Re- 
publican was ever ^^rowing hotter. The 
former party split and the result of the 
fourth general election was the elevation of 
Mr. Jefferson to the Presidency ! with 
Aaron Burr as Vice-President. These men 
being at the head of a growing party, their 
election was hailed everywhere with jo}-. 
On the other hand, many of the Federalists 
turned pale, as they believed what a portion 
of the pulpit and the press had been preach- 
ing — that Jefferson was a " scoffing atheist," 
a "Jacobin," the " incarnation of all evil," 
" breathing threatening and slaughter ! " 

Mr. Jefferson's inaugural address con- 
tained nothing but the noblest sentiments, 
expressed in fine language, and his personal 
behavior afterward exhibited the extreme 
of American, democratic simplicit}'. His 
disgust of European court etiquette grew 
up(5n him with age. He believed that 
General Washington was somewhat dis- 
trustful of the ultimate success of a popular 
Government, and that, imbued with a little 
admiration of the forms of a monarchical 
Government, he had instituted levees, birth- 
da3's, pompous meetings with Congress, 
etc. Jefferson was always polite, even to 
slaves everywhere he met them, and carried 
in his countenance the indications of an ac- 
commodating disp(3sition. 

The political principles of the Jeffersoni- 
an party now swept the country, and Mr. 
Jefferson himself swayed an influence which 
was never exceeded even by Washington. 
Under his administration, in 1803, the Lou- 
isiana purchase was made, for $15,000,000, 
the " Louisiana Territory " purchased com- 
prising all the land west of the Mississippi 
to the Pacific Ocean. 

The year 1804 witnessed another severe 
loss in his family. His highly accomplished 
and most beloved daughter Maria sickened 
and died, causing as great grief in the 



stricken parent as it was possible for him to 
survive with any degree of sanity. 

The same year lie was re-elected to tl;e 
Presidency, with George Clinton as Vice- 
President. During his second term our 
relations with England became more com- 
plicated, and on June 22, 1807, near Hamp- 
ton Roads, the United States frigate 
Chesapeake was fired upon by the Brit- 
ish man-of-war Le(jpard, and was made 
to surrender. Three men were killed and 
ten wounded. Jefferson demanded repara- 
tion. England grew insolent. It became 
cvitlcnt that war was determined upon by 
the latter power. More than 1,200 Ameri- 
cans were forced into the British service 
upon the high seas. Before any satisfactory 
solution was reached, Mr. Jeffers<jn's 
Presidential term closed. Amid all these 
public excitements he thought constantly 
of the welfare of his family, and longed 
for the time when he could return home 
to remain. There, at Monticello, his sub- 
sequent life was very similar to that of 
Washingt<in at Mt. Vernon. His hospi- 
tality toward his numerous friends, indul- 
gence of his slaves, and misfortunes to his 
property, etc., finally involved him in debt. 
For years his home resembled a fashion- 
able watering-place. During the summer, 
thirty-seven house servants were required ! 
It was presided over by his daughter, Mrs. 
Randolph. 

Mr. Jefferson did much for the establish- 
ment of the University at Charlottesville, 
making it unsectarian, in keeping with the 
spirit of American institutions, but poverty 
and the feebleness of old age prevented 
him from doing what he woidd. He even 
went so far as to petition the Legislature 
for permission to dispose of some of his 
possessions by lottery, in order to raise the 
necessary funds for home expenses. It was 
granted ; but before the plan was carried 
out, Mr. Jefferson died, July 4, 1826, at 

12:50 1'. M. 



26 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 







Mxris? ivf^i)rs-()x., ''"' 



®^?^|> 6J3 •■- t^ '> t*5 ■'• <sj= •"• (&SC;>3.'Sfpiiiiy •'• ^ "T- <*^ -T-' •^!» -■■ <«> "'^i^.^ 




<n^^ r -'^MES MADISON, the 
, *il,^££':h fourth President of the 
■ *^/fl\^'^** United States, iSoq-'i;, 
i iVifAri was born at Port Con- 

i^V- \vav, Prince George 
''^''"''^^Bir'^-' County, Virginia, March 
i6, 1 75 1. His father 



m-' 



1751 
Colonel James Madison, was 
a wealthy planter, residing 
upon a very fine estate 
called " Montpelier," only 
twenty-five miles from the 
home of Thomas Jefferson 
at Monticello. The closest 
personal and political at- 
taciunent existed between 
these illustrious men from their early )'outh 
until death. 

James was the eldest ot a lamily of seven 
children, four sons and three daughters, all 
of wlujm attained maturity. His early edu- 
cation was conducted mostly at iiome, 
under a private tutor. Being naturally in- 
tellectual in his tastes, he consecrated him- 
self with unusual vigor to study. At a very 
early age he made considerable proficiency 
in the Greek, Latin, French and Spanish 
languages. In 1769 he entered Princeton 
College, New Jersey, of which the illus- 
trious Dr. Weatherspoon was then Presi- 
dent. He graduated in 1771, with a char- 



acter of the utmost purity, and a mind 
highly disciplined and stored with all the 
learning which embellished and gave effi- 
ciency to his subsequent career. After 
graduating he pursued a course of reading 
for several months, under the guidance of 
President Weatherspoon, and in 1772 re- 
turned to Virginia, where he continued in 
incessant study for two years, nominally 
directed to the law, but really including 
extended researches in theology, philoso- 
phy and general literature. 

The Ciuirch of England was the estab- 
lished ciiurch in \'irginia, invested with all 
the prerogatives and immunities which it 
enjoyed in the fatherland, and other de- 
nominations labored under serious disabili- 
ties, the enforcement of which was rightly 
or wrongly characterized by them as per- 
secution. Madison took a prominent stand 
in behalf of the removal of all disabilities, 
repeatedly appeared in the court of liis own 
county to defend the Baptist nonconform- 
ists, and was elected from Orange County to 
the Virginia Convention in the sjjring of 
1766, when he signalized the beginning of 
his public career by procuring tiie passage 
of an amendment to the Declaration of 
Rigiits as prepared by George Mason, sub- 
stituting for " toleration" a more emphatic 
assertion of religious libertv. 




/ 



/ 



tZ-c^^"-^ /yC^ lic^^tr r'^ 



yAMES Af AD IS ON. 



19 



fn 1776 he was elected a member of the 
Virgmia Convention to frame the Constitu- 
tion of the State. Like Jefferson, he took 
but little part in the public debates. His 
main strengtii lay in his conversational in- 
fluence and in his pen. In November, 1777, 
he was chosen a member of tiie Council of 
State, and in March, 1780, took his seat in 
the Continental Congress, where he first 
gained prominence through his energetic 
opposition to the issue of paper money by 
the States. He continued in Congress three 
years, one of its most active and influential 
members. 

In 17S4 Mr. Madison was elected a mem- 
ber of the Virginia Legislature. He ren- 
dered important service by promoting and 
participating in that revision of the statutes 
which effectually abolished the remnants of 
the feudal system subsistent up to that 
time in the form of entails, primogeniture, 
and State support given the Anglican 
Church ; and his " Memorial and Remon- 
strance" against a general assessment for 
the support of religion is one of the ablest 
papers which emanated from his pen. It 
settled the question of the entire separation 
of church antl State in \'irginia. 

Mr. Jefferson says of him, in allusion to 
the study and experience through which he 
had already passed : 

" Trained in these successive schools, he 
acquired a habit of self-possession which 
placed at ready command the rich resources 
of his lummous and discriminating mind and 
of his extensive information, and rendered 
him the first of every assembly of which he 
afterward became a member. Never wan- 
dering from his subject into vain declama- 
tion, but pursuing it closelv in language 
pure, classical and copious, soothing al- 
ways the feelings of his adversaries by civili- 
ties and softness of expression, he rose to the 
eminent station which he held in the great 
National Convention of 17S7 ; and in that of 
Virginia, which followed, he sustained the 



new Constitution in all its parts, bearing off 
the palm against the logic of George Mason 
and the fervid declamation of Patrick 
Henry. With these consummate powers 
were united a pure and spotless virtue 
which no calumny has ever attempted to 
sully. Of the power and polish of his pen, 
and of the wisdom of his administration in 
the highest office of the nation, I need say 
nothing. They have spoken, and will for- 
ever speak, for themselves." 

In January, 1786, Mr. Madison took the 
initiative in proposing a meeting of State 
Commissioners to devise measures for more 
satisfactory commercial relations between 
the States. A meeting was held at An- 
napolis to discuss this subject, and but five 
States were represented. The convention 
issued another call, drawn up by Mr. Madi- 
son, urging all the States to send their dele- 
gates to Philadelphia, in May, 1787, to 
draught a Constitution for the United 
States. The delegates met at the time ap- 
pointed, every State except Rhode Island 
being represented. George Washington 
was chosen president of the convention, 
and the present Constitution of the United 
States was then aiul there formed. There 
was no mind and no pen more active in 
framing this immortal tlocument than the 
mind and pen of James Madison. He was, 
perhaps, its ablest advocate in the pages of 
the Federalist- 

Mr. Madison was a member of the first 
four Congresses, 1789-97, in which he main- 
tained a moderate oppositi(jn to HaniiUon's 
financial policy. He declined the mission 
to France and the Secretaryshii) of State, 
and, gradually identifying himself with the 
Republican partv, became from 1792 its 
avowed leader. In 1796 he was its choice 
for the Presidency as successor to Wash- 
ington. Mr. Jefferson wrote: "There is 
iKjt another person in the United States 
with whom, being placed at the helm of our 
affairs, my mind would be so completely at 



30 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



rest for the fortune of our political bark." 
But Mr. Madison declined to be a candi- 
date. His term in Congress had expired, 
and he returned from New York to his 
beautiful retreat at Montpelier. 

In 1794 Mr. Madison married a young 
widow of remarkable powers of fascination 
— Mrs. Todd. Her maiden name was Doro- 
thy Paine. She was born in 1767, in Vir- 
ginia, of Quaker parents, and had been 
educated in the strictest rules of that sect. 
When but eighteen years of age she married 
a young lawyer and moved to Philadelphia, 
where she was introduced to brilliant scenes 
of fashionable life. She speedily laid aside 
the dress and address of the Quakeress, and 
became one of the most fascinating ladies 
of the republican court. In New York, 
after the death of her husband, she was the 
belle of the season and was surrounded with 
admirers. Mr. Madison won the prize. 
She proved an invaluable helpmate. In 
Washington she was the life of society. 
If there was any diffident, timid young 
girl just making her appearance, she 
found in Mrs. Madison an encouraging 
friend. 

During the stormy administration of John 
Adams Madison remained in private life, 
but was the auth(jr of the celebrated " Reso- 
lutions of 1798," adopted by the V^irginia 
Legislature, in condemnation of the Alien 
and Sedition laws, as well as of the " report" 
in which he defended those resolutions, 
which is, by many, considered his ablest 
State paper. 

The storm passed awa\' ; the Alien and 
Sedition laws were repealed, Jolin Adams 
lost his re-election, and in 1801 Thomas Jef- 
ferson was chosen President. The great re- 
action in public sentiment which seated 
Jefferson in the presidential chair was large- 
ly owing to the writings of Madison, who 
was consequently well entitled to the post 
of Secretary of State. With great ability 
be discharged the duties of this responsible 



office during the eight years of Mr. Jeffer 
son's administration. 

As Mr. Jefferson was a widower, and 
neither of his daughters could be often with 
him, Mrs. Madison usually presided over 
the festivities of the White House; and as 
her husband succeeded Mr. Jefferson, hold- 
ing his office for two terms, this remarkable 
woman was the mistress of the presidential 
mansion for sixteen years. 

Mr. Madison being entirely engrossed by 
the cares of his office, all the duties of so- 
cial life devolved upon his accomplished 
wife. Never were such responsibilities 
more ably discharged. The most bitter 
foes of her husband and of the administra- 
tion were received with the frankly prof- 
fered hand and the cordial smile of wel- 
come; and the influence of this gentle 
woman in allaving the bitterness of party 
rancor became a great and salutary power 
in the nation. 

As the term of Mr. Jefferson's Presidency 
drew near its close, party strife was roused 
to the utmost to elect his successor. It was 
a death-grapple between the two great 
parties, the Federal and Republican. Mr. 
Madison was chosen President by an elec 
total vote of 122 to 53, and was inaugurated 
March 4, 1S09, at a critical period, when 
the relations of the United States with Great 
Britain were becoming embittered, and his 
first term was passed in diplomaticquarrels, 
aggravated b)- the act of non-intercourse of 
May, 1 8 10, and finally resulting in a decla- 
ration of war. 

On the i8th of June, 1812, President 
Madison gave his approval to an act of 
Congress declaring war against Great Brit- 
ain. Notwithstanding the bitter hostility 
of the Federal party to the war, the country 
in general approved; and in the autumn 
Madison was re-elected to the Presidency 
by 128 electoral votes to 89 in favor of 
George Clinton. 

March 4, 18 17, Madison vieldcd the Presi- 



yAMES MAD/SON. 



dency to his Secretary of State and inti- 
mate friend, James Monroe, and retired to 
his ancestral estate at Montpelier, where he 
passed the evening of his days surrounded 
by attached friends and enjoying- the 
merited respect of the whole nation. He 
took pleasure in promoting agriculture, as 
president of the county society, and in 
watching the development of the University 
of Virginia, of which he was long rector and 
visitor. In extreme old age he sat in 1829 
as a member of the convention called to re- 
form the Virginia Constitution, where his 
appearance was hailed with the most gen- 
uine interest and satisfaction, though he 
was too infirm lo participate in the active 
work of revision. Small in stature, slender 
and delicate in form, with a countenance 
full of intelligence, and expressive alike of 
mildness and dignity, he attracted the atten- 
tion of all who attended the convention, 
and was treated with the utmost deference. 
He seldom addressed the assembly, though 
he always appeared self-possessed, and 
watched witli unflagging interest the prog- 
ress of every measure. Though the con- 
vention sat sixteen weeks, he spoke only 
twice ; but when he did speak, the whole 
house paused to listen. His voice was 
feeble though his enunciation was very dis- 
tinct. One of the reporters, Mr. Stansbury, 
relates the following anecdote of Mr. Madi- 
son's last speech: 

" The next day, as there was a great call 
for it, and the report had not been returned 
for publication, I sent my son with a re- 
spectful note, requesting the manuscript. 
My son was a lad of sixteen, whom I had 
taken with me to act as amanuensis. On 
delivering my note, he was received with 
the utmost politeness, and requested to 
come up into Mr. Madison's room and wait 
while his eye ran over the paper, as com- 
pany had prevented his attending to it. He 
did so, and Mr. Madison sat down to correct 
the report. The lad stood near him so that 



his eye fell on the paper. Coming to a 
certain sentence in the speech, Mr. Madison 
erased a word and substituted another ; but 
hesitated, and not feeling satisfied with the 
second word, drew his pen through it also. 
My son was young, ignorant of the world, 
and unc(jnsciousof the solecism of which he 
was about to be guilty, when, in all simplic- 
ity, he suggested a word. Probably no 
other person then living would have taken 
such a liberty. But the sage, instead ol 
reoarding such an intrusion with a frown, 
raised his eyes to the boy's face with a 
pleased surprise, and said, ' Thank you, sir ; 
it is the very word,' and immediately in- 
serted it. I saw him the next day, and he 
mentioned the circumstance, with a compli- 
ment on the young critic." 

Mr. Madison died at Montpelier, June 28, 
1836, at the advanced age of eighty-five. 
While not possessing the highest order of 
talent, and deficient in oratorical powers, 
he was pre-eminently a statesman, of a well- 
balanced mind. His attainments were solid, 
his knowledge copious, his judgment gener- 
ally sound, his powers of analysis and logi- 
cal statement rarely surpassed, his language 
and literary style correct and polished, his 
conversation witty, his temperament san- 
guine and trusfful, his integrity unques- 
tioned, his manners simple, courteous and 
winning. By these rare qualities he con- 
ciliated the esteem not only of friends, but 
of political opponents, in a greater degree 
than any American statesman in the present 
century. 

Mrs. Madison survived her husband thir- 
teen years, and died Jul}' 12, 1849, in the 
eighty-second year of her age. She was one 
of the most remarkable women our coun- 
try has produced. Even now she is ad- 
miringly remembered in Washington as 
" Dolly Madison," and it is fitting that her 
memory should descend to posterity in 
company with thatof the companion of 
her life. 



V 



PRES/DEXTS OF THE UNJTED STATES. 



i:s 



•JkSd^- . 



'■ "* f I' 






€; 



^-^j Q ^ 3.^j.:M:g?^ Mxij^f HI? ji;^ 







-iS^iaJlS^lS.'lSPlSfia.'^:. 



'-^ 



t 




AMES MONROE, the fifth 
President of the United 
States, i8i7-'25, wasborn 
in Westmoreland County 
Virginia, April 28, 1758. 
I Ic was a son of Spence 
Monroe, and a descendant 
of a Scottish cavalier fam- 
il)-. Like all his predeces- 
sors thus far in the Presi- 
dential chair, he enjoyed all 
the advantages of educa- 
tion which the country 
could then afford. He was 
earl}' sent to a fine classical 
school, and at the age of six- 
teen entered William and Mary College.. 
In 1776, when he had been in college but 
two years, the Declaration of Independence 
was adopted, and our feeble militia, with- 
out arms, amunition or clothing, were strug- 
gling against the trained armies o( England. 
James Monroe left college, hastened to 
General Washington's headquarters at New 
York and enrolled himself as a cadet in the 
army. 

At Trenton Lieutenant Monroe so dis- 
tinguished himsell, receiving a wound in his 
shoulder, that he was promoted to a Cap- 
taincy. Upon recovering from his wound, 
he was invited to act as aide to Lord Ster- 
ling, and in that capacity he took an active 
part in the battles of Brandy wine, Ger- 
mantown and Mcjnmoulh. At Germantown 



he stood by the side of Lafayette when the 
French >Lirquis received his wound. Gen- 
eral Washington, who had formed a high 
idea of young Monroe's ability, sent him to 
Virginia to raise a new regiment, of which 
he was to be Colonel; but so exhausted was 
Virginia at that time that the effort proved 
unsuccessful. He, however, received his 
commission. 

Finding no opportunity to enter the army 
as a commissioned officer, he returned to his 
original plan of studying law, and entered 
the office of Thomas Jefferson, who was 
then Governorof Virginia. He developed 
a very noble character, frank, manly and 
sincere. Mr. Jefferson said of him: 

"James Monroe is so perfectly honest 
that if his soul were turned inside out there 
would not be found a spot on it." 

In 1782 he was elected to the Assembly 
of Virginia, and was also appointed a mem- 
ber of the Executive Council. The next 
year he was chosen delegate to the Conti- 
nental Congress for a term of three years. 
He was present at Annapolis when Wash- 
ington surrendered his commission of Com- 
mander-in-chief. 

With Washington, Jefferson and Madison 
he felt deeply the inefficiency of the old 
Articles of Confederation, and urged the 
formation of a new Constitution, which 
should invest the Central Government with 
something like national power. Influenced 
bv these views, he introduced a resolution 




^-v- 



/ A'f'^Z^^y-r^,^ ^ 



yAMES MONROE. 



35 



that Congress should be empowered to 
regulate trade, and to lay an impost duty 
of five per cent. The resolution was refer- 
red to a committee of which he was chair- 
man. The report and the discussion wliich 
rose upon it led to the convention of five 
States at Annapolis, and the consequent 
general convention at I-*hiladelphia, which, 
in 1787, drafted the Constitution of the 
United States. 

At this tune there was a controversy be- 
tween New York and Massachusetts in 
reference to their boundaries. The high 
esteem in which Colonel Monroe was held 
is indicated by the fact that he was ap- 
pointed one of the jutiges to decide the 
controversy. While in New York attend- 
ing Congress, lie married Miss Kortright, 
a young lady distinguished alike for her 
beauty and accomplishments. For nearl}' 
fifty years this happy uni<in remained un- 
broken. In London and in Paris, as in her 
own country, Mrs. Monroe won admiration 
and affecticjii by the loveliness of her per- 
son, the brilliancy of her intellect, and the 
amiability of her character. 

Returning to Virginia, Colonel Monroe 
commenced the practice of law at Freder- 
icksburg. He was very soon elected to a 
seat in the State Legislature, and the next 
year he was chosen a member ol the Vir- 
ginia convention which was assembled to 
decide u})on the acceptance or rejection of 
the Constitution which had been drawn up 
at Philadelphia, and was now submitted 
to the several States. Deepl}' as he felt 
the imperfections of tiie old Confederacy, 
he was opposed to the new Constitution, 
thinking, with many others of the Republi- 
can party, that it gave too much power to 
the Central Government, and not enough 
to the individual States. 

In 1789 he became a member of the 
United States Senate, which office he held 
acceptably to his constituents, and with 
honor to himself for four years. 



Having opposed the Constitution as not 
leaving enough power with the States, he, 
of course, became more and more identi- 
fied with the Republican party. Thus he 
found himself in cordial co-operation with 
Jeffers(jn and Madison. The great Repub- 
lican party became the dominant power 
which ruled the land. 

George Washington was then President. 
England had espoused the cause of the 
Bourbons against the principles of the 
French Revolution. President Washing- 
ton issued a proclamation of neutrality be- 
tween these contending powers. France 
had helped us in the struggle for our lib- 
erties. All tlie despotisms of Eurojie were 
now combined to prevent the French 
from escaping from tyranny a thousandfold 
worse than that which we had endured. 
Colonel Monroe, more magnanimous than 
prudent, was anxious that we should help 
our old allies in their extremity. He vio- 
lently opposed the President's procla- 
mation as ungrateful and wanting in 
magnanimity. 

Washington, who could appreciate such 
a character, developed his calm, serene, 
almost divine greatness by appointing that 
very James Monroe, who was denouncing 
the policy of the Government, as the Minis- 
ter of that Government to the republic of 
France. He was directed by Washington 
to express to the French people our warm- 
est sympathy, comnumicating to them cor- 
responding resolves approved by the Pres- 
ident, and adopted by both houses of 
Congress. 

Mr. Monroe was welcomed by the Na- 
tional Convention in France with the most 
enthusiastic demonstrations of respect and 
affection. He was publicly introduced to 
that body, and received the embrace of the 
President, Merlin de Douay, after having 
been addressed in a speech glowing with 
congratulations, and with expressions of 
desire that harmony might ever exist be 



36 



P/iES/DENTS OF THE UN/TED STATES. 



tweeii tlic two naticjiis. Tlic flags of the 
two republics wt-rc intertwined in the hall 
of the convention. Mr. Monroe presented 
the American colors, and received those of 
France in return. The course which he 
pursued in Paris was so annoying to Eng- 
land and to the friends of England in 
this country that, near the close of Wash- 
ington's administration, Mr. Monroe, was 
recalled. 

After his return Colonel Monroe wrote a 
book of 400 pages, entitled " A View of the 
Conduct of the Executive in Foreign Af- 
fairs." In this work he very ably advo- 
cated his side of the question; but, with 
the magnanimity of the man, he recorded a 
warm tribute to the patriotism, ability and 
spotless integrity of John Jay, between 
whom and himself there was intense antag- 
onism ; and in subsequent 3'ears he ex- 
pressed in warmest terms his perfect 
veneration for the character of George 
Washington. 

Shortly after his return to this country 
Colonel Monroe was elected Governor of 
Virginia, and held that office for three 
years, the period limited by the Constitu- 
tion. In 1802 he was an Envoy to France, 
and to Spain in 1805, and was Minister to 
England in 1803. In i8o6 he returned to 
his quiet home in Virginia, and with his 
wife and children and an ample competence 
from liis paternal estate, enjoyed a few years 
of (hjmestic repose. 

In 1809 Mr. JefTerson's second term of 
office expired, and many of the Rei)ul)lican 
party were anxious to nominate James 
Monroe as his successor. The majoritv 
were in favor of Mr. Madison. Mr. Mon- 
roe withdrew his name and was soon after 
chosen a second time Governor of Virginia. 
He soon resigned that office to accept the 
position of Secretary of State, offered him 
by President Madison. The correspond- 
ence which he then carried on with the 
British Government demonstrated that 



there was no hope of any peaceful adjust- 
ment of our difficulties with the cabinet of 
St. James. War was consequently declared 
in June, 1812. Immediately after the sack 
of Washington the Secretary of War re- 
signed, and Mr. Monroe, at the earnest 
request of Mr. Madison, assumed the ad- 
ditional duties of the War Department, 
without resigning his position as Secretary 
of State. It has been confidently stated, 
that, had Mr. Monroe's energies been in the 
War Department a few months earlier, the 
disaster at Washington would not have 
occurred. 

The duties now devolving upon Mr. Mon- 
roe were extremely arduous. Ten thou- 
sand men, picked from the veteran armies 
of Englanil, were sent with a powerful fleet 
to New Orleans to acquire possession of 
the mouths of the Mississippi. Our finan- 
ces were in the most deplorable condition. 
The treasury was exhausted and our credit 
gone. And yet it was necessary to make 
the most rigorous preparations to meet the 
foe. In this crisis James Monroe, the Sec- 
retary of W^ar, with virtue unsurpassed in 
Greek or Roman story, stepped forward 
and pledged his own individual credit as 
subsidiary to that of the nation, and thus 
succeeded in placing the city of New Or- 
leans in such a posture of defense, that it 
was enabled snccessfuUv to repel the in- 
vader. 

Mr. Monroe was truly the armor-bearer 
of President Madison, and the most efficient 
business man in his cabinet. His energy 
in the double capacity of Secretary, bt^th 
of State and War, pervaded all the depart- 
ments of the country. He proposed to 
increase the army to 100,000 men, a meas- 
ure which he deemed absolute!}' necessary 
to save us from ignominious defeat, but 
which, at the same time, he knew would 
render his name so unpopular as to preclude 
the possibility of his being a successful can- 
didate for the Presidency. 



fAMES MONROE. 



yj 



The happy result of the conference at 
Ghent in securing peace rendered the in- 
crease of the army unnecessary; but it is not 
too much to say that James Monroe placed 
in the hands of Andrew Jackson the 
weapon with which to beat off the foe at 
New Orleans. Upon the return of peace 
Mr. Monroe resigned the department of 
war, devoting himself entirely to the duties 
of Secretary of State. These he continued 
to discharge until the close of President 
Madison's administration, with zeal which 
was never abated, and with an ardor of 
self-devotion which made him almost for- 
getful of the claims of fortune, health or 
life. 

Mr. Madison's second term expired in 
March, 1817, and Mr. Monroe succeeded 
to the Presidency. He was a candidate of 
the Republican party, now taking the name 
of the Democratic Republican. In 1821 he 
was re-elected, with scarcely any opposition. 
Out cf 232 electoral votes, he received 231. 
The slavery question, which subsequently 
assumed such ft)rmidable dimensions, now 
began to make its appearance. The State 
of Missouri, which had been carved out of 
that immense territory which we had pur- 
chased of France, applied for admission to 
the Union, with a slavery Constitution. 
There were not a few who foresaw the 
evils impending. After the debate of a 
week it was decided that Missouri could 
not be admitted into the Union with slav- 
ery. This important question was at length 
settled by a compromise proposed by 
Henry Clay. 

The famous " Monroe Doctrine," of which 
so much has been said, originated in this 
way: In 1823 it was rumored that the 
Holy Alliance was about to interfere to 
prevent the establishment of Republican 
liberty in the European colonies of South 
America. President Monroe wrote to his 
old friend Thomas Jefferson for advice in 
the emergency. In his reply under date of 



October 24, Mr. Jefferson writes upon the 
supposition that our attempt to resist this 
European movement might lead to war: 

" Its object is to introduce and establish 
the American system of keeping out of our 
land all foreign powers; of never permitting 
those of Europe to intermeddle with the 
affairs of our nation. It is to maintain our 
own principle, not to depart from it." 

December 2, 1823, President Monroe 
sent a message to Congress, declaring it to 
be the policy of this Government not to 
entangle ourselves with the broils of Eu- 
rope, and not to allow Europe to interfere 
with the affairs (jf nations on the American 
continent; and the doctrine was announced, 
that any attempt on the part of the Euro- 
pean powers " to extend their system to 
any portion of this hemisphere would be 
regai^ded by the United States as danger- 
ous to our peace and safety." 

March 4, 1825, Mr. Monroe surrendered 
the presidential chair to his Secretary of 
State, John Quincy Adams, and retired, 
with the universal respect of the nation, 
to his private residence at Oak Hill, Lou- 
doun County, Virginia. His time had been 
so entirely consecrated to his country, that 
he had neglected his pecuniary interests, 
and was deeply involved in debt. The 
welfare of his coimtry had ever been up- 
permost in his mind. 

For many years Mrs. Monroe was in such 
feeble health that she rarely appeared in 
public. In 1830 Mr. Monroe took up his 
residence with his son-in-law in New York, 
where he died on the 4th of July, 1831. 
The citizens of New York conducted his 
obsequies with pageants more imposing 
than had ever been witnessed there before. 
Our country will ever cherish his mem- 
ory with pride, gratefully enrolling his 
name in the list of its benefactors, pronounc- 
ing him the worthy successor of the illus- 
trious men who had preceded him in the 
presidential chair. 



38 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UN /TED STATES. 












OHN QUINCY ADAMS, 
the sixth President of the 
United States, 1825-9, 
was born in tlic lural 
home of his honored 
father, John Adams, in 
Q u i n c y , Massachusetts, 
Jidy II, 1767. His mother, 
a woman of exalted worth, 
watched over his childhood 
during the almost constant 
absence of his father. He 
commcnctfl his education 
at the village school, giving 
at an early period indica- 
tions of superior mental en- 
dowments. 

When eleven years of age he sailed with 
his father for Europe, where the latter was 
associated with Franklin and Lee as Minister 
Plenipotentiary. The intelligence of John 
Quincy attracted the attention of these men 
and received from them flattering marks of 
attention. Mr. Atlams had scarcely returned 
to this country in 1779 ere he was again 
sent abroad, and John Quincy again accom- 
panied him. On this voyage he commenced 
a diary, which practice he continued, with 
but few interruptions, until his death- He 
journeyed with his father from Ferrol, in 
Spain, to Paris. Here he applied himself 
for six months to study; then accompanied 



his father to Holland, where he entered, 
first a school in Amsterdam, and then the 
Universit}' of Leyden. In 1781, when only 
fourteen years of age, he was selected by 
Mr. Dana, our Minister to the Russian 
court, as his private secretary. In this 
school of incessant labor he spent fourteen 
months, and then returned alone to Holland 
through Sweden, Denmark, Hamburg and 
Bremen. Again he resumed his studies 
under a private tutor, at The Hague. 

In the spring of 1782 he accompanied his 
father to Paris, forming acquaintance with 
the most distinguished men on the Conti- 
nent. After a short visit to England, he re- 
turned to Paris and studied until May, 
1785, wiicn he returned to America, leav- 
ing his father an embassador at the court 
of St. Jaincs. In 17S6 he entered ttie jun- 
ior class in Harvard University, and grad- 
uated with the second honor of his class. 
The oration he delivered on this occasion,_ 
the " Importance of Public Faith to the 
Well-being of a Community," was pub- 
lished — an event very rare in this or any 
other land. 

Upon leaving college at the age of twenty 
he studied law three years with the Hon. 
Thcophilus Parsons in Newburyport. In 
1790 he opened a law office in Boston. The 
profession was crowded with able men, and 
the fees were small. The first year he had 




J, 2 . J^lcinry^ 



JOHN ^CriNCi- ADAMS. 



no clients, but not a moment was lost. The 
second year passed away, still no clients, 
and still he was dependent upon his parents 
for support. Anxiously he awaited the 
third year. The reward now came. Cli- 
ents began to enter his office, and before 
the end of the year he was so crowded 
with business that all solicitude respecting 
a support was at an end. 

When Great Britain commenced war 
against France, in 1793, Mr. Adams wrote 
some articles, urging entire neutrality on 
the part of the United .States. The view 
was not a popular one. Many felt that as 
France had helped us, we were bound to 
ht'p France. But President Washington 
coincided with Mr. Adams, and issued his 
proclamation of neutrality. His writings 
at this time in the Boston journals gave 
him so higli a reputation, that in June, 
1794, he was appointed b)' Washington 
resident Minister at the Netherlands. In 
July. 1797. he left The Hague to go to Port- 
ugal as Minister Plenipotentiary. Wash- 
in<rtonat this time wrote to his father, John 
Adams: 

" Without intending to compliment the 
father or the mother, or to censure any 
others, I give it as my decided opinion, 
that Mr. Adams is the most valuable char- 
acter we have abroad; and there remains 
no doubt in my mind that he will yirove the 
ablest of our diplomatic corps." 

On his way to Portugal, upon his arrival 
in London, he met witii dispatches direct- 
ing him to the court of Berlin, but request- 
ing him to remain in London until he should 
receive instructions. Wliile waiting he 
was marricil to Miss Louisa Catherine John- 
son, to whom he had been previously en- 
gaged. Miss Johnson was a daughter of 
Mr. Joshua Johnson, American Consul 
in London, and was a lady endowed with 
that beauty and those accomplishments 
which fitted her to move in the elevated 
sphere for which she was destined. 



In July, 1799, having fulfilled all the pur- 
poses of his mission, Mr. Adams returned. 
In 1802 he was chosen to the Senate of 
Massachusetts from Boston, and then was 
elected Senator of the United States for six 
years from March 4, 1804. His reputation, 
his ability and his experience, placed him 
immediately among the most prominent 
and influential members of that body. He 
sustained the Government in its measures 
of resistance to the encroachments of Eng- 
land, destroying our commerce and insult- 
ing our flag. There was no man in America 
more familiar with the arrogance of the 
British court upon these points, and no 
one more resolved to present a firm resist- 
ance. This course, so truly patriotic, and 
which scarcely a voice will now be found 
to condemn, alienated him from the Fed- 
eral party dominant in Boston, and sub- 
jected him to censure. 

In 18015 Mr. Adams was chosen professor 
of rhetoric in Harvard College. His lect- 
ures at this place were subsequently pub- 
lished. In 1809 he was sent as Minister to 
Russia. He was one of the commissioneis 
that negotiated the treaty of peace with 
Great Britain, signed December 24, 1814, 
and he was appointed Minister to the court 
of St. James in 1815. In 1817 he became 
Secretary of State in Mr. Monroe's cabinet 
in which position he remained eight years. 
Few will now contradict the assertion that 
the duties of that office were never more 
ably discharged. Probably the most im- 
portant measure which Mr. Adams con- 
ducted was the purchase of Florida from 
Spain for $5,000,000. 

The campaign of 1824 was an exciting 
one. Four candidates were in the field. 
Of the 260 electoral votes that were cast, 
Andrew Jackson received ninetv-nine; John 
Ouincy Adams, eighty-four; William H. 
Crawford, forty-one, and Henry Cla)% 
thirty-seven. As there was no choice b}' 
the people, the question went to the House 



4' 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



of Representatives. Mr. Clay gave the 
vote of Kentucky to Mr. Adams, and he 
was elected. 

The friends of all disappointed candidates 
now combined in a venomous assault upon 
Mr. Adams. There is nothing more dis- 
graceful in the past history of our country 
than the abuse which was poured in one 
uninterrupted stream upon this high- 
minded, upright, patriotic man. There was 
never an administration more pure in prin- 
ciples, more conscientiously devoted to tiic 
best interests of the country, than that of 
John Ouincv Adams; and never, perhaps, 
was there an administration more unscru- 
pulousl)' assailed. Mr. Adams took his seat 
in the presidential chair resolved not to 
know any partisanship, but only to con- 
sult for the interests of the whole Republic, 

He refused to dismiss any man from f)f- 
fice for his political views. If he was a faitli- 
ful ofTicer that was enougii. Bitter nuist 
have been his disappointment to find that the 
Nation could not appreciate such conduct. 

Mr. Adams, in liis public maimers, was 
cold and repulsive; tiu)ugli with his per- 
sonal friends he was at times very genial. 
This chilling address very seriously de- 
tracted from his popularity. No one can 
read an impartial lecord of his administra- 
tion without admitting tliat a more noble 
example of uncompromising dignity can 
scarcely be found. It was stated publicly 
that Mr. Adams' administration was to be 
put down, " though it be as pure as the an- 
gels which stand at the right hand of the 
throne of God." Many of the active par- 
ticipants in these scenes lived to regret the 
course they pursued. Some 3'ears after, 
Warren R. Davis, of South Carolina, turn- 
ing to Mr. Adams, then a member of the 
House of l^epresentatives, said: 

" Well do I remember the enthusiastic 
zeal with which we reproached tiie admin- 
istration of that gentleman, and the ardor 
and vehemence with which wc labored to 



bring in another. For the share I had in 
these transactions, and it was not a small 
one, I hope God will forgive me, for I shall 
never forgive myself!' 

March 4, 1829, Mr. Adams retired from 
the Presidency and was succeeded by An- 
drew Jackson, the latter receiving 168 out 
of 261 electoral votes. John C. Calhoun 
was elected Vice-President. The slavery 
question now began to assume pretentious 
magnitude. Mr. Adams returned to 
Ouinc}', and pursued his studies with ima- 
bated zeal. But he was not long permitted 
to remain in retirement. In November, 
1830, he was elected to Congress. In this 
he recognized the principle that it is honor- 
able for the General of yesterdav to act as 
Corporal to-day, if by so doing he can ren- 
der service to his country. Deep as are 
our obligations to John Qnincy Adams for 
his services as embassador, as Secretary of 
State and as President; in his capacity as 
legislator in the House of Representa- 
tives, he conferred benefits upon our land 
which eclipsed all the rest, and wiiicii can 
never be over-estimated. 

For seventeen )-ears, until his death, he 
occupied the post of Representative, tow- 
ering above all his peers, ever ready to do 
brave battle for freedom, and winning the 
title of " the old man eloquent." Upon 
taking his seat in the House he announced 
that he sliould hold himself bound to no 
party. Me was usually the first in his 
place in tin- morning, and the last to leave 
his seat in the evening. Not a measure 
could escape his scrutiny. The battle 
which he fought, almost singly, against the 
pro-slavery party in the Government, was 
sublime in its moral daring and heroism. 
For persisting in presenting j)ctitions for 
the abolition of slavery, he was threatened 
with indictment by the Grand Jury, witii 
expulsion from the House, with a.ssassina- 
tion; but no threats could intimidate hina, 
and his final triumpii was complete. 



JOHN ^UINCr ADAMS. 



43 



On one occasion Mr. Adams presented a 
petition, signed by several women, against 
the annexation of Texas for the purpose of 
cutting it up into slave States. Mr. How- 
ard, of Maryland, said that these women 
discredited not only themselves, but their 
section of the country, by turning from 
their domestic duties to the conflicts of po- 
litical life. 

"Are women," exclaimed Mr. Adams, 
" to have no opinions or actions on subjects 
relating to the general welfare ? Where 
did the gentleman get his principle? Did 
he find it in sacred history. — in the language 
of Miriam, the prophetess, in one of the 
noblest and sublime songs of triumph that 
ever met the human eve or ear? Did the 
gentleman never hear of Deborah, to whom 
the children of Israel came up for judg- 
ment ? Has he forgotten the deed of Jael, 
who slew the dreaded enemy of her coun- 
try ? Has he forgotten Esther, who, by her 
petition saved her people and her coun- 
try ? 

" To go from sacred history to profane, 
does the gentleman there find it ' discredita- 
ble ' for women to take an interest in politi- 
cal affairs? Has he forgotten the Spartan 
mother, who said to her son when going 
out to battle, ' My son, come back to me 
witli thy shield, or upon thy shield ?' Does 
he remember Cloelia and her hundred com- 
panions, who swam across the river unir^er 
a shower of darts, escaping from Porsena ? 
Has he forgotten Cornelia, the mother of 
the Gracchi? Does he not remember Por- 
tia, the wife of Brutus and the daughter of 
Cato? 

" To come to later periods, what says the 
history of our Anglo-Saxon ancestors ? 
To say nothing of Boadicea, the British 
heroine in the time of the Cajsars, what 
name is more illustrious than that of Eliza- 
beth ? Or, if he will go to the continent, 
will he not find the names of Maria Theresa 
ot Hungary, of the two Catherines of 



Prussia, and of Isabella of Castile, the pa- 
troness of Columbus ? Did she bring ' dis- 
credit ' on her sex by mingling in politics ? " 

In this glowing strain Mr. Adams si- 
lenced and overwhelmed his antagonists. 

In January, 1842, Mr. Adams presented 
a petition from forty-five citizens of Haver- 
hill, Massachusetts, praying for a peaceable 
dissolution of the Union. The pro-slavery 
party in Congress, who were then plotting 
the destruction of the Government, were 
aroused to a pretense of commotion such as 
even our stormy hall of legislation has 
rarely witnessed. They met in caucus, and, 
finding that they probably would not be 
able to expel Mr. Adams from the House 
drew up a series of resolutions, which, if 
adopted, would inflict upon him disgrace, 
equivalent to expulsion. Mr. Adams had 
presented the petition, which was most re- 
spectfully worded, and had moved that it be 
referred to a committee instructed to re- 
port an answer, showing the reason wh> 
the prayer ouglit not to be granted. 

It was the 25th of Januar3^ The whole 
body of the pro-slavery party came crowd- 
ing together in the House, prepared to 
crush Mr. Adams forever. One of the num- 
ber, Thomas F. Marshall, of Kentucky, was 
appointed to read the resolutions, which 
accused Mr. Adams of high treason, of 
having insulted the Government, and 01 
meriting expulsion; but for which deserved 
punishment, the House, in its great mercy, 
would substitute its severest censure. With 
the assumption of a very solemn and mag- 
isterial air, there being breathless silence in 
the audience, Mr. Marshall liurled the care- 
fully prepared anathemas at his victim. 
Mr. Adams stood alone, the whole pro-slav- 
ery party against him. 

As soon as the resolutions were read, 
every eye being fixed upon him, that bold 
old man, whose scattered locks were whit- 
ened by seventy-five years, casting a wither- 
ing glance in the direction of his assailants> 



44 



PFESfDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



in a clear, shrill tone, tremulous with sup- 
pressed emotion, said: 

"In reply to this audacious, atrocious 
chargfe of higrh treason, I call for the read- 
ing of the first paragraph of the Declaration 
of Independence. Read it ! Read it ! and 
see what that says of the rights of a people 
to reform, to change, and to dissolve their 
Government.' 

The attitude, the manner, the tone, the 
words; the venerable old man, with flash- 
ing eye and flushed cheek, and whose very 
form seemed to expand under the inspiration 
of the occasion — all presented a scene over- 
flowing in its sublimity. There was breath- 
less silence as that paragraph was read, in 
defense of whose principles our fathers had 
pledged their lives, their fortunes and their 
sacred honor. It was a proud hour to Mr. 
Adams as they were all compelled to listen 
to the words: 

" That, to secure these rights, govern- 
ments are instituted among men, deriving 
their just powers from the consent of the 
governed; and that whenever any form of 
government becomes destructive of those 
ends, it is the right of the people to alter or 
abolish it, and to institute new government, 
laying its foundations on such principles 
and organizing its powers in such form 
as shall seem most likely to effect their 
safety and happiness." 

That one sentence routed and baffled the 



foe. The heroic old man looked around 
upon the audience, and thundered out, 
" Read that again ! " It was again read. 
Then in a few fiery, logical words he stated 
his defense in terms which even prejudiced 
minds could not resist. His discomfited 
assailants made several attempts to rally. 
After a conflict of eleven days they gave 
up vanquished and their resolution was ig- 
nominiously laid upon the table. 

In January, 1846, when seventy-eight 
years of age, he took part in the great de- 
bate on the Oregon question, displaying 
intellectual vigor, and an extent and accu- 
racy of acquaintance with the subject that 
excited great admiration. 

On the 2ist of Februarv, 1848, he rose on 
the floor of Congress with a paper in his 
hand to address the Speaker. Suddenly 
he fell, stricken bv paral3'sis, and was caught 
in the arms of those around him. For a 
time he was senseless and was conveyed 
to a sofa in the rotunda. With reviving 
consciousness he opened his eyes, looked 
calmly around and said, " This is the end of 
earth." Then after a moment's pause, he 
added, " / am content." These were his last 
words, and he soon breathed his last, in the 
apartment beneath the dome of the capitol 
— -the theater of his labors and his triumphs. 
In the language of hymnology, he " died at 
his post;" he " ceased at once to work and 
live." 




^z<^.£^^ , ._ <z:^Cc ^^^^J-€^ 



ANDREW yACKSON. 



47 



?Si- '^^' "" ' fv^^f^":™" """•"•""""" ' " "'^"^I^g 

y !..;;:.=::.■..... ^.^^-^ J> 

1^ 




"^"^NDREW JACKSON, 
the seventh President 
t^ of the United States, 
i829-'37, was born at 
the Waxhaw Settle. 
-,-.-.-,T- '■ j'^ ment, Union Coun- 
"* t}-. North Carolina, 
March i6, 1767. His parents 
were Scotch-Irish, natives of 
Carrickfergus, who came to 
America in 1765, and settled 
on Twelve-Mile Creek, a trib- 
utary of the Catawba. His 
father, who was a poor farm 
laborer, died shortly before An- 
drew's birth, when his mother removed to 
Waxhaw, where some relatives resided. 

Few particulars of the childhood of Jack- 
son have been preserved. His education 
was of the most limited kind, and he showed 
no fondness for books. He grew up to be a 
tall, lank boy, with coarse hair and freck- 
led cheeks, with bare feet dangling from 
trousers too short for him, very fond of ath- 
letic sports, running, boxing and wrestling. 
He was generous to the younger and 
weaker boys, but very irascible and over- 
bearing with his equals and superiors. He 
was profane — a vice in which he surpassed 
all other men. The character of his mother 



he revered; and it was not until after her 
death that his predominant vices gained 
full strength. 

In 1780, at the age of thirteen, Andrew, 
or Andy, as he was called, with his brother 
Robert, volunteered to serve in the Revo- 
lutionary forces under General Sumter, and 
was a witness of the latter's defeat at Hang- 
ing Rock. In the following year the 
brothers were made prisoners, and confined 
in Camden, experiencing brutal treatment 
from their captors, and being spectators of 
General Green's defeat at Hobkirk Hill. 
Through their mother's exertions the boys 
were exchanged" while suffering from small- 
pox. In two days Robert was dead, and 
Andy apparently dying. The strength of 
his constitution triumphed, and he regained 
health and vigor. 

As he was getting better, his mother 
heard the cry of anguish from the prison- 
ers whom the British held in Charleston, 
among whom were the sons of her sisters. 
She hastened to their relief, was attacked 
by fever, died and was buried where her 
grave could never be found. Thus Andrew 
Jackson, when fourteen years of age, was 
left alone in the world, without father, 
mother, sister or brother, and without one 
dollar which he could call his own. He 



48 



PRES/DEXTS OF Tfi£ UN/TED STATES. 



soon entered a saddler's shop, and labored 
diligently for six months. But graduall}-, 
as health returned, he became more and 
more a wild, reckless, lawless boy- He 
gambled, drank and was regarded as about 
the worst character that could be found. 

He now turned schoolmaster. He could 
teach the alphabet, perhaps the multiplica- 
tion table; and as he was a very bold bo)'. 
it is possible he might have ventured to 
teach a little writing. But he soon began to 
think of a profession and decided to study 
law. With a very slender purse, and on 
the back of a very fine horse, he set out 
for Salisbury, North Carolina, where he 
entered the law office of Mr. McCaj'. 
Here he remained two years, professedly 
studying law. He is still remembered in 
traditions of Salisbury, which say: 

" Andrew Jackson was the most roaring, 
rollicking, horse-racing, card-playing, mis- 
chievous fellow thatever lived in Salisbury. 
He did not trouble the law-books much." 

Andrew was now, at the age of twenty, 
a tall young man, being over six feet in 
height. He was slender, remarkably grace- 
ful and dignified in his manners, an exquis- 
ite horseman, and developed, amidst his 
loathesome profanity and multiform vices, a 
vein of rare magnanimity. His temper was 
fiery in the extreme; but it' was said of him 
that no man knew better than Andrew 
Jackson when to get angry and when not. 

In 1786 he was admitted to the bar, and 
two years later removed to Nashville, 
in what was then the western district of 
North Carolina, with the appointment of so- 
licitor, or public prosecutor. It was an of- 
fice of little honor, small emolument and 
great peril. Few men could be found to 
accept it. 

And now Andrew Jackson commenced 
vigorously to practice law. It was an im- 
portant part of his business to collect debts. 
It required nerve. During the first seven 
years of his residence in those wilds he 



traversed the almost pathless forest between 
Nashville and Jonesborough, a distance of 
200 miles, twenty-two times. Hostile In- 
dians were constantl}- on the watch, and a 
man was liable at any moment to be shot 
down in his own field. Andrew Jackson 
was just the man for this service — a wild, 
daring, rough backwoodsman. Daily he 
made hair-breadth escapes. He seemed to 
bear a charmed life. Boldlv, alone or with 
few companions, he traversed the forests, 
encountering all perils and triumphing 
over all. 

In 1790 Tennessee became a Territory, 
and Jackson was appointed, by President 
Washington, United States Attorney for 
the new district. In 1791 he married Mrs. 
Rachel Robards (daughter of Colonel John 
Donelson), whom he supposed to have been 
divorced in that year by an act of the Leg- 
islature of Virginia. Two years after this 
Mr. and Mrs. Jackson learned, to their 
great surprise, that Mr. Robards had just 
obtained a divorce in one of the courts of 
Kentucky, and that the act of the Virginia 
Legislature was not final, but conditional. 
To remedy the irrcgularitv as much as pos- 
sible, a new license was obtained and the 
marriage ceremony was again performed. 

It proved to be a marriage of rare felic- 
ity. Probably there never was a more 
affectionate union. However rough Mr. 
Jackson might have been abroad, he was 
always gentle and tender at home; and 
through all the vicissitudes of their lives, he 
treated Mrs. Jackson with the most chival- 
ric attention. 

Under the circumstances it was not un- 
natural that the facts in the case of this 
marriage were so misrepresented by oppo- 
nents in the political campaigns a quarter 
or a century later as to become the basis 
of serious charges against Jackson's moral- 
ity which, however, have been satisfactorily 
attested by abundant evidence. 

Jackson was untiring in his duties as 



A. V DREW yACk'SOM. 



49 



United States Attorney, which (lemaiided 
frequent journeys through the wilderness 
and exposed him to Indian hostilities. He 
acquired considerable property in- land, and 
obtained such intluence as to be chosen 
a member of the convention which framed 
the Constitution for the new State of Ten- 
nessee, in 1796, and in that year was elected 
its first Representative in Congress. Albert 
Gallatin thus describes the first appearance 
of the Hon. Andrew Jackson in the House: 
" A tall, lank, uncouth-looking personage, 
with locks of hair hanging over his face and 
a cue down his back, tied with an eel skin; 
his dress singular, his manners and deport- 
ment those of a rough backwoodsman." 

Jackson was an earnest advocate of the 
Democratic party. Jefferson was his idol. 
He admired Bonaparte, loved France and 
hated England. As Mr. Jackson took his 
seat. General Washington, whose second 
term of office was just expiring, delivered 
his last speech to Congress. A committee 
drew up a complimentary address in reply. 
Andrew Jackson did not approve the ad- 
dress and was one of twelve who voted 
against it. 

Tennessee had fitted out an expedition 
against the Indians, contrary to the policy 
of the Government. A resolution was intro- 
duced that the National Government 
should pay the expenses. Jackson advo- 
cated it and it was carried. This rendered 
him very popular in Tennessee. A va- 
cancy chanced soon after to occur in the 
Senate, and Andrew Jackson was chosen 
United States Senator by the State of Ten- 
nessee. John Adams was then President 
and Thomas Jefferson, Vice-President. 

In 1798 Mr. Jackson returned to Tennes- 
see, and resigned his seat in the Senate. 
Soon after he was chosen Judge of the Su- 
preme Court of that State, with a salary of 
$600. This oflice he held six years. It is 
said that his decisions, though sometimes 
ungrammatical, were generally right. He 



did not enjov his seat upon the bench, and 
renounced the dignity in 1804. About 
this time he was chosen Major-General of 
militia, and lost the title of judge in that of 
General. 

When he retired from the Senate Cham- 
ber, he decided to try his fortune through 
trade. He purchased a stock of goods in 
Philadelphia and sent them to Nashville, 
where he opened a store. He lived about 
thirteen miles from Nashville, on a tract of 
land of several thousand acres, mostly un- 
cultivated. He used a small block-house 
for a store, from a narrow window of 
which he sold goods to the Indians. As he 
had an assistant his office as judge did not 
materially interfere with his business. 

As to slavery, born in the midst of it, the 
idea never seemed to enter his mind that it 
could be wrong. He eventually became 
an extensive slave owner, but he was one of 
the most humane and gentle of masters. 

In 1804 Mr. Jackson withdrew from pol- 
itics and settled on a plantation which he 
called the Hermitage, near Nashville. He 
set up a cotton-gin, formed a partnership 
and traded in New Orleans, making the 
voyage on flatboats. Through his hot tem- 
per he became involved in several quarrels 
and " affairs of honor," during this period, 
in one of which he was severely wounded, 
but had the misfortune to kill his opponent, 
Charles Dickinson. For a time this affair 
greatly injured General Jackson's popular- 
ity. The verdict then was, and continues 
to be, that General Jackson was outra- 
geously wrong. If he subsequently felt any 
remorse he never revealed it to anyone. 

In 1805 Aaron Burr had visited Nash- 
ville and been a guest of Jackson, with 
whom he corresponded on the subject of a 
war with Spain, which was anticipated and 
desired by them, as well as by the people 
of the Southwest generally. 

Burr repeated his visit in September, 
1806, when he engaged in the celeorated 



SP 



PREJIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



combinations which led to his trial for trea- 
son. He was warmly received by Jackson, 
at whose instance a public ball was given 
in his honor at Nashville, and contracted 
with the latter for boats and provisions. 
Early in 1807, when Burr had been pro- 
claimed a traitor by President Jefferson, 
volunteer forces for the Federal service 
were organized at Nashville under Jack- 
son's command; but his energy and activ- 
ity did not shield him from suspicions of 
connivance in the supposed treason. He 
was summoned to Richmond as a witness 
in Burr's trial, but was not called to the 
stand, probably because he was out-spoken 
in his partisanship. 

On the outbreak of the war with Great 
Britain in 1812, Jackson tendered his serv- 
ices, and in January, 181 3, embarked for 
New Orleans at the head of the Tennessee 
contingent. In March he received an or- 
der to disband his forces; but in Septem- 
ber he again took tlie field, in the Creek 
war, and in ctiujunction with his former 
partner. Colonel Coffee, inflicted upon the 
Indians the memorable defeat at Talladega, 
Emuckfaw and Tallapoosa. 

In May, 1814, Jackson, who had now ac- 
quired a national reputation, was appointed 
a Major-General of the United States army, 
and commenced a campaign against the 
British in Florida. He conducted the de- 
fense at Mobile, September 15, seized upon 
Fensacola, November 6, and innnediately 
transported the bulk of his troops to New 
Orleans, then threatened by a powerful 
naval force. Martial law was declared in 
Louisiana, the State militia was called to 
arms, engagements with the British were 
fought December 23 and 28, and after re-en- 
forcements had been received on both sides 
tie famous victory of January 8, 1815, 
crowned Jackson's fame as a soldier, and 
made him the typical American hero of 
the first half of the nineteenth century. 

In i8i7-'i8 Jackson conducted the war 



against the Seminoles of Florida, during 
which he seized upon Fensacola and exe- 
cuted by courtmartial two British subjects, 

Arbuthnot and Ambrister acts which 

might easily have involved the United 
States in war both with Spain and Great 
Britain. Fortunately the peril was averted 
by the cession of Florida to the United 
States; and Jackson, who had escaped a 
trial for the irregularity of his conduct 
only through a division of opinion in Mon- 
roe's cabinet, was appointed in 1821 Gov- 
ernor of the new Territory. Soon after he 
declined the appointment of minister to 
Mexico. 

In 1823 Jackson was elected to the United 
States Senate, and nominated by the Ten- 
nessee Legislature for the Presidency. This 
candidacy, though a matter of surprise, and 
even merryment, speedily became popular, 
and in 1824, when the stormy electoral can- 
vas resulted in the choice of John Quincy 
Adams by the House of Representatives, 
General Jackson received the largt^st popu- 
lar vote among the four candidates. 

In 1828 Jackson was triumphantly elected 
President over Adams after a campaign of 
unparalleled bitterness. He was inaugu- 
rated March 4, 1829, and at once removed 
from office all the incumbents belonging to 
the opposite party — a procedure new to 
American politics, but which naturally be- 
came a precedent. 

His first term was characterized by quar- 
rels between the Vice-President, Calhoun, 
and the Secretary of State, Van Buren, at- 
tended by a cabinet crisis originating in 
scandals connected with the name of Mrs. 
General Eaton, wife of the Secretary of 
War; by the beginning of his war upon the 
United States Bank, and by his vigorous 
action against the partisans of Calhoun, 
who, in South Carolina, threatened to 
nullify the acts of Congress, establishing a 
protective tariff. 

in the Presidential campaign of 1S32 



ANDREW yACh'SON. 



5' 



Jackson received 219 out of 288 electoral 
votes, his competitor being Mr. Clay, while 
Mr. Wirt, on an Anti-Masonic platform, 
received the vote of Vermont alone. In 
1833 President Jackson removed the Gov- 
ernment deposits from the United States 
bank, thereby incurring a vote of censure 
from the Senate, whicli was, however, ex- 
punged four years later. During this second 
term of office the Cherokees, Choctaws and 
Creeks were removed, not without diffi- 
culty, from Georgia, Alabama and Missis- 
sippi, to the Indian Territory; the National 
debt was extinguished; Arkansas and 
Michigan were admitted as States to the 
Union; the Seminole war was renewed; the 
anti-slavery agitation first acquired impor- 
tance; the Mormon delusion, which had 
organized in 1829, attained considerable 
proportions in Ohio and Missouri, and the 
country experienced its greatest pecuniary 
panic. 

Railroads with locomotive propulsion 
were irtrodured into America during Jack- 
son's first term, and had become an impor- 
tant element of national life before the 
close of his second term. For many rea- 
sons, therefore, the administration of Presi- 
dent Jackson formed an era in American 
history, political, social and industrial. 
He succeeded in effecting the election of 



his friend Van Buren as his successor, re- 
tired from the Presidency March 4, 183/: 
and led a tranquil life at the Hermitage 
until his death, which occurred June 8, 
1845. 

During his closing years he was a pro- 
fessed Christian and a member of the Pres- 
byterian church. No American of this 
century has been the subject of such oppo- 
site judgments. He was loved and hated 
with equal vehemence during his life, but 
at the present distance of time from his 
career, while opinions still vary as to the 
merits of his public acts, few of his country- 
men will question tiiat he was a warm- 
hearteri, brave, patriotic, honest and sincere 
man. If his distinguishing qualities were 
not such as constitute statesmanship, in the 
highest sense, he at least never pretended 
to other merits than such as were written 
to his credit on the page of American his- 
tory — not attempting to disguise the de- 
merits which were equally legible. The 
majority of his countrymen accepted and 
honored iiim, in spite of all tiiat calumny 
as well as truth could allege against him. 
His faults may therefore be truly said to 
have been those of his time; his magnifi- 
cent virtues may also, witii the same jus- 
tice, be considered as typical of a state (J 
society which has nearly passed away. 



52 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 




^2i^^^t •>,t;7>,(j_*>jt;_n,t;-^ty^»,t7>,^;?5l 



■^<> ^<^i<r^i'r,'i^.-^<^^vr>^tC.'<'y^r^^^^ l 



:-ia3a3EECE5-:ESiS3-:s333v-s^A:^yv-^^''^rT=^^^-"x^Tr^!:s3 



ite^^^^fflAI^TIN UaN Bai^EN.^4+^S 



^ZL^^'JZ^^Jij? -^ ^- ^^ ^ -'^M^ l^-TM* ^^^ ^^j^-^^J'^ .1^ 



-»,^.*) 



(^^ 



r»^»iVli*»'»iif'l^»;i>'»S^3>l»)! 



» j)^'«>fel'<»ilWil'«»4'ifcSj'»^j'<iSj -| 







ARTIN VAN BU- 
REN, the eighth 
: "tJO; President of the 
United States, 1837- 
'41, was born at Kin- 
/f^ derhook, New York, 
December 5, 1782. 
His ancestors were of Dutch 
origin, and were among the 
earliest emigrants from Hol- 
land to the banks of the 
Hudson. His father was a 
<^ . • tavern-keeper, as well as a 
^jQ; v farmer, and a very decided 
ll Democrat. 

'^ Martin commenced the study 
of law at the age of fourteen, and took an 
active part in politics before he had reached 
the age of twenty. In 1803 he commenced 
the practice of law in his native village. 
In 1809 he removed to Hudson, the shire 
town of his county, where he spent seven 
years, gaining strength by contending in 
the courts with some of the ablest men 
who have adorned the bar of his State. 
The heroic example of John Quincy Adams 
in retaining in office every faithful man, 
without regard to his political preferences, 
had been thoroughly repudiated by Gen- 
eral Jackson. The unfortunate principle 
was now fully established, that " to the 
victor belong the spoils." Still, this prin- 
ciple, to which Mr. Van Buren gave his ad- 



herence, was not devoid of inconveniences. 
When, subsequently, he attained power 
which placed vast patronage in his hands, 
he was heard to say : " I prefer an office 
that has no patronage. When I give a man 
an office I offend his disappointed competi- 
tors and their friends. Nor am 1 certain oi 
gaining a friend in the man I appoint, for, 
in all probabilitv, he expected something 
better." 

In 1812 Mr. Van Buren was elected to 
the State Senate. In 181 5 he was appointed 
Attorney-General, and in 1816 to the Senate 
a second time. In 18 18 there was a great 
split in the Democratic party in New York, 
and Mr. Van Buren tool*the lead in or- 
ganizing that portion of the party called 
the Albany Regency, which is said to have 
swayed the destinies of the State for a 
quarter of a century. 

In 1821 he was chosen a member of the 
convention for revising the State Constitu- 
tion, in which he advocated an extension of 
the franchise, but opposed universal suf- 
frage, and also favored the proposal that 
colored persons, in order to vote, should 
have freehold property to the amount of 
$250. In this year he was also elected to 
the United States Senate, and at the con- 
clusion of his term, in 1827, was re-elected, 
but resigned the following year, having 
been chosen Governor of the State. In 
March, 1829, he was appointed Secretary o) 




^ /^ 7 2' 2- ^^ i-L^'-f^ ^^^.^^^t^ 



MARTIN VAN BUREN. 



55 



State by President Jackson, but lesis^ned 
in April, 183 1, and during tlie recess of 
Congress was appointed minister to Eng- 
land, whither he proceeded in September, 
but the Senate, when convened in Decem- 
ber, refused to ratify the appointment. 

In May, 1S32, Mr. Van Buren was nomi- 
nated as the Democratic candidate for Vice- 
President, and elected in the following 
November. May 26, 1836, he received the 
nomination to succeed General Jackson as 
President, and received 170 electoral votes, 
out of 283. 

Scarcely had he taken iiis seat m the 
Presidential chair when a financial panic 
swept over the land. Many attributed 
this to the war which General Jackson had 
waged on the banks, and to his endeavor to 
secure an almost exclusive specie currency. 
Nearl}' every bank in the country was com- 
pelled to suspend specie payment, and ruin 
pervaded ail our great cities. Not less than 
254 houses failed in New York in one week. 
All public works were brought to a stand, 
and there was a general state of dismay. 
President Van Buren urged the adoption of 
the independent treasury system, which 
was twice passed in the Senate and defeated 
in the House, but fir.ally became a law near 
the close of his administration. 

Another important measure was the pass- 
age of a pre-emption law, giving actual set- 
tlers the preference in tlie purchase of 
public lands. The question of slavery, also, 
now began to assume great prominence in 
national politics, and after an elaborate 
anti-slavery speech by Mr. Slade, of Ver- 
mont, in the House ot Representatives, the 
Southern members withdrew for a separate 
consultation, at which Mr. Rhett, of South 
Carolina, proposed to declare it e.vpedient 
that the Union should be dissolved ; but 
the matter was tided over by the passage 
of a resolution that no petitions or papers 
relating to slavery should be in any way 
considered or acted upon. 



In the Presidential election of 1840 Mr. 
Van Buren was nominated, without opposi- 
tion, as the Democratic candidate, William 
H. Harrison being the candidate of the 
Whig party. The Democrats carried only 
seven States, and out of 294 electoral votes 
only sixty were for Mr. Van Buren, the re- 
maining 234 being for his opponent. The 
Whig popular majority, however, was not 
large, the elections in many of the States 
being very close. 

March 4, 1841, Mr. Van Buren retired 
from the Presidency. From his fine estate 
at Lindenwald he still exerted a powerful 
influence upon tiie politics of the country. 
In 1844 he was again proposed as the 
Democratic candidate for the Presidency, 
and a majority of the delegates of the 
nominating convention were in his favor ; 
but, owing to his opposition to the pro- 
posed annexation of Texas, he could not 
secure the requisite two-thirds vote. His 
name was at length withdrawn by his 
friends, and Mr. Polk received the nomina- 
tion, and was elected. 

In 1848 Mr. Cass was the regular Demo- 
cratic candidate. A schism, however, 
sprang up in the party, upon the question 
of the permission of slavery in the newly- 
acquired territory, and a portion of the 
party, taking the name of " Free-Soilers," 
nominated Mr. Van Buren. They drew 
away sufficient votes to secure the election 
of General Taylor, the Whig candidate. 
After this Mr. Van Buren retired to his es- 
tate at Kinderhook, where the remainder 
of his life was passed, with the exception of 
a European tour in 1853. He died at 
Kinderhook, July 24, 1862, at the age of 
eighty years. 

Martin Van Buren was a great and good 
man, and no one will question his right to 
a high position among those who have 
been the successors of Washington in the 
faithful occupancy of the Presidential 
chair. 



te 



PRESfDENTS OF THE V XI TED STATES. 








WILLIAM HENRY HflRHISDN. i 











L 1 A M HENRY 
HARRISON, the 
ninth President of 
the United States, 
I 84 I, was born 
February 9, 1773, 
ni Charles County, 
Virginia, at Berkeley, the resi- 
dence of his father, Governor 
Benjamin Harrison. He studied 
at Hampden, Sidney College, 
with a view of entering the med- 
ical profession. After graduation 
he went to Philadelphia to study 
medicine under the instruction of 
Dr. Rush. 
George Washington was then President 
jf the United States. The Indians were 
committing fearful ravages on our Nortii- 
western frontier. Young Harrison, either 
lured by the love of adventure, or mo.ved 
by the sufferings of families exposed to the 
most horrible outrages, abandoned his med- 
ical studies and entered the army, having 
obtained a commission of ensign from Pres- 
ident Washington. The first duty assigned 
him was to take a train of pack-horses 
bound to Fort Hamilton, on the Miami 
River, about forty miles from Fort Wash- 
ington. He was soon promoted to the 



rank of Lieutenant, and joined the army 
which Wasliington had placed under the 
coinuKuul of General Wayne to prosecute 
more vigorously the war with the In- 
dians. Lieutenant Harrison received great 
commendation from his commanding offi- 
cer, and was promoted to the rank of 
Captain, and placed in command at Fort 
Washington, now Cincmnati, Ohio. 

About this time he married a daughter 
of John Cleves Symmes, one of the fron- 
tiersmen who had established a thriving 
settlement on the bank of the Maumee. 

In 1797 Captain Harrison resigned his 
commission in the army and was appointed 
Secretary of the Northwest Territory, and 
ex-officio Lieutenant-Governor, General St. 
Clair being then Governor of the Territory. 
At that time the law in reference to the 
disposal of the public lands was such that 
no one could purchase in tracts less than 
4,000 acres. Captain Harrison, in the 
face of violent opposition, succeeded in 
obtaining so much of a modification of 
this unjust law that the land was sold in 
alternate tracts of 640 and 320 acres. The 
Northwest Territory vas then entitled 
to one delegate in C(»ngress, and Cap- 
tain Harrison was chosen to fill that of- 
fice. In 1800 he was appointed Governor 




I 



^////a-z.^^^. 



WILLIAM HENRI HARRISON. 



S9 



of Indiana Territory and soon after of 
Upper Louisiana. He was also Superin- 
tendent of Indian Affairs, and so well did he 
fulfill these duties that he was four times 
appointed to this office. During his admin- 
istration he effected thirteen treaties with 
the Indians, by which the United States 
acquired 60,000,000 acres of land. In 1804 
he obtained a cession from the Indians of 
all the land between the Illinois River and 
the Mississijipi. 

In 1S12 he was made Major-General of 
Kentucky militia and Brigadier-Genera! 
HI the army, with the command of the 
Northwest frontier. In 181 3 he was made 
Major-General, and as such won much re- 
nown by the defense of Fort Meigs, and the 
battle of the Thames, October 5, 1813. In 
1814 he left the army and was employed in 
Indian affairs by the Government. 

In 1816 General Harrison was chosen a 
member of the National House of Repre- 
sentatives to represent the district of Ohio. 
In the contest which preceded his election 
he was accused of corruption in respect to 
the commissariat of the army. Immedi- 
ately upon taking his seat, he called for an 
investigation of the charge. A committee 
was appointed, and his vindication was 
triumphant. A high compliment was paid 
to his patriotism, disinterestedness and 
devotion to the public service. For these 
services a gold medal was presented to him 
with the thanks of Congress. 

In 1 8 19 he was elected to the Senate of 
Ohio, and in 1824, as one of the Presiden- 
tial electors of that State, he gave his vote 
to Henry Clay. In the same year he was 
elected to the Senate of the United States. 
In 1828 he was appointed by President 
Adams minister plenipotentiary to Colom- 
bia, but was recalled by General Jackson 
immediately after the inauguration of the 
latter. 

Upon his return to the United States, 
General Harrison retired to his farm at 



North Bend, Hamilton County, Ohio, six- 
teen miles below Cincinnati, where for 
twelve years he was clerk of the County 
Court. He once owned a distillery, but 
perceiving the sad effects of whisky upon 
the surrounding population, he promptly 
abandoned his business at great pecuniary 
sacrihce. 

In 1836 General Harrison was brought 
forward as a candidate for tiie Presidency. 
Van Buren was the administration candi- 
date; the opposite party could not unite, 
and four candidates were brought forward. 
General Harrison received seventy-three 
electoral votes without anv general concert 
among his friends. The Democratic party 
triumphed and Mr. Van Buren was chosen 
President. In 1839 General Harrison was 
again nominated for the Presidency by the 
Whigs, at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Mr. 
Van Buren being the Democratic candi- 
date. General Harrison received 234 elec- 
toral votes against sixty for his opponent. 
This election is memorable chiefly for the 
then extraordinary means employed during 
the canvass for popular votes- Mass meet- 
ings and processions were introduced, and 
the watchwords " log cabin " and " hard 
cider" were effectuall\- used by the Whigs, 
and aroused a pO|)ular enthusiasm. 

A vast concourse of people attended his 
inauguration. His address on that occasion 
was in accordance with his antecedents, and 
gave great satisfaction. A short time after he 
took his seat, he was seized b\' a pleurisy- 
fever, and after a few days of violent sick- 
ness, died April 4, just one short month after 
his inauguration. His death was universally 
regarded as one of the greatest of National 
calamities. Never, since the death of 
Washington, were there, throughout one 
land, such demonstrations of sorrow. Not 
one single spot can be found to sully his 
fame; and through all ages Americans will 
pronounce with love and reverence the 
name of William Henry Harrison. 



6o 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 










i^'\^^ J^' J^' J^ 




mmi 




^?w^r,^ r,.r^ r^r;^ rj^r, "^r,^ r;."^r,.r^r^^y^.. 



„ . ... . L^ 



^-^''^^=mw^ 




OHN TYLER, the tentli 
President of the United 
States, was born in 
Cliarles City County, 
N'irginia, March 29, 1790. 
:■■ His father, Judge John 
'r\ler, possessed large 
landed estates in Virginia, 
and was one of the most 
(listinguislied men of his 
(lav, tilling the offices of 
Speaker of the House of 
Delegates, Judge of the Su- 
preme Court and Governor 
of the State. 
At the early age of twelve 
young John entered William and Mary 
College, and graduated with honor when 
but seventeen years old. He then closely 
applied himself to the study of law, and at 
nineteen years of age commenced the prac- 
tice of .his profession. When only twenty- 
one he was elected to a seat in the State 
Legislature. He acted with the Demo- 
cratic party and advocated the measures of 
Jefferson and Madison. For hve years he 
was elected to the Legislature, receiving 
nearly the unanimous vote of his county. 

When but twenty-six years of age he was 
elected a member of Congress. He advo- 
cated a strict construction of the Constitu- 
tion and the most careful vigilance over 



State rights. He was soon compelled to 
resign his seat in Congress, owing to ill 
health, but afterward took his seat in the 
State Legislature, where he exerted a 
powerful influence in promoting public 
works of great utility. 

In 1825 Mr. Tvler was chosen Governor 
of his State — a high honor, for Virginia 
had many able men as competitors for 
the prize. His administration was signally 
a successful one. He urged forward inter- 
nal improvements and strove to remove 
sectional jealousies. His popularity secured 
his re-election. In 1827 he was elected 
United States Senator, and upon taking his 
seat jomcd the ranks of the opposition. He 
opposed the tariff, voted against the bank 
as unconstitutional, opposed all restrictions 
upon slavery, resisted all projects ot inter- 
nal improvements by the General Govern- 
ment, avowed his sympathy with Mr. Cal- 
houn's views of nullification, and declared 
that General Jackson, by his opposition to 
the nuUifiers, had abandoned the principles 
of the Democratic party. Such was Mr. 
Tyler's record in Congress. 

This hostility to Jackson caused Mr. 
Tyler's retirement frojn the .Senate, after 
his election to a second term. He soon 
after removed to Williamsburg for the 
better education of his children, and again 
took hris seat in the Legislature. 




JO 





'r-'"' 



JOHN TYLER. 



63 



In 1839 he was sent to the National Con- 
vention at Harrisburg to nominate a Presi- 
dent. General Harrison received a majority 
of votes, much to the disappointment of the 
South, who had wished for Henry Clay. 
In order to conciliate the Southern Whigs, 
John Tyler was nominated for Vice-Presi- 
dent. Harrison and Tyler were inaugu- 
rated March 4, 1841. In one short month 
from that time President Harrison died, 
and Mr. Tyler, to his own surprise as well 
as that of the nation, found himself an 
occupant of the Presidential chair. His 
position was an exceedingly difficult one, 
as he was opposed to the main principles of 
the party which had brought him into 
power. General Harrison had selected a 
Whig cabinet Should he retain them, and 
thus surround himself with councilors 
whose views were antagonistic to his own? 
or should he turn against the party that 
had elected him, and select a cabinet in 
harmony with himself? This was his fear- 
ful dilemma. 

President Tyler deserves more charity 
than he has received. He issued an address 
to the people, which gave general satisfac- 
tion. He retained the cabinet General 
Harrison had selected. His veto of a bill 
chartering a new national bank led to an 
open quarrel with the party which elected 
him, and to a resignation of the entire 
cabinet, except Daniel Webster, Secretary 
of State. 

President Tyler attempted to conciliate. 
He appointed a new cabinet, leaving out all 
strong party men, but the Whig members 
of Congress were not satisfied, and they 
published a manifesto September 13, break- 
ing off all political relations. The Demo- 
crats had a majority in the House ; the 
Whigs in the Senate. Mr. Webster soon 
found it necessary to resign, being forced 
out by the pressure of his Whig friends. 

April 13, 1844, President Tyler concluded, 
ihrough Mr, Calhoun, a treaty for the an- 



nexation of Texas, which was rejected by 
the Senate ; but he effected his object in the 
closing days of his administration by the 
passage of the joint resolution of March i 

1845. 

He was nominated for the Presidency by 
an informal Democratic Convention, held 
at Baltimore in May, 1844, but soon with- 
drew from the canvass, perceiving that he 
had not gained the confidence of the Demo- 
crats at large. 

Mr. Tyler's administration was particu- 
larly unfortunate. No one was satisfied. 
Whigs and Democrats alike assailed him. 
Situated as he was, it is more than can 
be expected of hiuuan nature that he 
should, in all cases, have acted in tiie wisest 
manner ; but it will probably be the verdict 
of all candid men, in a careful review of his 
career, that John Tyler was placed in a 
position of such difficulty that he could not 
pursue any course which would not expose 
him to severe censure and denimciation. 

In 18 1 3 Mr. Tyler married Letitia Chris- 
tian, who bore him three sons and three 
daughters, and died in Washington in 1842. 
June 36, 1844, he contracted a second mar- 
riage with Miss Julia Gardner, of New 
York. He lived in almost complete retire- 
ment from politics until February, 1861, 
when he was a member of the abortive 
" peace convention," held at Washington, 
and was chosen its President. Soon after 
he renounced his allegiance to the United 
States and was elected to the Confederate 
Congress. He died at Richmond, January 
17, 1862, after a short illness. 

Unfortunately for his memory the name 
of John Tyler must forever be associated 
with all the misery of that terrible Re- 
bellion, whose cause he openly espoused. 
It is with sorrow that history records that 
a President of the United States died while 
defending the flag of rebellion, which was 
arrayed against the national banner in 
deadly warfare. 



6+ 



PHES/DEXIS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



M. 






••<-:Tm 



-.S, ,............; ::: .'. ; .: ~ —r,1^sJ- 




^ --^^ 




MES KNOX POLK, 

the eleventh President of 
t^ the United States, 1845- 
a ,1^^- '49, was born in Meck- 

j'.'.tV lenburg^ County, North 
^tC -^j^^. Carolina, November 2, 
1795. He was the eldest 
son of a family of six sons 
and four daughters, and was 
- a grand-nephew of Colonel 
Thomas Polk, celebrated in 
connection with the Meck- 
lenburg Declaration of In- 
dependence. 

In I S06 his father, Samuel 
Polk, emigrated with his fam- 
ily two or three hundred miles west to the 
valley of the Duck River. He was a sur- 
veyor as well as farmer, and gradually in- 
creased in wealth until he became one of 
the leading men of the region. 

In the common schools James rapidly be- 
came proficient in ail the common branches 
of an English education. In 181 3 he was 
sent to Murlreesboro Academy, and in the 
autumn of 181 5 entered the sophomore class 
in the University of North Carolina, at 
Chapel Hill, graduating in 1818. After a 
short season of recreation he went to Nash- 
ville and entered the law office of Felix 
Grundy. As soon as he had his finished 



legal studies and been admitted to the bar, 
he returned to Columbia, the shire town of 
Maur\- County, and opcneu an office. 

James K. Polk ever adhered to the polit- 
ical faith of iiis father, which was that of 
a Jeffersonian Republican. In 1823 he was 
elected to the Legislature of Tennessee. As 
a " strict constructionist," he did not think 
that the Constitution empowered the Gen- 
eral Government to carry on a system of 
internal improvements in the States, but 
deemed it imptjrtant that it should have 
that power, and wished the Constitution 
amended that it might be conferred. Sub- 
sequentlv, however, he became alarmed lest 
the General Government become so strong 
as to undertake to interfere with slaver)'. 
He therefore gave all his influence to 
strengthen tlie State governments, and to 
check the growth of the central power. 

In January, 1824, Mr. Polk married Miss 
Mar}' Childress, of Rutherford County, Ten- 
nessee. Had some one then whispered to 
him that he was destined to become Presi- 
dent of tiic United States, and that he must 
select for his companion one who would 
adorn that distinguished station, he could 
not have made a more fitting choice. She 
was truly a lady of rare beauty and culture. 

In the fall of 1825 Mr. Polk was chosen 
a member of Congress, and was continu- 




&'' 



r 



'^ 



DC- 



yA\fES K. POLK. 



67 



ously re-elected until 1839. He then with- 
drew, only that he might accept the 
gubernatorial chair of his native State. 
He was a warm friend of General Jackson, 
who had been defeated in the electoral 
contest by John Ouiiicy Adams. This 
latter gentleman liad just taken his seat in 
the Presidential (hair when Mr. Polk took 
his seat in the House of Representatives. 
He immediately united himself with the 
opponents of Mr. Adams, and was soon 
regarded as the leader of tlu- Jackson jjarty 
in the House. 

The four years of Mr. Adams' adminis- 
tration passed away, and General Jackson 
took tne Presidential chair. Mr. Polk had 
now become a man of great influence in 
Congress, and was chairman of its most 
important committee — that of VV^ays and 
Means. Eloquently he sustained General 
Jackson in all his measures — in his hostility 
to internal improvements, to the banks, and 
to the tariff. Eight years of General Jack- 
son's administratif)n passed away, and the 
powers he had wielded passed into the 
hands of Martin Van Buren ; and still Mr. 
Polk remained in the House, the advocate 
of that type of Democracy which tiiose 
distinguished men upheld. 

During five sessions of Congress Mr. 
Polk was speaker of the House. He per- 
formed his arduous duties to general satis- 
faction, and a unanimous vote of thanks to 
hmi was passed f)y the House as he with- 
drew, March 4, 1839. He was elected 
Governor by a large majority, and took 
the oath of office at Nashville, October 14, 
1839. He was a candidate for re-election 
in 1841, but was defeated. In the mean- 
time a wonderful revolution had swept 
over the country. W. H. Harrison, the Whig 
candidate, had been called to the Presiden- 
tial chair, and in Tennessee the Whig ticket 
had been carried by over 12,000 majority. 
Under these circumstances Mr. Polk's suc- 
cess was hopeless, iStill he canvassed the 



State with his Whig competitor, Mr. Jones, 
traveling in the most friendly manner to- 
gether, often in the same carriage, and at 
one time sleeping in the same bed. Mr. 
Jones was elected by 3,000 majority. 

And now the question of the annexation 
of Texas to our country agitated the whole 
land. When this question became national 
Mr. Polk, as the avowed champion of an- 
nexation, became the Presidential candidate 
of the pro-slavery wing of the Democratic 
party, and George M. Dallas their candi- 
date for the Vice-Presidency. They were 
elected by a large majority, and were in- 
augurated March 4, 1845. 

President Polk formed an able cabinet, 
consisting of James Buchanan, Robert J. 
Walker, William E. Marcy, George Ban 
croft. Cave J(jhnsun and Jf)hn V. Mason. 
The Oregon boundary question was settled, 
the Department of the Interior was created, 
the low tariff ol 1846 was carried, the 
financial system of the Government was 
reorganized, the Mexican war was con- 
ducted, which resulted in the acquisition of 
California and New Mexico, and had far- 
reaching consequences upon the later fort- 
unes of the republic. Peace was made. 
We had wrested from Mexico territory 
cc|ual to four times the empire oi France, 
and five times that of Spain. In the prose- 
cution of this war we expended 20,000 
lives and more than $100,000,000. Of this 
money $15,000,000 were paid to Mexico. 

Declining to seek a renomination, Mr. 
Polk retired from the Presidency March 4, 
1849, when he was succeeded l)\- General 
Zachary Taylor. He retired to Nashville, 
and died there June 19, 1849, in the fifty- 
fourth year of his age. His funeial was at- 
tended the following dav, in Nashville, with 
every demonstration of respect. He left 
no children. Without being possessed of 
extraordinary' talent, Mr. Polk was a capable 
administrator of public affairs, and irre- 
proachable in private life. 



38 



PRESfDEXTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 




"Bi^-., 



."i^ ri' ■"■' 



■ •I. •-> Jr /I' r~,' , 



■r: vrv 



gS;:A ^\ J i L• r^■^^'^V^ aLj\iX:jCEK3::-V-^ \^-V:S Si^ ■^^•^ESLE S'nrgga:^^-:^; 



ii^ 



m-Jdiii 



^ c 



rj: iO£vj:-LsDIRw ^| 



;4 i ; a33^3SMagji^33a33^1k3gi<SB:^T??!jl!a5i<33jl!! • :^s.- • 



i&^ 



li*>'»i*>'li*>'lii»'»-Ji^ti»*t^'5>l»i 



ji;<:Wi4'«i^U'*^U'wi«WiiW!j'«^^'5:^3''T 





ACHARY TAY- 
LOR, the twelfth 
President of the 
United States, 
i849-'50, was born 
in Orange County, 
Virijinia, Septem- 
ber 24, 17S4. His father, 
Richard Taylor, was Colo- 
nel of a Virginia regiment 
in the Revolutionar}' war, 
and removed to Kentucky 
in 17S5 ; purchased a large 
plantation near Louisville 
and became an influential cit- 
izen ; was a member of the convention that 
framed the Constitution of Kentucky; served 
in both branches of the Legislature ; was 
Collector of the port of Louisville under 
President Washington ; as a Presidential 
elector, voted for Jefferson, Madison, Mon- 
roe and Clay; died January 19,1829. 

Zachary remained on his father's planta- 
tion until 1808, in which year (May 3) he 
was appointed First Lieutenant in the 
Seventh Infantry, to fill a vacancy oc- 
casioned by the death of his elder brother, 
Hancock. Up to this point he had received 
but a limited education. 

Joining his regiment, at New Orleans, he 



was attacked with, veilow fever, with nearly 
fatal termination. In November, 1810, he 
was promoted to Captain, and in the sum- 
mer of 1 81 2 he was in command of Fort 
Harrison, on the left bank of the Wabash 
River, near the present site of Terre Haute, 
his successful defense of which with but a 
handful of men against a large force of 
Indians which had attacked him was one of 
the first marked military achievements of 
the war. He was then brcvctted Major, 
and in 1814 promoted to the full rank. 

During the remainder of the war Tavlor 
was activclv employed on the Western 
frontier. In the peace organization of 181 5 
he was retained as Captain, but soon after 
resigned and settled near Louisville. In 
May, t8i6, however, he re-entered the army 
as Major of the Third Infantry ; became 
Lieutenant-Colonel of the Eighth Infantry 
in 1819, and in 1832 attained the Colonelcy 
of the First Infantry, of which he had been 
Lieutenant-Colonel since 1821. Ondifferent 
occasions he had been called to Washington 
as member of a military' board for organiz- 
ing the militia of the Union, and to aid the 
Government with his knowledge in the 
organization of the Indian Bureau, having 
for many years discharged the duties of 
Indian agent over large tracts of Western 




yc^ C-/Cc::^o^-y/y^:X y ^^^ 



ZA CHA R r TA YL OR. 



country. He served through the Black 
Hawk war in 1832. and in 1837 was ordered 
to take command in Florida, then the scene 
of war with the Indians. 

In 1846 he was transferi^ed to the com- 
niaiid of tlie Army of the Southwest, from 
which he was relieved the same year at his 
own request. Subsequently he was sta- 
tioned on the Arkansas frontier at Forts 
Gibbon, Smith and Jesup, which latter work 
nad been built under his direction in 1822. 

May 28, 1845, he received a dispatch from 
the Secretary of War informing him of the 
receipt of information by the President 
"that Texas would shortly accede to the 
terms of annexation," in which event he 
was instructed to defend anil protect her 
from "foreign invasion and Indian incur- 
sions." He proceeded, upon the annexation 
of Texas, with about 1,500 men to Corpus 
Chnsti, where his force was increased to 
some 4,000. 

Taylor was brevetted Major-General May 
28, and a month later, June 29, 1846, his full 
commission to that grade was issued. After 
needed rest and reinfcjrcement, he advanced 
in September on Monterey, which city ca- 
pitulated after three-days stubborn resist- 
ance. Here he took up his winter quarters. 
The plan for the invasion of Mexico, by 
way of Vera Cruz, with General Scott in 
command, was now determined upon by 
the Govenrment, and at the moment Taylor 
was about to resume active operations, he 
received orders to send the larger part of 
his force to reinforce the army of General 
Scott at Vera Cruz. Though subsequently 
reinforced by raw recruits, yet after pro- 
viding a garrison for Monterey and Saltillo 
he had but about 5,300 effective troops, of 
which but 500 or 600 were regulars. In 
this weakened condition, however, he was 
destined to achieve his greatest victory. 
Confidently relying upon his strength at 
Vera Cruz to resist the enemy f(jr a long 
tuue, .Santa Anna directed his entire army 



against Taylor to overwhelm him, and then 
to return to oppose the advance of Scott's 
more formidable invasion. The battle of 
Biiena Vista was (ought February 22 and 
23, 1847. Taylor received the thanks ol 
Congress and a gold medal, and " Old 
Rough and Ready," the sobriquet given 
him in the army, became a household word. 
He remained in quiet possession of the 
Rio Grande Valley until November, when 
he returned to the United States. 

In the Whig convention which met at 
Philadelphia, June 7, 1S48, Taylor was nomi- 
nated on the fourth ballot as candidate A 
the Whig party for Presideiu, over Henry 
Clay, General Scott and Daniel Webster. 
In November Taylor received a majority 
of electoral votes, antl a p(3pidar vote of 
1,360,752, against 1,219,962 ftjr Cass and 
Butler, and 291,342 for Van Buren and 
Adams. General Taylor was inaugurated 
March 4, 1849. 

The free and slave States being then equal 
m number, the struggle for supremacy on 
the part of the leaders in Congress was 
violent and bitter. In the sununer of 1849 
California adopted m convention a Consti- 
tution prohibiting slavery within its borders. 
Taylor advocated the immediate admission 
of California with her Constitution, and the 
postponement of the question as to the other 
Territories until they could hold conven- 
tions and decide for themselves whether 
slavery should exist within their borders. 
This policy ultimately prevailed through 
the celebrated " Compromise Measures" of 
Henry Clay; but not during the life of the 
brave soldier and patriot statesman. July 
5 he was taken suddenly ill with a bilious 
fever, which proved fatal, his death occur- 
ring July 9, 1850. One of his daughters 
married C(jlonel W. W. S. Bliss, his Adju- 
tant-General and Chief of Staff in Florida 
and Mexico, and Private Secretary duruig 
his Presidency. Another daughter was 
married to Jefferson Davis. 



PUES/DEiVTS OF THE UXITED STATES. 




^,^M 






M1LLAH» ]F1Sb&I1(IMM 



s^ 



T T r rir i iFrmr ft ir i i i i 




■ ■ ■ t m t ■ m I r ■ I t ■ 1 1 . ■ i , . t r • i i ■» 1 1 ■■•■■;■■■[ i t r i • t >» ri i , i n 1 1 -j» I ^^'^-V-— 

TT likjiiii 'feirmrm» iM i iii; km«miffiFncroa' ^r• O 







p?; ; 1 3 




I LLARD FILL- 
MORE, the thir- 
^^^ teenth President 
of the United 
States, i850-'3, was 
born in Summer 
Hill, Cayuga 
County, New York, Janu- 
ary 7, i8cx). He was of 
New England ancestry, and 
ills educational advantages 
were limited. He ear!}- 
learned the clothiers' trade, 
but spent ail his leisure time 
ill study. At nineteen years 
of age he was induced by 
Judge Walter Wood to abandon his trade 
and commence tiie study of law. Upon 
learning that the young man was entirely 
destitute of means, he look him into his 
own office and loaned him such money as 
he needed. That he might not be heavily 
burdened with debt, young Fillmore taught 
school during the winter months, and in 
various other ways helped himself along. 
At the age of t\yenty-three he was ad- 
mitted to the Court of Common Pleas, and 
commenced the practice of his profession 
in the village i;f Aurora, situated on the 



eastern bank of the Cayuga Lake. In 1825 
he married Miss Abigail Powers, daughter 
of Rev. Lemuel Powers, a lady of great 
moral worth. In 1825 he took his seat in 
the House of Assembly of his native State, 
as Representative from Erie County, 
whither he had recently moved. 

Though he had never taken a very 
active part in politics his vote and his sym- 
pathies were with the Whig party. The 
State was then Democratic, but his cour- 
tesy, ability and integrity won the respect 
of his associates. In 1832 he was elected 
to a seat in the United States Congress. 
At the close of his term he returned to his 
law practice, and in two years more he was 
again elected to Congress. 

He now began to have a national reputa- 
tion. His labors were very arduous. To 
draft resolutions in the committee room, 
and then to defend them against the most 
skillful opponents on the floor of the House 
requires readiness of mind, mental resources 
and skill in debate such as few possess. 
Wear\' with these exhausting labors, and 
pressed by the claims of his private afTairs, 
Mr. Fillmore wrote a letter to his constitu- 
ents and declined to be a candidate for re- 
election. Notwithstanding this communi- 



y'^'Z. 





/.xC-OCi-i-r C" 



M 



t^.t t-c-o-u) 



MILLARD F/LLMORE. 



75 



cation his friends met in convention and 
renominated him by acclamation. Thougli 
g^ratified by this proof of their appreciation 
of his labors he adhered to his resolve and 
returned to his home. 

In 1847 Mr. Fillmore was elected to the 
important office of comptroller of the State. 
In entering upon the very responsible duties 
which this situation demanded, it was nec- 
essary for him to abandon his profession, 
and he removed to the city of Albany. In 
this year, also, the Whigs were looking 
around to find suitable candidates for the 
President and Vice-President at the ap- 
proaching election, and the names of Zach- 
ary Taylor and Millard Fillmore became 
the rallying cry of the Whigs. On the 4th 
of March, 1S49, General Taylor was inaug- 
urated President and Millard Fillmore 
Vice-President of the United States. 

The great question of slavery had as- 
sumed enormous proportions, and perme- 
ated every subject that was brought before 
Congress. It was evident that the strength 
of our institutions was to be severely tried. 
July 9, 1850, President Taylor died, and, by 
the Constitution, Vice-President Fillmore 
became President of the United States. 
The agitated condition of the country 
brought questions of great delicacy before 
him. He was bound by his oath of office 
to execute the laws of the United States. 
One of these laws was understood to be, : 
that if a slave, escaping from bondage, 
should reach a free State, the United States ' 
was bound to do its utmost to capture hnn 
and return him to his master. Most Chris- 
tian men loathed this law. President Fill- 
more felt bound by his oath rigidly to see 
it enforced. Slavery was organizing armies 
to invade Cuba as it had invaded Texas, 
and annex it to the United States. Presi- 
dent Fillmore gave all the influence of his 
exalted station against the atrocious enter- 
prise. 

Mr. Fillmore had serious difficulties to 



contend with, since the opposition had a 
majority in both Houses. He did every- 
thing in his power to conciliate the South, 
but the pro-slavery party in that section 
felt the inadequency of all measures of tran. 
sient conciliation. The population of the 
free States was so rapidly increasing over 
that of the slave States, that it was inevita- 
ble that the power of the Government 
should soon pass into the hands of the free 
States. The famous compromise measures 
were adopted under Mr. Fillmore's admin- 
istration, and the Japan expedition was 
sent out. 

March 4, 1853, having served one term, 
President Fillmore retired from office. He 
then took a long tour through the South, 
where he met with quite an enthusiastic 
reception. In a speech at Vicksburg, al- 
luding to the rapid growth of the country, 
he said: 

" Canada is knocking for admission, and 
Mexico would be glad to come in, and 
without saying whether it would be right 
or wrong, we stand with open arms to re- 
ceive them; for it is the manifest destiny of 
this Government to embrace the whole 
North American Continent." 

In 1855 Mr. Fillmore went to Europe 
where he was received with those marked 
attentions which his position and character 
merited. Returning to this country in 
1856 he was nominated for the Presidency 
by the "Know-Nothing" party. Mr. Bu- 
chanan, the Democratic candidate was 
the successful competitor. Mr. Fillmore 
ever afterward lived in retirement. Dur- 
ing the conflict of civil war he was mostly 
silent. It was generally supposed, how- 
ever, that hissympath}' was with the South- 
ern Confederacy. He kept aloof from the 
conflict without any words of cheer to the 
one party or the other. For this reason 
he was forgotten by both. He died of 
paralysis, in Buffalo, New York, March 8, 
1874.' 



76 



PRESIDEXTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 







Fpi]I^LII] PIERGE. 




EHH^HSEfe 











RANKLIN PIERCE, 

. „ . , the fourteenth Presi- 

3 v.|te^l^^ ^.v-o dent of the United 
-^(imm^/"^' '-''-- ■'^'^ites, was born in 
Hillsborough, New 
Hampshire, Novem- 
ber 23, 1804. His 
father, Governor 
Benjamin Pierce, was a Rev- 
olutionary soldier, a man of 
rigid integrity ; was for sev- 
eral years in the State Legis- 
lature, a member of the Gov- 
ernor's council and a General 
of the militia. 
Franklin was the sixth of eight children. 
As a boy he listened eagerly to the argu- 
ments of his lather, enforced by strong and 
ready utterance and earnest gesture. It 
was in the days of intense political excite- 
ment, when, all over the New England 
States, Federalists and Democrats were ar- 
rayed so fiercely against each other. 

In 1820 he entered Bowdoin College, at 
Brunswick, Maine, and graduated in 1824, 
and commenced the study of law in the 
office of Judge Woodbury, a very distin- 
guished lawyer, and in 1827 was admitted 
to the bar. He practiced with great success 
in Hillsborough and Concord. He served 



in the State Legislature four years, the last 
two of which he was chosen Speaker of the 
House bj' a very large vote. 

In 1833 he was elected a member of Con- 
gress. In 1837 he was elected to the United 
States Senate, just as Mr. Van Buren com- 
menced his administration. 

In 1834 he married Miss Jane Means 
Appleton, a lady admirably fitted to adorn 
every station with which her husband was 
honored. Three sons born to them all 
found an early grave. 

Upon his accession to office, President 
Polk appointed Mr. Pierce Attorney-Gen- 
eral of the United States, but the offer was 
declined in consequence of numerous pro- 
fessional engagements at home and the 
precarious state of Mrs. Pierce's health. 
About the same time he also declined the 
nomination for Governor by the Demo- 
cratic party. 

The war with Mexico called Mr. Pierce 
into the arm}'. Receiving the appointment 
of Brigadier-General, he embarked with a 
portion of his troops at Newport, Rhode 
Island, May 27, 1847. He served during 
this war, and distinguished himself by his 
bravery, skill and excellent judgment. 
When he reached his home in his native 
State he was enthusiastically received by 





A ( 




hIiANKI.IN J'lEliCK. 



the advoc.'itcs of llic war, and coldly \>s it'; 
opponents. I Ic resumed llie practice ol his 
profession, lic(|uenlly taking; an a< live |iarl. 
in political qucstifjns, and {^ivin^ his siip- 
pcjrt to the ])ro-slavery vvin;^ of the Demo- 
cratic; party. 

\\\\\r I.;, 185.!, the {democratic; con vent ion 
incl in U.illimore lo nominrite a candidate 
lor the Presidency. f'"or four d;i3's they 
coMtinned in session, and in thirty-live bal 
lotirif^rs no one had received the rerjuisile 
Iwo-tliirds vote. Not a vole li.id In-' n 
tlirown thus far loi (General I'ieii < . I hen 
the V'ir^ini.i dele;^alion ljroii;^iil lorw.aid 
his nami-. There were fonrlcen more \y.\\ 
lotiiigs, during which (n-ncial I'ii-m e 
gained slrenj^lh, inilil, al ihe loilymnlli 
ballot, he re(;eived .'."^2 voles, and .all other 
candidates eleven, (jeneral Winlii Id Scoil 
was the Whig' cantJidate. (ieneial I'len c 
was eleeled wilfi jrrcat nijammity. Only 
four .Slates Veimont, .M.iss.aehnsel Is, Ken. 
lucky aiifl 'Tennessee — cast their eleeloi.il 
votes af^ainsl him. March 4, 1H53, he was 
inauf^nraled President of the United .Slates, 
and William \i. Kiiij^, V'n c I'resident. 

President Pierce's cabinet consisted ol 
Willi.im S. Marcy, fames Gnl In ie, |c||crson 
Davis, James C. Dobbin, l<obeil iVIcClcl 
land, James Campbell and C'aleb ('ushing^. 

At the dem.ind ol ,l;ivery Ihe Misscjiiri 
Com[jrcHnise was rejjealed, and all the 'l"er- 
rit(;ries of the Union were thrown open to 
slavery. The Territory ol K.insas, west 'if 
MisscjLiri, was settled by emij.(r;uils mainly 
from the North. Aec-ordinj^ lo law, they 
were afjoni lo meet ;ind decide whelhei 
slavery or IreecJcjm should be the law of 
that realm. Slavery m Missouri and 
other Scjulheru .States rallied her armed 
legions, marched them iiitr> Kansas, took 
possession of the f>olls, drrjve away the 
citizens, deposited their own votc-s by 
handluls, went thrcjugh the farce of count- 
ing them, and then declared that, by an 
overwhelming majority, slavery was cstalj- 



lished in Kansas. 'These f;iels iioborly 
denied, and \il President Pk 11 e', adrnini'- 
Iraliori (ell bound lo 1 i- ,pei I llii- decision 
oblamed by such vol''.. The cilizens ol 
Kansas, the in.ajorily of whom weic free- 
Slate nil n, met in (iinvenliori and ai|o|ite(| 
I lie lollowiii'', I esol v : 

" Rcsoh'ii/, 'Th.il tin: body ol lui.-u who, 
jur I he jiasl two iiioiil lis, ha ve been passing 
laws foi Ihe people of oiii 'Territory, 
moved, I oilir.eled .lud dul.ilerl In by the 
i|einat;ogiies ol olliei Slales, ;ire to us a 
loreign body, represeni ing on!)' Ihe lawless 
invaders who elected them, .ind iiol the 
pe()pl(: ol I his 'Ten itoiy ; ih.il we repudiate 
I lieii ,11 I K 111 a , ihe moil' 1 1 on, ( on Minii/iat ion 
mI an act ol violem e, 11 11 1 p.il 1011 ,ind fi and 
iin|i,u alleli-d ill ill'- history ol Ih'- IIiii'Mi." 
Ill'- li '■'• Sl.il'- p'')pl'-iil Kansas als'j sent 
a p'lili'iii to ill'- (>'ii( lal ( iovrnment, im- 
iiloiing its prol'-'l ion. Ii. leply ihe Presi- 
il'-iil issued :i pro' l.'iinal ion, ili'l.iiiir' that 
L'gislal iw thus cr(;at''l iiiir I b'- M'.og- 
nized as th'- legitimate IvCgisLil in '• ol Kan- 
sas, anil lh.it lis laws wen- binding U|)')n 
th'- pe')|)li-, .ind th.il.if necessary, I he wii'de 
for''- 1 1\ III'- ( civ'i ninental arm woiil'l be 
put loi I h lo inl'd ' '- I li'jse la ws. 

James liiii lianan succeeded fiim in the 
Prcsirlcnc-y, and, M;irf;h 4, iHi;/, Prc-sirlent 
Pierce I'-Iiwl to Ins li'iiin- in f 'ni'.'ir'l, 
New Ilampshire. Wfien th'- R'bellioii 
burst forth Mr. I'ierce remainc'l steadfast 
to 111'- piim iples hi; li:i'l alw;iys cherishe'l, 
and gave his syni|)alhi(;s t'j tlu; pro-slavery 
party, with whii h h<- li;i'l ever fjeen allied. 
II': d'-clined I') 'I') ;inylhiiig, either by 
voic; or ])Cn, I'j strenglhen the haii'ls ol 
the Nati'inal f j'jv';rnmeiil. II'; resid'-'l m 
C'Mieor'l until his flealli, whi' :li occnrr';d in 
October, i'6Ciij. II'; w;is '>ii'- 'if the most 
genial au'l so';i;il of nnai, g';nerous to 
a fault, ;iii'l ' onl 1 ibiil'-'l liberally of his 
UKjderatc mean , Im tin: alleviation of suf- 
fering and wrint. lie was an honored 
communicant 'jf the Episcopal church. 



So 



PRESIDENTS OF THE US'ITED STATES. 




g^. 



t'^i'^i'^^i'^'rr'i'iT?!':^^^ • 



L'.' *?!**>' I*f^i*^i*^'t'<'^i*i^<'v* r 



^^.^-^M 



: IPr ESIfgErSSrkkkkfr^^kfe-liiKEEPtgEgSSPES^^ ^ '^ 






f^J^" 



V-'-->..J 



J# 




AMES BUCHANAN, the 
tifteenth President of the 
St4'*e United States. 1.S57 '61, 
was born in Fianklin 
Count y, Pennsylvania, 
A p r i 1 23, 1791. The 
place where his lather's 
cabin stood was called 
Stony Batter, and it was 
situated in a wild, romantic 
spot, in a gorge of mount- 
ains, with towering sum- 
mits rising all around. He 
was of Irish ancestry, his 
father having emigrated in- 
1783, with ver)' little prop- 
erty, save his own strong arms. 

James remained in his secluded home for 
eight years enjoying very few social or 
intellectual advantages. His parents were 
industrious, frugal, prosperous and intelli- 
gent. In 1799 his father removed to Mcr- 
cersburg, where James was placed in 
school and commenced a course in English, 
Greek and Latin. His progress was rapid 
and in 1801 he entered Dickinson College 
at Carlisle. Here he took his stand among 
the first scholars in the institution, and was 
able to master the most abstruse subjects 
with facility. In 1809 he graduated with 
the highest honors in his class. 

He was then eighteen years of age, tall, 



graceful and in vigorous health, fond ol 
athletic sports, an unerring shot and en- 
livened with an exuberant flow of animal 
spirits. He immediatel}" commenced the 
study of law in the city of Lancaster, and 
was admitted to the bar in 1812. He rose 
very rapidly in his profession and at once 
took undisputed stand with the ablest law- 
yers of the State. When but twent)'-six 
years of age, unaided by counsel, he suc- 
cessfully defended before the State Senate 
one of the Judges of the State, who was 
tried upon articles of impeachment. At 
the age of thirty it was generalU' admitted 
that he stood at the head of the bar, and 
there was no lawver in the State who havl 
a more extensive or lucrative practice. 

In 1812, just after Mr. Buchanan hatl 
entered upon the practice of the law, our 
second war with England occurred. With 
all his powers he sustained the Govern- 
ment, eloqucntlv urging the rigorous pros- 
ecution of the war; and even enlisfing as a 
private soldier to assist in repelling the 
British, who had sacked Washington and 
were threatening Baltimore. He was at 
that time a Federalist, but when the Con- 
stitution was adopted by both parties, 
Jefferson truly said, " We are all Federal- 
ists: we are all Republicans." 

The opposition of the Federalists to the 
war with England, and the alien and sedi- 




-^me^ Gy^y^c y€^ yi..^ ,,7^ 



y.lA/ES BUCHANAN. 



°?, 



tion laws of John Adams, brought the party 
into dispute, and the name of Federalist 
became a reproach. Mr. Buchanan almost 
immediately upon entering Congress began 
to incline more and more to the Repub- 
licans. In the stormy Presidential election 
of 1824, in which Jackson, Clay, Crawford 
and John Ouincy Adams were candidates, 
Mr. Buchanan espoused the cause of Gen- 
eral Jackson and unrelentingly opposed the 
administration of Mr. Adams. 

Upon his elevation to the Presidency, 
General Jackson appointed Mr. Buchanan, 
minister to Russia. Upon his return in i S33 
he was elected to a seat in the United States 
Senate. He there met as his associates, 
Webster, Clay, Wright and Calhoun. He 
advocated the measures proposed by Presi- 
dent Jackson of making reprisals against 
France, and defended the course of the Pres- 
ident in his unprecedented and wholesale 
removals from office of those who were not 
thesupporters of his administration. Upon 
this question he was brought into direct col- 
lision with Henry Clay. In the discussion 
of the question inspecting the admission of 
Michjo-an and Arkansas into the Union, Mr. 
Buchanan defined his position by saying: 

" The older I grow, the more I am in- 
clined to be what is called a State-rights 
man." 

M. de Tocqueville, in his renowned work 
upon " Democracy in iVmerica," foresaw 
the trouble which was inevitable from the 
doctrine of State sovereignty as held by 
Calhoun and Buchanan. He was con- 
vinced that the National Government was 
losing that strength which was essential 
to its own existence, and that the States 
were assuming powers which threatened 
the perpetuity of the Union. Mr. Buchanan 
received the book in the Senate and de- 
clared the fears of De Tocqueville to be 
groundless, and yet he lived to sit in the 
Presidential chair and see State after State, 
in accordance with his own views of State 



rights, breaking from the Union, thus 
crumbling our Republic into ruins; while 
the unhappy old man folded his arms in 
despair, declaring that the National Consti - 
tution invested him with no power to arrest 
the destruction. 

Upon Mr. Polk's accession to the Presi- 
dencv, Mr. Buchanan became Secretary of 
State, and as such took his share of the 
responsibility in the conduct of the Mexi- 
can war. At the close of Mr. Polk's ad- 
ministration, Mr. Buchanan retired to pri- 
vate life; but his intelligence, and his great 
ability as a statesman, enabled him to exert 
a powerful influence in National affairs. 

Mr. Pierce, upon his election to the 
Presidency, honored Mr. Buchanan with 
the mission to England. In the year 1856 
the National Democratic convention nomi- 
nated Mr. Buchanan for the Presidency. 
The political conflict was one of the most 
severe in which our country has ever en- 
gaged. On the 4th of March, 1857, Mr. 
Buchanan was inaugurated President. His 
cabinet were Lewis Cass, Howell Cobb, 
J. B. Floyd, Isaac Toucey, Jacob Thomp- 
son, A. V. Brown and J. S. Black. 

The disruption of the Democratic party, 
in consequence of the manner in which the 
issue of the nationality of slavery was 
pressed by the Southern wing, occurred at 
the National convention, held at Charleston 
in April, 1S60, for the nomination of Mr. 
Buchanan's successor, when the majority 
of Southern delegates withdrew upon the 
passage of a resolution declaring that the 
constitutional status of slavery should be 
determined by the Supreme Court. 

In the next Presidential canvass Abra- 
ham Lincoln was nominated by the oppo- 
nents of Mr. Buchanan's administration. 
Mr. Buchanan remained in Washington 
long enough to see his successor installed 
and then retired to iiis home in Wheatland. 
He died June 1, 1868, aged seventy-seven 
years. 



S4 



PHES/DENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



4^ 



' ;•" V "■."?""? !W^ ' 



jfe^Sirrrrrninr. ;;. -:*:M 

■4= ■'• 1^ -'■ ^ 






Z^;;;^.^. ;7. .-...^i.^j^S 




h 




BR AH AM LIN- 
COLN, the sixteenth 
President of the 
United States, i86i-'5, 
V^ „ was born February 
"F"'^^^ 12, 1809, in Larue 
^y^ (then Hardin) County, 
Kentuci<v, in a cabin on Nolan 
Creek, three miles west of 
1 1 udgensville. H i s parents 
w c I' e Thomas and Nancy 
(Hanks) Lincoln. Of his an- 
cestry and early years the little 
that is known may best be 
given in his own language : " M)' 
parents were both born in \'irgini;t, of un- 
distinguished fanulies — second families, per- 
haps 1 should say. My mother, who died 
in my tenth year, was of a family of the 
name of Hanks, some of whom now remain 
in Adams, and others in Macon County, 
Illinois. My paterna' grandfather, Abra- 
ham Lincoln, emigrated from Rockbridge 
County, Virginia, to Kentucky in 1781 or 
1782, where, a year or two later, he was 
killed by Indians — not in battle, but by 
stealth, when he was laboring to open a 
farm in the forest. His ancestors, who were 
Quakers, went to V^irginia from Berks 
County, Pennsylvania. An effort to iden- 



tify them with the New England family of 
the same name ended in nothing more defi- 
nite than a similarity of Christian names in 
both families, such as Enoch, Levi, Mor- 
decai, Solomon, Abraham and the like. 
My father, at the death of liis father, was 
but six years of age, and he grew up, liter- 
ally, without education. He removed from 
Kentucky to what is now Spencer County, 
Indiana, in my eighth year. We reached 
our new home about the time the State came 
into the Union. It was a wild region, with 
bears and other wild animals still in the 
woods. There I grew to manhood. 

" There were some schools, so called, but 
no qualification was ever required of a 
teacher bevonn ' readin', writin', and cipher- 
in' to the rule of three.' If a straggler, sup- 
posed to understand Latin, happened to 
sojourn in the neighborhood, he was looked 
upon as a wizard. There was absolutely 
nothing to excite ambition for education. 
Of course, when I came of age I did not 
know much. Still, somehow, I could read, 
write and cipher to the rule of three, and 
that was all. 1 have not been to school 
since. The little advance I now have upon 
this store of education I have picked up 
from time to time under the pressure of 
nccessilv. I was raised to farm-work, which 




^ 



2-- 



, V £3-f £,'. 



g^,//^^ ^ c^r-r^ 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 



87 



I cdntiiuied till I was t\venty-t\v(j. At 
twenty-one I came to Illinois and passed 
the first year in Macon County. Then I got 
to New Salem, at that time in Sangamon, 
now in Menard County, where I remained 
a year as a sort of clerk in a store. 

•■ Then came the Black Hawk war, and I 
was elected a Captain of volunteers — a suc- 
cess which gave me more pleasure than anv 
I have had since. I went the campaign, 
was elated ; ran for the Legislature the 
same year (1832) and was beaten, the only 
time I have ever been beaten by the people. 
The next and three succeeding biennial 
elections I was elected to the Legislature, 
and was never a candidate afterward. 

" During this legislative period I had 
studied law, and removed to Springfield to 
practice it. In 1S46 I was elected to the 
Lower House of Congress ; was noX. a can- 
didate for re-election. From 1849 t<' 1854, 
inclusive, I practiced the law more assid- 
uously than ever before. Always a Whig 
in politics, and generally on the Whig elec- 
toral tickets, making active canvasses, I was 
losing interest in politics, when the repeal 
of the Missouri Compromise roused me 
again. What I have done since is pretty 
well known." 

The early residence of Lincoln in Indi- 
ana was sixteen miles north of the Ohio 
River, on Little Pigeon Creek, one and a 
half miles east of Gentryville, within the 
present township of Carter. Here his 
mother died October 5, 1818, and the next 
year his father married Mrs. Sally (Bush) 
Johnston, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky. She 
was an affectionate foster-parent, to whom 
Abraham was indebted for his first encour- 
agement to study. He became an eager 
reader, and the few books owned in the 
vicinity were many times perused. He 
worked frequently for the neighbors as a 
farm laborer ; was for some time clerk in a 
store at Gentryville; and became famous 
throughout that region for his athletic 



powers, his fondness for argument, his in- 
exhaustible fund of humerous anecdote, as 
well as for mock oratory and the composi- 
tion of rude satirical verses. In 1828 he 
made a trading voyage to New Orleans as 
"bow-hand" on a flatboat; removed to 
Illinois in 1830; helped his father build a 
log house and clear a farm on the north 
fork of Sangamon River, ten miles west of 
Decatur, and was for some time employed 
in splitting rails for the fences — a fact which 
was prominently brought forward for 3 
political purpose thirty years later. 

In the spring of 185 i he, with two of his 
relatives, was hired to build a Hatboat on 
the Sangamon River and navigate it to 
New Orleans. The boat " stuck " on a 
mill-dam, and was got off with great labor 
through an ingenious mechanical device 
which some years later led to Lincoln's 
taking out a patent for "an improved 
method for lifting vessels over shoals." 
This voyage was memorable for another 
reason — the sight of slaves chained, mal- 
treated and flogged at New Orleans was 
the origin of his deep convictions upon the 
slavery question. 

Returning from this voyage he became a 
resident for several years at New Salem, a 
recently settled village on the Sangamon, 
where he was successively a clerk, grocer, 
surveyor and postmaster, and acted as pilot 
to the first steamboat that ascended the 
Sangamon. Here he studied law, inter- 
ested himself in local politics after his 
return from the Black Hawk war, and 
became known as an effective "stump 
speaker." The subject of his first political 
speech was the improvement of the channel 
of the Sangamon, and the chief ground on 
which he announced himself (1832) a candi- 
date for the Legislature was his advocacy 
of this popular measure, on which subject 
his practical experience made him the high- 
est authority. 

Elected to the Legislature in 1834 as a 



88 



PJiESWEKTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



" Henry Clay Whig," he rapidly acquired 
that command of language and that homely 
but forcible rhetoric which, added to his 
intimate knowledge of the people from 
which he sprang, made him more than a 
match in debate for his few well-educated 
opponents. 

Admitted to the bar in 1837 he soon 
established himself at Springfield, where 
the State capital was located in 1839, 
largely through his influence; became a 
successful pleader in the State, Circuit and 
District Courts; married in 1842 a lady be- 
longing to a prominent family in Lexington, 
Kentucky; took an active part in the Pres- 
idential campaigns of 1840 and 1844 as 
candidate for elector on the Harrison and 
Clav tickets, and in 1846 was elected to the 
United States House of Representatives 
over the celebrated Peter Cartwright. 
During his single term in Congress he did 
not attain any prominence. 

He voted for the reception of anti-slavery 
petitions for the abolition of the slave trade 
in tiie I3istrict of Columbia and for the 
Wilmot proviso ; but was chiefly remem- 
bered for the stand he took against the 
Mexican war. For several years there- 
after he took comparatively little interest 
in politics, but gained a leading position at 
the Springfield bar. Two or three non- 
political lectures and an eulogy on Henry 
Clay (1852) added nothing to his reputation. 

In 1854 the repeal of the Missouri 
Compromise by the Kansas-Nebraska act 
aroused Lincoln from his indifference, and 
in attacking that measure he had the im- 
mense advantage of knowing perfectly well 
the motives and the record of its author, 
Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, then poj)u- 
larl}- designated as the " Little Giant." The 
latter came to Springhcld in October, 1854, 
on the occasion of the State Fair, to vindi- 
cate his policy in the Senate, and the " Anti- 
Nebraska" Whigs, remembering that Lin- 
coln had often measured his strength with 



Douglas in the Illinois Legislature and be- 
fore the Springfield Courts, engaged him 
to improvise a reply. This speech, in the 
opinion of those who heard it, was one of 
the greatest efforts of Lincoln's life ; cer- 
tainly the most effective in his whole career. 
It took the audience by storm, and from 
that moment it was felt that Douglas had 
met his match. Lincoln was accordingly 
selected as the Anti-Nebraska candidate for 
the United States Senate in place of General 
Shields, whose term expired March 4, 1855, 
and led to several ballots; but Trumbull 
was ultimalel}- chosen. 

The second conflict on the soil of Kan- 
sas, which Lincoln had predicted, soon be- 
gan. The result was the disruption of the 
Whig and the formation of the Republican 
party. At the Bloomington State Conven- 
tion in 1856, where the new party first 
assumed form in Illinois, Lincoln made an 
impressive address, in which for the first 
time he took distinctive ground against 
slavery in itself. 

At the National Republican Convention 
at Philadelphia, June i", after the nomi- 
nation of Fremont, Lincoln was put for- 
ward by the Illinois delegation for the 
Vice-Presidency, and received on the first 
ballot no votes against 259 for William L 
Dayton. He took a prominent part in the 
canvass, being on the electoral ticket. 

In 1858 Lincoln was unanimously nomi- 
nated by the Republican State Convention 
as its candidate for the United States Senate 
in place of Douglas, and in his speech of 
acceptance used the celebrated illustration 
of a "house divided against itself " on the 
slavery question, which was, perhaps, the 
cause of his defeat. The great debate car- 
ried on at all the princij^al towns of Illinois 
between Lincoln and Douglas as rival Sena- 
torial candidates resulted at the time in the 
election of the latter; but f)cing widely cir- 
culated as a cam[)aign document, it fixed 
the attention of the country upon the 



ABRAHAM IJMCOLN. 



89 



former, as the clearest and most convinc- 
ing exponent of Republican doctrine. 

Early in 1859 he began to be named in 
Illinois as a suitable Republican candidate 
for the Presidential campaign of the ensu- 
ing year, and a political address delivered 
at the Cooper Institute, New York, Febru- 
ary 27, i860, followed by similar speeches 
at New Haven, Hartford and elsewhere in 
New England, first made him known to the 
Eastern States in the light by which he had 
long been regarded at home. By the Re- 
publican State Convention, which met at 
Decatur, Illinois, May 9 and 10, Lincoln 
was unanimously endorsed for the Presi- 
dency. It was on this occasion that two 
rails, said to have been split by his hands 
thirty years before, were brought into the 
convention, and the incident contributed 
much to his popularity. The National 
Republican Convention at Chicago, after 
spirited efforts made in favor of Seward, 
Chase and Bates, nominated Lincoln for 
the Presidency, with Hannibal Hamlin 
for Vice-President, at the same time adopt- 
ing a vigorous anti-slavery platform. 

The Democratic party having been dis- 
organized and presenting two candidates, 
Douglas and Breckenridge, and the rem- 
nant of the " American" party having put 
forward John Bell, of Tennessee, the Re- 
publican victory was an easy one, Lincoln 
being elected November 6 by a large plu- 
ralit\', comprehending nearly all the North- 
ern States, but none of the Southern. The 
secession of South Carolina and the Gulf 
States was the immediate icsult, fcjUowcd 
a few months later by that of the border 
slave States and the outbreak of the great 
civil war. 

The life of Abraham Lincoln became 
thenceforth merged in the history of his 
country. None of the details of the vast 
conflict which filled the remainder of Lin- 
coln's life can here be given. Narrowly- 
escaping assassination by avoiding Balti- 



more on his way to the capital, he reached 
Washington February 23, and was inaugu- 
rated President of the United States March 
4, 1 86 1. 

In his inaugural address he said: " I hold, 
that in contemplation of universal law and 
the Constitution the Union of these States is 
perpetual. Perpetuity is implied if not e.x- 
pressed in the fundamental laws of all na- 
tional governments. It is safe to assert 
that no government proper ever had a pro- 
vision in its organic law for its own termi- 
nation. I therefore consider that in view 
of the Constitution and the laws, the Union 
is unbroken, and to the extent of my ability 
I shall take care, as the Constitution en- 
joins upon me, that the laws of the United 
States be extended in all the States. In 
doing this there need be no bloodshed or vio- 
lence, and there shall be none unless it be 
forced upon the national authority. The 
power conferred to me will be used to hold, 
occupy and possess the property and places 
belonging to the Government, and to col- 
lect the duties and imports, but beyond 
what may be necessary for these objects 
there will be no invasion, no using of force 
against or among the people anywhere. In 
your hands, my dissatisfied fellow-country- 
men, is the momentous issue of civil war. 
The Government will not assail you. Ycju 
can have no conflict without being your- 
selves the aggressors. You have no oath 
registered in heaven to destroy the Gov- 
ernment, while I shall have the most sol- 
emn one to preserve, protect and defend 
it." 

He called to his cabinet his principal 
rivals for the Presidential nomination — 
Seward, Chase, Cameron and Bates; se- 
cured the co-operation of the Union Demo- 
crats, headed by Douglas; called out 75,000 
militia from the several States upon the first 
tidings of the bombardment of Fort Sumter, 
April 15; proclaimed a blockade of the 
Southern posts April 19; called an extra 



90 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



session of Congress for July 4, from which 
he asked and obtained 400,000 men and 
$400,000,000 for the war; placed McClellan 
at the head of the Federal army on General 
Scott's resignation, October 31; appointed 
Edwin M. Stanton Secretary of War, Jan- 
uary 14, 1862, and September 22, 1862, 
issued a proclamation declaring the free- 
dom of all slaves in the States and parts of 
States then in rebellion from and after 
January 1, 1863. This was the crowning 
act of Lincoln's career — the act by which 
he will be chiefly known through all future- 
time — and it decided the war. 

October 16, 1863, President Lincoln called 
for 300,000 volunteers to replace those 
whose term of enlistment had expired ; 
made a celebrated and touching, though 
brief, address at the dedication of the 
Gettysburg military cemetery, November 
19, 1863; commissioned Ulysses S. Grant 
Lieutenant-General and Commander-in- 
Chief of the armies of the United States, 
March 9, 1864; was re-elected President in 
November of the same year, by a large 
majority over General McClellan, with 
Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee, as V^ice- 
President; delivered a very remarkable ad- 
dress at his second inauguration, March 4, 
1865; visited the army before Richmond the 
same month; entered the capital of the Con- 
federacy the day after its fall, and upon the 
surrender of General Robert E. Lec'c army, 
April 9, was actively engaged in devising 
generous plans for the reconstruction of the 
Union, when, on the evening of Good Fri- 
day, April 14, he was shot in his box at 
Ford's Theatre, Washington, byJohnWilkes 
Booth, a fanatical actor, and expired earlv 
on the following morning, April 15. Al- 
most simultaneously a murderous attack 
was made upon William H. Seward, Secre- 
tary of State. 

At noon on the 15th of April Andrew 



Johnson assumed the Presidency, and active 
measures were taken which resulted in the 
death of Booth and the execution of his 
principal accomplices. 

The funeral of President Lincoln was 
conducted with unexampled solemnit\' and 
magnificence. Impressive services were 
field in Washington, after which the sad 
procession proceeded over the same route 
he had traveled four years before, from 
Springhcld to Washington. In Philadel- 
phia his body lay in state in Independence 
Hall, in which he had declared before his 
first inauguration " that I would sooner be 
assassinated than to give up the principles 
of the Declaration of Independence." He 
was buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery, near 
Springfield, Illinois, on May 4, where a 
monument emblematic of the emancipation 
of the slaves and the restoration of the 
Union mark his resting place. 

The leaders and citizens of the expiring 
Confederac\' expressed genuine indignation 
at the murder of a generous political adver- 
sary. Foreign nations took part in mourn- 
ing tlie death of a statesman who had proved 
himself a true representative of American 
nationality. The freedmen of the South 
almost worshiped the memory of their de- 
liverer; and the general sentiment of the 
great Nation he had saved awarded him a 
place in its affections, second only to that 
held by Washington. 

The characteristics of Abraham Linc(jlii 
have been familiarly known throughout the 
civilized world. His tall, gaunt, ungainly 
figure, homely countenance, and his shrewd 
mother-wit, shown in his celebrated con- 
versations overflowing in humorous and 
pointed anecdote, combined with an accu- 
rate, intuitive appreciation of the questions 
of the time, are recognized as forming the 
best type of a period of American history 
now rapidly passing away. 




c 




^-^^K^^^^y 




ANDREW JOHNSON. 



9? 




^2 









.aHEHHETHHSJ 









fr hi 



'X 



m 



HHZ: 



if' 



•^>i'. 



P H'r^ a'r^7SSHaHr5i?Hg5H d'^ . 'r', r^PHg! ri'^FgEe^ aglBl^ SP^FEj^a H^ I 



^ 




: «?> 

^^^»7fv^ NDREW JOHNSON, 
the seventeenth Presi- 
dent (if the I' II i t c d 
%' States, 1865-9, was 
b () r 11 at R a 1 c i f^^ li , 
^"-.^ North Carolina, De- 
'■'i'i^ cembcr 29, 1808. 
Hisfatherriied when 
he was four years old, and in 
his eleventh year he was ap- 
prenticed to a tailor. I le nev- 
er attended scho(jl, and did 
not learn to read until late in 
his ap|)renticeship, when he 
suddenly acquired a passion for 
obtaininj^ knowledge, and devoted 
all his spare time to reading. 

Aft(--r working two years as a journey- 
man tailor at Lauren's Court-House, South 
Carolina, he removed, in 1826, to Green- 
ville, Tetmessee, where he worked at his 
trade and married. Under his wife's in- 
structions he made rapid progress in his 
education, and manifested such an intelli- 
gent interest in local politics as t(j be 
elected as " workingmen's candidate " al- 
derman, in 1828, and mayor in 1830, being 
twice re-elected to each office. 

During this period he cultivated his tal- 
ents as a public speaker by taking part in a 



debating society, consisting largely of stu- 
dents of Greenville College. In 1835, and 
again in 1839, he was chosen to the lower 
house of the Legislature, as a r)emf)crat. 
Ill 1841 he was elected vState Senator, and 
in 1843, Representative in Congress, being 
re-elected four successive periods, until 
1853, when he was chosen Governor of 
Tennessee. In Congress he supported the 
administrations of Tyler and Polk in their 
chief measures, especially tin: annexation 
of Texas, the adjustment of the (Oregon 
boundary, the Mexican war, and the tariff 
of 1846. 

In 1855 Mr. Johnson was re-elected Gov- 
ernor, and in 1857 entered the United 
States .Senate, where he was consjjicuous 
as an advocate of retrenchment and of the 
FIcjmestead bill, and as an opjionent of the 
Pacific Railroad. He was suiiported by the 
Tennessee delegation to the Diinocratic 
convention in i860 for the Presidential 
nomination, and lent his influence to the 
Breckenridge wing of that party. 

When the election of Lincoln had 
brought about the first attempt at secession 
in December, i860, Johnson took in the 
Senate a firm attitude for the Union, and 
in May, 1S61, on returning to Tennessee, 
he was in imminent peril of suffering from 



9+ 



PRESIDEiy^TS OF THE VSIIED STATES. 



popular violence for his loyalty to the " old 
flae." He was the leader of the Loyalists' 
convention of East Tennessee, and during 
the following winter was very active in or- 
ganizing relief for the destitute loyal refu- 
gees from that region, his own family being 
among those compelled to leave. 

By his course in this crisis Johnson came 
prominently before the Northern public, 
and when in March, 1862, he was appointed 
by President Lincoln military Governor of 
Tennessee, with the rank of Brigadier-Gen- 
eral, he increased in popularit\- by the vig- 
orous and successful manner in which he 
labored to restore order, protect Union 
men and punish marauders. On the ap- 
proach of the Presidential campaign of 1864, 
the termination of the war being plainly 
foreseen, and several Southern States being 
partially reconstructed, it was felt that the 
Vice-Presidency should be given to a South- 
ern man of conspicuous loyalty, and Gov- 
ernor Johnson was elected on the same 
platfonn and ticket as President Lincoln; 
and on the assassination of the latter suc- 
ceeded to the Presidency, April 15, 1865. 
In a public speech two days later he said: 
"The American people must be taught, if 
they do not already feel, that treason is a 
crime and must be punished; that the Gov- 
ernment will not always bear with its ene- 
mies; that it is strong, not only to protect, 
but to punish. In our peaceful history 
treason has been almost unknown. The 
people must understand that it is the black- 
est of crimes, and will be punished." He 
then added the ominous sentence: " In re- 
gard to my future course, I make no prom- 
ises, no pledges." President Johnson re- 
tained the cabinet of Lincoln, and exhibited 
considerable severity- toward traitors in his 
earlier acts and speeches, but he soon inaug- 
urated a policy of reconstruction, proclaim- 
ing a general amnesty to the late Confeder- 
ates, and successively establishing provis- 
ional Governments in the Southern States. 



These States accordingly claimed represen- 
tation in Congress in the following Decem- 
ber, and the momentous question of what 
should be the policy of the victorious Union 
toward its late armed opponents was forced 
upon that bod\-. 

Two considerations impelled the Repub- 
lican majority to reject the policy of Presi, 
dent Johnson: First, an apprehension that 
the chief magistrate intended to undo the re- 
suits of the war in i-egard to slavery; and, sec- 
ond, the sullen altitude of the South, which 
seemed to be plotting to regain the polic}- 
which arms had lost. The credentials of the 
Southern members elect were laid on the 
table, a civil rights bill and a bill extending 
the sphere of the Freedmen's Bureau were 
passed over the executive veto, and the two 
highest branches of the Government were 
soon in open antagonism. The action of 
Congress was characterized by the Presi- 
dent as a " new rebellion." In July the 
cabinet was reconstructed, Messrs. Randall, 
Stanbury and Browning taking the places 
of Messrs. Denison, Speed and Harlan, and 
an unsuccessful attempt was made by 
means of a general convention in Philadel- 
phia to form a new [)arty on the basisof the 
administration policy. 

In an excursion to Chicago for the pur- 
pose of laying a corner-stone of the monu- 
ment to Stephen A. Douglas, President 
Johnson, accompanied by several members 
of the cabinet, passed through Philadelphia. 
New York and Albany, in each of which 
cities, and in other places along the route, 
he made speeches justifying and explaining 
his own policy, and violently denouncing 
the action of Congress. 

August 12, 1867, President Johnson re- 
moved the Secretary of War, replacing 
him by General Grant. Secretary Stanton 
retired under protest, based upon the ten- 
ure-of-office act which had been passed the 
preceding March. The President then is- 
sued a proclamation declaring the insurrec- 



A NDRB W JOHNSON. 



tion at an end, and that " peace, order, tran- 
quility and civil authority existed in and 
throughout the United States." Another 
proclamation enjoined obedience to the 
Constitution and the laws, and an amnesty 
was published September 7, relieving nearly 
all the participants in the late Rebellion 
from the disabilities thereby incurred, on 
condition of taking the oath to support the 
Constitution and the laws. 

In December Congress refused to confirm 
the removal of Secretary Stanton, who 
thereupon resumed the exercise of his of- 
fice; but February 21, 1868, President 
Johnson again attempted to remove him, 
appointing General Lorenzo Thomas in his 
place. Stanton refused to vacate his post, 
and was sustained by the Senate. 

February 24 the House of Representa- 
tives voted to impeach the President for 
" high crime and misdemeanors," and March 
5 presented eleven articles of impeachment 
on the ground of his resistance to the exe- 
cution of the acts of Congress, alleging, in 
addition to the offense lately committed, 
his public expressions of contempt for Con- 
gress, in " certain intemperate, inflamma- 
tory and scandalous harangues" pronounced 
in August and September, 1866, and there- 
after declaring that the Thirty-ninth Con- 
gress of the United States was not a 
competent legislative body, and denying 
its power to propose Constitutional amend- 
ments. March 23 the impeachment trial 
began, the President appearing by counsel, 
and resulted in acquittal, the vote lacking 



one of the two-thirds vote required for 
conviction. 

The remainder of President Johnson's 
term of office was passed without any such 
conflicts as might have been anticipated. 
He failed to obtain a nomination for re- 
election by the Democratic party, though 
receiving sixty-five votes on the first ballot. 
July 4 and December 25 new proclamations 
of pardon to the participants in the late 
Rebellion were issued, but were of little 
effect. On the accession of General Grant 
to the Presidency, March 4, 1869, Johnson 
returned to Greenville, Tennessee. Unsuc- 
cessful in 1870 and 1872 as a candidate re- 
spectively for United States Senator and 
Representative, he was finally elected to the 
Senate in 1875, and took his seat in the extra 
session of March, in which his speeches 
were comparatively temperate. He died 
July 31, 1875, and was buried at Green- 
ville. 

President Johnson's admmistiation was a 
peculiarly unfortunate one. That he should 
so soon become involved in bitter feud with 
the Republican majority in Congress was 
certainly a surprising and deplorable inci- 
dent; yet, in reviewing the circumstances 
after a lapse of so many years, it is easy to 
find ample room for a charitable judgment 
of both the parties in the heated contro- 
versy, since it cannot be doubted that any 
President, even Lincoln himself, had he 
lived, must have sacrificed a large portion 
of his popularity in carrying out any pos- 
sible scheme of reconstruction. 



'p 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



^y^ » a i i t l I ? i i T i i lirl ii j i i l .i l i i S. 

^.}^*'VTJ^m ¥T 1 

♦5r 



*] U' 






g« r¥ ri r¥ »■ "■■ ■ ■ t^ yr n n rj "- 



««^Eif^igiK 



^^,^' ;-.^^. ^^^'.'^ -.■vi%^ "^k; ^iC'*--' 



^^i j li i li i l jliii l l ii l li l i lll i ni a lj ii li i ij ii l . j ii j ii i i li. »»: 




"{■t* 






^ 



ifc^-^-^LY 



Fg^,;>-*'^ 



SSES SIMPSON 
GRANT, the eight- 
eenth President of the 
United States, i869-'77, 
was born April 27, 1822, 
at Po i n t Pleasant, 
'i'Ti^ Clermont Countv, 
Oiiio. His father was of Scotch 
descent, and a dealer in leather. 
At the age of seventeen he en- 
tered the Military Academ}' at 
West Point, and four jears later 
graduated twenty-first in a class 
of thirty-nine, receiving the 
commission of Brevet Second 
ieutenant. He was assigned 
to the Fourth Infantrv and re- 
mained in the army eleven years. He was 
engaged in every battle of the Mexican war 
except that of Buena \'ista, and received 
two brevets for gallantry. 

In 1848 Mr. Grant married Julia, daughter 
of Frederick Dent, a jirominent merchant of 
St. Louis, and in 1S54, having reached the 
grade of Captain, he resigned his commis- 
sion in the army. For several years he fol- 
lowed farming near St. Louis, but unsuc- 
cessfully ; and in i860 he entered the leather 
trade with his father at Galena, Illinois. 

When the civil war broke out in 1861, 
Grant was thirty-nine years of age, but en- 
tirely unknown to public men and without 




any personal acquaintance with great affairs. 
President Lincoln's first call for troops was 
made on the 15th of April, and on the 19th 
Grant was drilling a company of volimteers 
at Galena. He also offered his services to 
the Adjutant-General of the army, but re- 
ceived no replv. The Governor of Illinois, 
however, employed him in the organization 
of volunteer troops, and at the end of five 
weeks he was appointed Colonel of the 
Twenty-first Infantry. He took command 
of his regiment in June, and reported first 
to General Pope in Missouri. His superior 
knowledge of military life rather surprised 
his superior officers, who had never before 
even heard of him, and they were thus led 
to place him on the road to rapid advance- 
ment. August 7 he was commissioned a 
Brigadier-General of volunteers, the ap- 
pointment having been made without his 
knowledge. He had been unanimously 
recommended bv the Congressmen from 
Illinois, not one of wluini had been his 
personal acquaintance. For a few weeks 
he was occupied in watching the move- 
ments of partisan forces in Missouri. 

September i he was placed in command 
of the District of Southeast Missouri, with 
headquarters at Cairo, and on the 6th, with- 
out orders, he seized Paducah, at the mouth 
of the Tennessee River, and commanding 
tiic navigation both of that stream and oi 



[/LISSES S. GRANT. 



99 



the Ohio. This stroke secured Kentucky 
to the Union ; for the State Legislature, 
which had until then affected to be neutral, 
at once declared in favor of the Govern- 
ment. In November following, according 
to orders, he made a demonstration about 
eighteen miles below Cairo, preventing tiie 
crossing of hostile troops into Missouri ; 
but in order to accomplish this purpose he 
had to do some fighting, and that, too, with 
only 3,000 raw recruits, against 7,000 Con- 
federates. Grant carried off two pieces of 
artillery and 200 prisoners. 

After repeated applications to General 
Halleck, his immediate superior, he was 
allowed, in February, 1862, to move up the 
Tennessee River against Fort Henry, in 
conjunction with a naval force. The gun- 
boats silenced the fort, and Grant immedi- 
ately made preparations to attack Fort 
Donelson, about twelve miles distant, on 
the Cumberland River. Without waiting 
for orders he moved his troops there, and 
with 15,000 men began the siege. The 
fort, garrisoned with 21,000 men, was a 
strong one, but after hard fighting on three 
successive days Grant forced an " Uncon- 
ditional Surrender " (an alliteration upon 
the initials of his name). The prize he capt- 
ured consisted of sixty-five cannon, 17,600 
small arms and 14,623 soldiers. About 4,- 
000 of the garrison had escaped in the night, 
and 2,500 were killed or wounded. Grant's 
entire loss was less than 2,000. This was the 
first important success won by the national 
troops during the war, and its strategic re- 
sults were marked, as the entire States of 
Kentucky and Tennessee at once fell into the 
National hands. Our hero was made a 
Major-General of Volunteers and placed in 
command of the District of West Ten- 
nessee. 

In March, 1862, he was ordered to move 
up the Tennessee River toward Corinth, 
where the Confederates were concentrat- 
ing a large army ; but he was directed not 



to attack. His forces, now numbering 38.- 
000, were accordingly encamped near Shi- 
loh, or Pittsburg Landing, to await the 
arrival of General Buell with 40,000 more; 
but April 6 the Confederates came out from 
Corinth 50,000 strong and attacked Grant 
violently, hoping to overwhelm him before 
Buell could arrive ; 5,000 of his troops were 
beyond supporting distance, so that he was 
largely outnumbered and forced back to the 
river, where, however, he held out until 
dark, when the head of Buell's column 
came upon the field. The next day the 
Confederates were driven back to Corinth, 
nineteen miles. The loss was heavy on 
both sides; Grant, being senior in rank to 
Buell, commanded on both days. Two 
days afterward Halleck arrived at the front 
and assumed command of the army. Grant 
remaining at the head of the right wing and 
the reserve. On May 30 Corinth was 
evacuated by the Confederates. In July 
Halleck was made General-in-Chief, and 
Grant succeeded him in command of the 
Department of the Tennessee. September 
19 the battle of luka was fought, where, 
owing to Rosecrans's fault, only an incom- 
plete victory was obtained. 

Next, Grant, with 30,000 men, moved 
down into Mississippi and threatened Vicks- 
burg, while Sherman, with 40,000 men, was 
sent by way of the river to attack that place 
in front; but, owing to Colonel Murphy's 
surrendering Holly Springs to the Con- 
federates, Grant was so weakened that he 
had to retire to Corinth, and then Sherman 
failed to sustain his intended attack. 

In January, 1863, General Grant took 
command in person of all the troops in the 
Mississippi Valley, and spent several months 
in fruitless attempts to compel the surrender 
or evacuation of Vicksburg; but July 4, 
following, the place surrendered, with 31,- 
600 men and 172 cannon, and the Mississippi 
River thus fell permanently into the hands 
of the Government. Grant was made a 



tOf C. 



PltESIDE.V'JS OF J HE UMTED STAThS. 



Major-General in the regular army, and in 
October following he was placed in com- 
mand of the Division of the Mississippi. 
The same month he went to Chattanooga 
and saved the Army of the Cumberland 
from starvation, and drove Bragg from that 
part of the countr}-. This victory over- 
threw the last important hostile force west 
of the Alleghanies and opened the way for 
the National armies into Georgia and Sher- 
man's march to the sea. 

The remarkable series of successes which 
Grant had now achieved pointed him out 
as the appropriate leader of the National 
armies, and accordingly, in February, 1864, 
the rank of Lieutenant-General was created 
for him by Congress, and on March 17 he 
assumed command of the armies of the 
United States. Planning the grand final 
campaign, he sent Sherman into Georgia, 
Sigel into the valley of Virginia, and Butler 
to capture Richmond, while he fought his 
own way from the Rapidan to the James. 
The costly but victorious battles of the 
Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna and 
Cold Harbor were fought, more for the 
purpose of annihilating Lee than to capture 
any particular point. In June, 1864, the 
siege of Richmond was begun. Sherman, 
meanwhile, was marching and fighting daily 
in Georgia and steadily advancing toward 
Atlanta ; but Sigel had been defeated in the 
valley of Virginia, and was superseded by 
Hunter. Lee sent Early to threaten the Na- 
tional capital ; whereupon Grant gathered 
up a force which lie placed under Sheridan, 
and that commander rapidly drove Early, 
in a succession of battles, througli tiic valley 
of Virginia and destroyed his army as an 
organized force. The siege of Richmond 
went on, and Grant made numerous attacks, 
but was only partially successful. The 
people of the North grew impatient, and 
even the Government advised him to 
abandon the attempt to take Richmond or 
crush the Confederacy in that way ; but he 



never wavered. He resolved to " fight it 
out on that line, if it took all summer." 

By September Sherman had made his 
way to Atlanta, and Grant then sent him 
on his famous " march to the sea," a route 
which the chief had designed six months 
before. He made Sherman's success possi- 
ble, not only by holding Lee in front of 
Richmond, but also by sending reinforce- 
ments to Thomas, who then drew off and 
defeated the only army which could have 
confronted Sherman. Thus the latter was 
left unopposed, and, with Thomas and Sheri- 
dan, was used in the furtherance of Grant's 
plans. Each executed his part in the great 
design and contributed his share to the re- 
sult at which Grant was aiming. Sherman 
finally reached Savannah, Schofield beat 
the cncmv at Franklin, Thomas at Nash- 
ville, and Sheridan wherever he met him ; 
and all this while General Grant was hold- 
ing Lee, with the principal Confederate 
army, near Richmond, as it were chained 
and helpless. Then Schofield was brought 
from the West, and Fort Fisher and Wil- 
mington were captured on the sea-coast, so 
as to aflord him a foothold ; from here he 
was sent into the interior of North Caro- 
lina, and Sherman was ordered to move 
northward to join him. When all this was 
effected, and Sheridan could find no one else 
to fight in the Shenandoah Valley, Grant 
brought the cavalry leader to the front of 
Richmond, and, making a last effort, drove 
Lee from his entrenchments and captured 
Richmontl. 

At tiic beginning of the final campaign 
Lee had collected 73,000 fighting men in 
the lines at Richmond, besides the local 
militia and the gunboat crews, amounting 
to 5,000 more. Including Sheridan's force 
Grant had 1 10,000 men in the works before 
Petersburg and Richmond. Petersburg fell 
on the 2d of April, and Richmond on tl-.e 
3d, and Lee fled in the direction of Lynch- 
burg. Grant pursued with remorseless 



i/LrssES s. (;ra,\t. 



energy, only stopping to strike fresh blows, 
and Lee at last found himself not only out- 
fought but also out-marched and out-gen- 
eraled. Being completely surrounded, he 
surrendered on the 9th of April, 1865, at 
Appomattox Court-House, in the open fiekl, 
with 27,000 men, all that remained of his 
army. This act virtually ended tiie war. 
Thus, in ten days Grant had captured 
Petersburg and Richmond, fought, by his 
subordinates, the battles of Five Forks and 
Sailor's Creek, besides numerous smaller 
ones, captured 20,000 men in actual battle, 
and received the surrender of 27,000 more 
at Appomattox, absolutely annihilating an 
army of 70,000 soldiers. 

General Grant returned at once to Wash- 
ington to superintend the disbandment of 
the armies, but this pleasurable work was 
scarcely begun when President Lincoln was 
assassinated. It had doubtless been in- 
tended to inflict the same fate upon Grant ; 
but he, fortunately, on account of leaving 
Washington early in the evening, declined 
an invitation to accompany the President 
to the theater where the murder was com- 
mitted. This event made .Vndrew Johnson 
President, but left Grant by far the most 
conspicuous figure in the public life of the 
country. He became the object of an en- 
thusiasm greater than had ever been known 
in America. Every possible honor was 
heaped upon him ; the grade of General 
was created for him by Congress; houses 
were presented to him by citizens; towns 
were illuminated on his entrance into them ; 
and, to cap the climax, when he made his 
tour around the world, "all nations did him 
honor" as they had never before honored 
a foreigner. 

The General, as Commander-in-Chief, 
was placed in an embarrassing position by 
the opposition of President Johnson to the 
measures of Congress ; but he directly man- 
ifested his characteristic loyalty by obeying 
Congress rather than the disaffected Presi- 



dent, although for a short time he had 
served in his cabinet as Secretary of War. 

Of course, everybody thought of General 
Grant as the next President of the United 
States, and he was accordingly elected as 
such in 1868 " by a large majority," and 
four years later re-elected by a much larger 
majority — the most overwhelming ever 
given by the people of this country. His first 
administration was distinguished by a ces- 
sation of the strifes which sprang from the 
war, by a large retluction of the National 
debt, and by a settlement of the difficulties 
with England which had grown out of the 
depredations committed by privateers fit- 
ted out in England during the war. This 
last settlement was made by the famous 
" Geneva arbitration," which saved to this 
Government $15,000,000, but, more than all, 
prevented a war with England. "Let us 
have peace," was Grant's motto. And this 
is the most appropriate place to remark 
that above all Presidents whom this Gov- 
ernment has ever had. General Grant was 
the most non-partisan. He regarded the 
Executive office as purely and exclusively 
executive of the laws of Congress, irrespect- 
ive of " politics." But every great man 
has jealous, bitter enemies, a fact Grant 
was well aware of. 

After the close of his Presidency, our 
General made his famous tour around the 
world, already referred to, and soon after- 
ward, in company with Ferdinand Ward, 
of New York City, he engaged in banking 
and stock brokerage, which business was 
made disastrous to Grant, as well as to him- 
self, by his rascality. By this time an in- 
curable cancer of the tongue developed 
itself in the person of the afflicted ex- 
President, which ended his unrequited life 
July 23, 1885. Thus passed away from 
earth's turmoils the man, the General, who 
was as truly the " father of this regenerated 
country" as was Washington the father of 
the infant nation. 



PRES/DEXTS OF THE UXITED STATES. 



^^. 










g kriWPM Fmn n i n?" * i ' m T t\ mrfi mrrt ^ 






r/^oi>. 



-^f||**Si^MifilESoljt) t?.jXW.4*|g^ 





JTHERFORD BIRCH- 
ARD HAYES, thenine- 
' teenth President of 
' the United States, 
i877-'8i, was born in 
f^sr^#^T^^^' 'i, , Delaware, Ohio, Oc- 
'^(.■m^-'^-^^^ tober 4, .822. His 
ancestry can be traced as far 
back as 1280, when Hayes and 
Rutherford were two Scottish 
chieftains fighting side by side 
with Baliol, WilHam Wallace 
and Robert Bruce. Both fami- 
lies belonged to the nobility, 
owned extensive estates and had 
a large following. The Hayes 
family had, for a coatof-arms, a 
shield, barred and surmounted by a flying 
eagle. There was a circle of stars about 
the eagle and above the shield, while on a 
scroll underneath the shield was inscribed 
the motto, " Recte." Misfortune overtaking 
the family, George Hayes left Scotland in 
1680, and settled in Windsor, Connecticut. 
He was an industrious worker in wood and 
iron, having a mechanical genius and a cul- 
tivated mind. His son George was born 
in Windsor and remained there during his 
life. 

Daniel Hayes, son of the latter, married 
Sarah Lee, and lived in Simsburv, Con- 




necticut. Ezekiel, son of Daniel, was born 
in 1724, and was a manufacturer of scythes 
at Bradford, Connecticut. Rutherford 
Hayes, son of Ezekiel and grandfather of 
President Hayes, was born in New Haven, 
in August, 1756. He was a famous black- 
smith and tavern-keeper. He immigrated to 
Vermont at an unknown date, settling in 
Brattleboro where he established a hotel. 
Here his son Rutherford, father of Presi- 
dent Hayes, was born. In September, 1813, 
he married Sophia Birchard, of Wilming- 
ton, Vermont, whose ancestry on the male 
side is traced back to 1635, to John Birch- 
ard, one of the principal founders of Nor- 
wich. Both of her grandfathers were 
soldiers in the Revolutionary war. 

The father of President Hayes was of a 
mechanical turn, and could mend a plow, 
knit a stocking, or do almost anything that 
he might undertake. He was prosperous 
in business, a member of the church and 
active in all the benevolent enterprises of 
the town. After the close of the war of 181 2 
he immigrated to Ohio, and purchased a 
farm near the present town of Delaware. 
His family then consisted of his wife and 
two children, and an orphan girl whom he 
had adopted. 

It was in 1817 that the family arrived at 
Delaware. Instead of settling upon his 




O .-/LvC^ 



// 



RUTHERFORD B. HAYES. 



'OS 



farm, Mr. Hayes concluded to enter into 
business in the village. He purchased an 
interest in a distillery, a business then as re- 
spectable as it was profitable. His capital 
and recognized ability assured him the 
highest social position in the community. 
He died July 22, 1822, less than three 
months before the birth of the son that was 
dfistined to fill the office of President of the 
United States. 

Mrs. Hayes at this period was very weak, 
and the subject of this sketch was so feeble 
at birth that he was not expected to live 
beyond a month or two at most. As the 
months went by he grew weaker and weaker 
so that the neighbors were in the habit of 
inquiring from time to time " if Mrs. 
Hayes's baby died last night." On one oc- 
casion a neighbor, who was on friendly 
terms with the famiU , after alluding to the 
boy's big head and the mother's assiduous 
care of him, said to her, in a bantering way, 
"That's right! Stick to him. You have 
got him along so far, and I shouldn't won- 
der if he would really come to something 
yet." " You need not laugh," said Mrs. 
Hayes, " you wait and see. You can't tell 
but I shall make him President of the 
United States yet." 

The boy lived, in spite of the universal 
predictions of his speedy death; and when, 
in 1825, his elder brother was drowned, he 
became, if possible, still dearer to his mother. 
He was seven years old before he was 
placed in school. His education, however, 
was not neglected. His sports were almost 
wholly within doors, his playmates being 
his sister and her associates. These circum- 
stances tended, no doubt, to foster that 
gentleness of disposition and that delicate 
consideration for the feelings of others 
whicli are marked traits of his character. 
At school he was ardently devoted to his 
studies, obedient to the teacher, and care- 
ful to avoid the quarrels in which many of 
his schoolmates were involved. He was 



always waiting at the school-house door 
when it opened in the morning, and never 
late in returning to his seat at recess. His 
sister Fannie was his constant companion, 
and their affection for each other excited 
the admiration of their friends. 

In 1S38 young Hayes entered Kenyon 
College and graduated in 1842. He then 
began the study of law in the office ol 
Thomas Sparrow at Columbus. His health 
was now well established, his figure robust, 
his mind vigorous and alert. In a short 
time he determined to enter the law school 
at Cambridge, Massachusetts, where for 
two years he pursued his studies with great 
diligence. 

In 1845 he was admitted to the bar at 
Marietta, Ohio, and shortly afterward went 
into practice as an attorney-at-law with 
Ralph P. Buckland, of Fremont. Here he 
remained three years, acquiring but limited 
practice, and apparently unambitious ot 
distinction in his profession. His bachelor 
uncle, Sardis Birchard, who had always 
manifested great interest in his nephew and 
rendered him assistance in boyhood, was 
now a wealthy banker, and it was under- 
stood that the young man would be his 
heir. It is possible that this expectation 
may have made Mr. Hayes more indifferent 
to the attainment of wealth than he would 
otherwise have been, but he was led into no 
extravagance or vices on this account. 

In 1849 '^^ removed to Cincinnati where 
his ambition found new stimulus. Two 
events occurring at this period had a pow- 
erful influence upon his subsequent life. 
One of them was his marriage to Miss 
Lucy Ware Webb, daughter of Dr. James 
Webb, of Cincinnati; the other was his 
introduction to the Cincinnati Literary 
Club, a body embracing such men as Chief 
Justice Salmon P. Chase, General John 
Pope and Governor Edward F. Noyes. 
The marriage was a fortunate one as every- 
body knows. Not one of all the wives ol 



io6 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UX/TED STATES. 



our Presidents was more universally ad- 
mired, reverenced and beloved than is Mrs. 
Hayes, and no one has done more than she 
to reflect honor upon American woman- 
hood. 

In 1856 JSIr. Hayes was nominated to the 
office of Judge o( the Court of Common 
Pleas, but declined to accept tiu' nomina- 
tion. Two years later he was chosen to the 
office of City Solicitor. 

In 1861, when the Rebellion broke out, 
he was eager to take up arms in the defense 
of his country. His military life was 
bright and illustrious. June 7, 1861, he 
was appointed Major of the Twcntv-lhird 
Ohio Infantry. In July the regiment was 
sent to Virginia. October 15, 1861, he was 
made Lieutenant-Ccjloncl of his regiment, 
and in .August, 1862, was promoted Colonel 
of the Seventy-ninth Ohio Regiment, but 
refused to leave his old comrades. He was 
wounded at the battle of South Mountain, 
and suffered severely, being unable to enter 
upon active duty for several weeks. No- 
vember 30, 1862, he rejoined his regiment as 
its Colonel, having been promoted Octo- 
ber 1 5. 

December 25, 1862, he was placed in com- 
mand of the Kanawha division, and for 
meritorious service in several battles was 
promoted Brigadier-General. He was also 
brevetted .Major-General for distinguislicd 



services in 1864. He was wounded lour 
times, and five horses were shot from 
under him. 

-Mr. Hayes was first a Whig in politics, 
and was among the first to unite with the 
Free-Soil and Republican parties. In 1864 
he was elected to Congress from che Sec- 
ond Ohio District, which had always been 
Democratic, receiving a majority of 3,098. 
In 1866 he was renominated for Congress 
and was a second time elected. In 1867 he 
was elected Governor over Allen G. Thur- 
man, the Democratic candidate, and re- 
elected in 1869. In 1874 Sardis Birchard 
died, leaving his large estate to General 
Hayes. 

In 1876 he was nominated for the Presi- 
dency. His letter of acceptance excited 
the admiration of the whole country. He 
resigned the office of Governor and retired 
to his home in Fremont to await the result 
of the canvass. After a hard, long contest 
he was inaugurated March 5, 1877. His 
Presidency was characterized by compro- 
mises with all parties, in order to please as 
man}- as possible. The close of his Presi- 
dential term in 1881 was the close of his 
public life, and since then he has remained 
at his home in Fremont, Ohio, in Jefferso- 
nian retirement from public notice, in strik- 
ing contrast with most others of the wcjrld's 
notables. 



yAA/ES A. GARFIELD. 



1 09 




\ '^i^-.K ;■l^.''l^;•l^;>l^;'l^7'l^:*l•^>'^'^^%'V^^<^|*"/.^'T''l'r^(^.^l*rr'(*r■^'r^^^^^^ 






p .^^j;4Mii 4. t4MiE~ikl. 



aa3ii33^33jiasasra'aBfc^"^^-^'>^'^'^^'-i^^?^'^s?raa 



jgi'iai'(gs'»^.S?(^(^'r3*(^a^yfr-^<fe'«&'sSs>«s£a«sgi<ife»'sJa^^ 




^ -^^f- ^ 




AMES A. GARFIELD, 
twcntictli President of 
the United States, 1881, 
was born Novembei- 19, 
,,, --,_ «g\t,] • ^,- 1 83 1, in the wild woods 
\^!i'"-:'.i?|t^ i;'.,-/ of Cuyahoga County, 
Ohio. His parents were 
Abram and Eliza (Ballou) 
Garfield, who were of New 
England ancestry. The 
senior Garfield was an in- 
dustrious farmer, as the 
rapid impro\'ements which 
appeared on his place at- 
tested. The residence was 
the familiar pioneer log cabin, 
and the household comprised the parents 
and their children — Mehetable, Thomas, 
Mary and James A. Tn May, 1833, the 
father died, and the care of the house- 
hold consequently devolved upon young 
Thomas, to whom James was greatly in- 
debted for the educational and other ad- 
vantages he enjoyed. He now lives in 
Michigan, and the two sisters live in Solon, 
Ohio, near their birthplace. 

As the subject of our sketch grew up, he, 
too, was industrious, both in mental and 
physical labor. He worked upon the farm, 
or at carpentering, or chopped wood, or at 
an}' other odd job tliat would aid in support 
of the family, and in the meantime made the 



most of his books. Ever afterward he was 
never ashamed of his humble origin, nor for- 
got the friends of his youth. The poorest 
laborer was sure of his sympathy, and he 
always exhibited the character of a modest 
gentleman. 

Until he was about sixteen years of age, 
James's highest ambition was to be a lake 
captain. To this his mother was strongly 
opposed, but she finall_v consented to his 
going to Cleveland to carry out his long- 
cherished design, with the understanding, 
however, that he should try to obtain some 
other kind of employment. He walked all 
the way to Cleveland, and this was his first 
visit to the city. After making man)' ap- 
plications for work, including labor on 
board a lake vessel, but all in vain, he 
finally engaged as a driver for his cousin, 
Amos Letcher, on the Ohio & Pennsyl- 
vania Canal. In a short time, however, he 
quit this and returned home. He then at- 
tended the seminary at Chester for about 
three years, and next he entered Hiram In- 
stitute, a school started in 1850 by the 
Disciples of Christ, of which church he was 
a member. In order to pay his way he 
assumed the duties of janitor, and at tunes 
taught school. He soon completed the cur- 
riculum there, and then entered Williams 
College, at which he graduated in 1856, 
taking: one of the hiirhest honors of his class. 



PRES/DEXTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Afterward he returned to Hiram as Presi- 
dent. In his youthful and therefore zealous 
piety, he exercised his talents occasionally 
as a preacher of the Gospel. He was a 
man of strong moral and religious convic- 
tions, and as soon as he began to look into 
politics, he saw innumerable points that 
could be improved. He also studied law, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1859. 
November 11, i.SjS, Mr. Garfield married 
Miss Lucretia Rudolph, who ever after- 
ward proved a worthy consort in all the 
stages of her husband's career. They had 
seven children, five of whom are still living. 

It was in 1859 that Garfield made his 
first political speeches, in Hiram and the 
neighboring villages, and three years later 
he began to speak at county mass-meetings, 
being received everywhere with popular 
favor. He was elected to the State Senate 
this year, taking his seat in January, 1S60. 

On the breaking out of the war of the 
Rebellion in 1861, Mr. Garfield resolved to 
fight as he had talked, and accordingly he 
enlisted to defend the old flag, receiving 
his commission as Lieutenant-Colonel of the 
Fortv-second Regiment of the Ohio Volun- 
teer Infantry, August 14, that year. He 
was iminediatclv thrown into active service, 
and before he had ever seen a gun fired in 
action he was placed in command of four 
regiments of infantry and eight companies 
of cavalry, charged with the work of driv- 
ing the Confederates, headed by Humphrey 
Marshall, from his native State, Kentuckv. 
This task was speedily accomplished, al- 
though against great odds. On account of 
his success, President Lincoln commissioned 
him Brigadier-General, January 11, 1862; 
and, as he had been the youngest man in 
the Ohio Senate two years before, so now 
he was the youngest General in the arniv. 
He was with General Buell's army at Shi- 
loh, also in its operations around Corinth 
and its march through Alabama. Next, he 



court-martial for the trial of General Fitz- 
John Porter, and then ordered to report to 
General Rosecians, when he was assigned 
to the position of Chief of Staff. His mili- 
tary history closed with his brilliant ser- 
vices at Chickamauga, where he won the 
stars of Major-General. 

In the fall of 1862, without any effort on 
his part, he was elected as a Representative 
to Congress, from that section of Ohio 
which had been represented for si.xty jears 
mainly by two men — Elisha Whittlesey and 



Joshua R. Giddings. 



Again, 



he was the 



youngest member of that body, and con- 
tinued there by successive re-elections, as 
Representative or Senator, until he was 
elected President in 1880. During his life 
in Congress he compiled and published by 
his speeches, there and elsewhere, more 
information on the issues of the day, espe- 
cially on one side, than any other member. 

June 8, 1880, at the National Republican 
Convention held in Chicago, General Gar- 
field was nominated for the Presidency, in 
preference to the old war-horses, Blaine 
and Grant ; and although many of the Re- 
[Hiblican party felt sore over the failure of 
their respective heroes to obtain the nomi- 
nation. General Garfield was elected by a 
fair popular majority. He was dul)- in- 
augurated, but on July 2 following, before 
he had fairly got started in his administra- 
tion, he was fatally shot by a half-demented 
assassin. After very painful and protracted 
suffering, he died September 19, 1881, la- 
mented by all the American people. Never 
before in the history of this country had 
anything occurred which so nearly froze 
the blood of the Nation, for the moment, as 
the awful act of Guiteau, the murderer. 
He was duly tried, convicted and put to 
death on the gallows. 

The lamented Garfield was succeeded by 
the Vice-President, General Arthur, who 
seemed to endeavor to carry out the policy 



was detailed as a member of the general inauguratetl bv his predeccsso!'. 



CHESTER A. ARTHUR. 



"3 





{gi,f^'>t>- 'tifj '•!• iij» -I- t4> •!■ «j» -T- (a)ac'l^■.>l'oal'vi; -i- "«j» -i- <*»■ -r-" «i. -r-' to •oiii;^^- 



i^: 







HESTER ALLEN 
ARTHUR, the twcn- 
ty-t'irst Chief Execu- 
tive of this growing 
republic, 1881 -'5, was 
born in F r a n k H u 
County, Vermont, 
October 5, 1830, the eldest of a 
tainil}' of two sons and five 
daughters. His father. Rev. 
Dr. William Arthur, a Bai)tist 
clergyman, immigrated to this 
country from County Antrim, 
Ireland, in his eighteenth year, 
and died in 1875, in Newton- 
ville, near Albany, New York, 
after serving many years as a successful 
minister. Chester A. was educated at that 
old, conservative institution. Union Col- 
lege, at Schenectady, New York, where he 
excelled in all his studies. He graduated 
there, with honor, and then struck out in 
life for himself by teaching school for about 
two years in his native State. 

At the expiration of that time young 
Arthur, with $500 in his purse, went to the 
city of New York and entered the law office 
of ex-Judge E. D. Culver as a student. In 
due time he was admitted to the bar, when 
he formed a partnership with his intimate 



friend and old room-mate, Henry D. Gar. 
diner, with the intention of practicing law 
at some point in the West; but after spend- 
ing about three months in the Westeri; 
States, in search of an eligible place, they 
returned to New York City, leased a room, 
exhibited a sign of their business and al- 
most immediately enjoyed a paying patron- 
age. 

At this stage of his career Mr. Arthur's 
business prospects were so encouraging 
that he concluded Id take a wife, and ac- 
cordingly he married the daughter of Lieu- 
tenant Herndon, cjf the United States Navy, 
who had been lost at sea. To the widow 
of the latter Congress voted a gold medal, 
in recognition of the Lieutenant's bravery 
during the occasion in which he lost liis 
life. Mrs. Artnur died shortly before her 
husband's nomination to the Vice-I'resi- 
dency, leaving two children. 

Mr. Arthur obtained considerable celeb- 
rity as an attorney in the famous Lemmon 
suit, which was brought to recover posses- 
sion of eight slaves, who had been declared 
free by the Superior Court of New York 
City. The noted Charles O'Conor, who 
was nominated by the "Straight Demo- 
crats" in 1872 for the United States Presi- 
dency, was retained by Jonathrm G. Lcm- 



I'4 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



moii, of Virginia, to recover the negroes, 
but he lost the suit. In this case, however, 
Mr. Arthur was assisted by William M. 
Evarts, now United States Senator. Soon 
afterward, in 1856, a respectable colored 
woman was ejected from a street car in 
New York City. Mr. .Arthur sued the car 
company in her bclialf and recovered $500 
damages. Immediatel}' afterward all the 
car companies in the city issued orders to 
their employes to admit colored persons 
upon their cars. 

Mr. Arthur's political doctrines, as well 
as his practice as a lawyer, raised iiim to 
prominence in the party of freedom; and 
accordingly he was sent as a delegate to 
the first National Republican Convention. 
Soon afterward he was appointed Judge 
Advocate for the Second I^rigade of the 
State of New York, ami then Engineer-in- 
Chief on Governor .Morgan's staff. In if^6i, 
the first year of the war, he was made In- 
spector-General, and next, Quartermaster- 
General, in both which offices he rendered 
great service to the Government. After 
the close of Governor Morgan's term he 
resumed the practice of law, forming first a 
partnership with Mr. Ransom, and subse- 
quently adding Mr. Phelps to the firm. 
Each of these gentlemen were able law3'ers. 

November 21, 1872, General Arthur was 
appointed Collector of the Port of New 
York by President Grant, and he lield the 
office until July 20, 1878. 

The next event of prominence in Genera! 
Arthur's career was his nomination to tlie 
V ice-Presidency of the United States, under 
the influence of Roscoe Conkling, at the 
National Republican Convention held at 
Chicago in June, 1880, when James A. Gar- 
field was placed at the head of the ticket. 
Both the convention and the campaign that 
followed were noisy and exciting. The 
triends of Grant, constituting nearly half 



the convention, were exceedingly persist- 
ent, and were sorely disappomted over 
their defeat. At the head of the Demo- 
cratic ticket was placed a ver}'^ strong and 
popular man ; yet Garfield and Arthur were 
elected by a respectable pluraht}' of the 
popular vote. The 4th of March following, 
these gentlemen were accordingly inaugu- 
rated ; but within four months the assassin's 
bullet made a fatal wound in the person of 
General Garfield, whose life terminated 
September 19, 1881, when General Arthur, 
ex officio, was obliged to take the chief 
reins of government. Some misgivings 
were entertained bv many in this event, as 
Mr. Arthur was thought to represent espe 
cially the Grant and Conkling wing of the 
Republican [jartv ; but President .Vrthur 
had both the ability and tlie good sense to 
allay all fears, and he gave the restless, 
critical American people as good an ad- 
ministration as they had ever been blessed 
with. Neither selfishness nor low parti- 
sanism ever characterized any feature of 
his public service. He ever maintained a 
high sense of every individual right as well 
as of the Nation's honor. Indeed, he stood 
so high that his successor, President Cleve- 
land, though of opposing politics, expressed 
a wish in his inaugural address that he 
could onlv satisfy the people witli as good 
an administration. 

But the day of civil service reform had 
come in so far, and the corresponding re- 
action against " third-termism" had en- 
croached so far even upon "second-term" 
service, that the Republican partv saw fit 
in 1884 to nominate another man for Presi- 
dent. Only by this means was General 
Arthur's tenure of office closed at Wash- 
ingtiiii. On bis retirement from the Presi- 
dency, March, 18S5, he engaged iii the 
practice t)t' law at Kew York City, where he 
died -Xovomher l^i, l^^O. 




^ 



r 



GROVRR CLEVELAND. 



117 



^i><. 



-^ ^<<f& 






-^»;j>-j»t^* 



1< 



->^^^ 













^^l*f 



\ 




':^^'T 




ROVER CLEVE- 
^^ LAND, the twenty- 

;,f second I'resident of the 
United States, 18S5— , 
was born in Caldwell, 
Essex Count \-, New 
Jersey, March 18, 
1837. The house in whicii he 
was born, a small two-storv 
^ wooden budding, is still stand- 

;|#;itw^^ ing. It was the parsonage of 
CfeW^) the Presbyterian church, of 
which his lather, Richard 
Cleveland, at the time was 
pastor. The family is of New 
England origin, and for two centuries has 
contributed to the professions and to busi- 
ness, men who have reflected honor on the 
name. Aanin Cleveland, Grover Cleve- 
land's (jfreat-o^reat-grandfathcr, was born in 
Massachusetts, but subsequently moved to 
Philadelphia, where he became an intimate 
friend of Benjamin Franklin, at whose 
house he died. He left a large family of 
children, who in time married and settled 
in different parts of New England. A 
grandson was one of the small American 
force that fought the British at Bunker 
Hill. He served with gallantr}' through- 
out the Revolution and was honorably 
discharged at its close as a Lieutenant in 
the Continental army. Another grandson, 
William Cleveland (a son of a second Aaron 



Cleveland, who was distinguished as a 
writer and member of the Connecticut 
Legislature) was Gr<5ver Cleveland's grand- 
father. William Cleveland became a silver- 
smith in Norwich, Connecticut. He ac- 
quired by industry S(.)me propert)' and sent 
his son, Richard Cleveland, the father of 
Grover Cleveland, to Yale College, vviiere 
he graduated in 1824. During a year spent 
in teaching at Baltimore, Maryland, after 
graduation, he met and fell in love with a 
Miss Annie Neale, daughter of a wealthv 
Baltimore book publisher, of Irish birth. 
He was earning his own way in the world 
at the time and was unable to marry; but 
in three years he completed a course of 
preparation for the ministry, secured a 
church in Windham, Connecticut, and 
married Annie Neale. Subsequently he 



moved to Portsmouth, V 



diere he 



preached for nearly two years, when he 
was summoned to Caldwell, New Jersey, 
where was born Grover Cleveland. 

When he was three years old the family 
moved to Fayetteville, Onondaga County, 
New York. Here Grover Cleveland lived 
until he was fourteen years old, the rugged, 
healthful life of a country boy. His frank, 
generous manner made him a favorite 
among his companions, and their respect 
was won by the good qualities in the germ 
which his manhood developed. He at- 
tended the district school of the village and 



ii8 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



was for a short time at the academy. His 
lather, however, believed that boys should 
be taught to labor at an early age, and be- 
fore he had completed the course of study 
at the academy he began to work in the 
village store at S50 for the first year, and the 
promise of $100 for the second year. His 
work was well done and the promised in- 
crease of pay was granted the second year. 

Meanwhile his father and family had 
moved to Clinton, the seat of Hamilton 
College, where his father acted as agent to 
the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions, 
preaching in the churches of the vicinity. 
Hither Grover came at his father's request 
shortly after the beginning of his second 
year at the Fayetteville store, and resumed 
his studies at the Clinton Academy. After 
three years spent in this town, the Rev. 
Richard Cleveland was called to the vil- 
lage church of Holland Patent. He had 
preached here only a month when he was 
suddenly stricken down and died without 
an hour's warning. The death of the father 
left the family in straitened circumstances, 
as Richard Cleveland had spent all his 
salary of $1,000 per year, which was not 
required for the necessary expenses of liv- 
ing, upon the education of his children, of 
whom there were nine, Grover being the 
fifth. Grover was hoping to enter Hamil- 
ton College, but the death of iiis father 
made it necessary for him to earn his own 
livelihood. For the first year (iS53-'4) he 
acted as assistant teacher and bookkeeper in 
the Institution for the Blind in New York 
City, of which the late Augustus Schell was 
for many )'ears the patron. In the winter 
of 1854 he returned to Holland Patent 
where the generous people of that place, 
Fayetteville and Clinton, had purchased a 
home for his mother, and in the following 
spring, borrowing $25, he set out for the 
West to earn his living. 

Reaching Buffalo he paid a hasty visit to 
an uncle, Lewis F. Allen, a well-known 



stock farmer, living at Black Rock, a few 
miles distant. He communicated his plans 
to Mr. Allen, who discouraged the idea of 
the West, and finall)- induced the enthusi- 
astic boy of seventeen to remain with him 
and help him prepare a catalogue of blooded 
short-horn cattle, known as " Allen's Amer- 
ican Herd Book," a publication familiar to 
all breeders of cattle. In August, 1S55, he 
entered the law office of Rogers, Bowen 
& Rogers, at Buffalo, and after serving a 
few months without pav, was paid §4 a 
week — an amount barel}' sufficient to meet 
the necessary expenses of his board in the 
family of a fellow-student in Buffalo, with 
whom he took lodgings. Life at this time 
with Grover Cleveland was a stern battle 
with the world. He took his breakfast by 
candle-light with the drovers, and went at 
once to the office where the whole day was 
spent in work and stud}-. Usually he re- 
turned again at night to resume reading 
which had been interrupted by the duties 
of the day. Gradually his cmplovers came 
to recognize the ability, trustworthiness 
and capacit)' for hard work in their young 
employe, and by the time he was admitted 
to the bar (1859) he stood high in their con- 
fidence. A year later he was made confi- 
dential and managing clerk, and in the 
course of three years more his salary had 
been raised to $1,000. In 1863 he was ap- 
pointed assistant district attorney of Erie 
County by the district attorney, the Hon. 
C. C. Torrance. 

Since his first vote had been cast in 1858 
he had been a staunch Democrat, and until 
lie was chosen Governor he always made 
it his duty, rain or shine, to stand at the 
polls and give out ballots to Democratic 
voters. During the first year of his term 
as assistant district attorney, the Democrats 
desired especially to carry the Board of Su- 
pervisors. The ofd Second Ward in which 
he lived was Republican- ordinarily by 250 
majority, but at the urgent request of the 



GRO VER CL E VELA ND. 



119 



party Grover Cleveland consented to be 
the Democratic candidate for Supervisor, 
dnd came within thirteen votes of an elec- 
tion. The three years spent in the district 
attorney's office were devoted to assiduous 
labor and the extension of his professional 
attainments. He then formed a law part- 
nership with the late Isaac V. Vanderpoel, 
ex-State Treasurer, under the firm name 
of Vanderpoel cSc Cleveland. Here the bulk 
of the work devolved on Cleveland's shoul- 
ders, and he soon won a good standing at 
the bar of Erie County. In 1869 Mr. 
Cleveland formed a partnership with ex- 
Senator A. P. Laning and ex-Assistant 
United States District Attorney Oscar Fol- 
som, under the firm name of Laning, Cleve- 
land & Folsom. During these years he 
began to earn a moderate professional in- 
come; but the larger portion of it was sent 
to his mother and sisters at Holland Patent 
to whose support he had contributed ever 
since i860. He served as sheriff of Erie 
County, i870-'4, and then resumed the 
practice of law, associating himself with the 
Hon. Lvman K. Bass and Wilson S. Bissell. 



The firm was strong and popular, and soon 
commanded a large and lucrative practice. 
Ill health forced the retirement of Mr. Bass 
in 1879, and the firm became Cleveland & 
Bissell. In 1881 Mr. George J. Sicard was 
added to the firm. 

In the autumn election of 1881 he was 
elected mayor of Buffalo by a majority ot 
over 3,500 — the largest majority ever given 
a candidate for mayor^and the Democratic 
city ticket was successful, although the 
Republicans carried Buffalo by over 1,000 
majority for their State ticket. Grover 
Cleveland's administration as mayor fully 
justified the confidence reposed in him by 
the people of Buffalo, evidenced by the 
great vote he received. 

The Democratic State Convention met 
at Syracuse, September 22, 1882, and nomi- 
nated Grover Cleveland for Governor 
on the third ballot and Cleveland was 
elected by 192,000 majority. In the (all of 
1884 he was elected President of the United 
States by about 1,000 popular majority, 
in New York State, and he was accordingly 
inaugurated the 4th of March following. 



PRESTDEXTS OF THE tW'ITED STATES. 




=/**-*. 



^=^-^^. 



BENJAMIN HAI^I^ISON. 





liENJAMIN HARRISON, 
the twenty-third Presi- 
dent of the United States, 
1889, was born at North 
Bend, Hamilton (bounty, 
Ohio, in the house of his 
grandfather, "William Hen- 
ry Harrison (who was the 
ninth J^resident of this 
country), August 20th, 
1833. He is a descendant 
of one of the historical 
families of this country, as 
also of P^ngland. The 
head of the family was a 
Major-(4eneral Harrison 
who was devoted to the cause of Oliver 
Cromwell. Jt liecame the duty of this Har- 
rison to participate in the trial of Charles 1. 
and afterward to sicrn the death warrant of 
the king, which subsequently cost him his 
life. His enemies succeeding to power, he 
was condemned and executed October 13th, 
KitiO. His descendants came to America, 
and the first mention made in history of the 
Harrison family as representative in public 
affairs, is that of Benjamin Harrison, great- 
grandfather of our present President, who 
was a member of the Continental Congress, 
17'''4— 5-0, and one of the original signers of 



the Declaration of Independence, and three 
times Governor of Virginia. His son, Will- 
iam Henry Harrison, made a brilliant mili- 
tary record, was Governor of the Northwest 
Territory, and the ninth President of the 
United States. 

Tlie subject of this sketch at an early age 
became a student at Farmers College, where 
he remained two years, at the end of which 
time he entered Miami University, at Ox- 
ford, Ohio. Upon graduation from said seat 
of learnin<x he entered, as a student, the of- 
fice of Stover it (iwync, a notable law iirm at 
Cincinnati, Ohio, where he applied himself 
closely to the study of his chosen profession, 
and here laid the foundation for the honora- 
ble and famous career before him. He spent 
two years with the firm in Cincinnati, at the 
expiration of which time he received the 
only inheritance of his life, which was a lot 
left him by an aunt, which he sold for $800. 
This sum he deemed sufficient to justify him 
in marrying the lady of his choice, and to 
whom he was then eni'aj'ed, a daughter of 
Dr. Scott, then Principal of a female school 
at Oxford, Ohio. 

After marriage he located at Indianapolis, 
Indiana, where he began the practice of law. 
Meeting with slight encouragement he made 
but little the first year, but applied himself 





CK^a 



^;^^'?^<?v^t-<s^4:5^--x<. 



BENJAMIN' HARRISON. 



closely to his l)iisinei?, and by perseverance, 
lionorahle dealing and an upright life, suc- 
ceeded in building up an extensive practice and 
took a leading position in the legal profession. 

In 1S60 be was nominated for the position 
of Supreme Court Reporter for the State of 
Indiana, and then Ijegan his experience as a 
stump speaker. lie canvassed the State 
thoroughly and was elected. 

In 18r)2 his patriotism caused him to 
abandon a civil idlico aixl to offer his counti-y 
his services in a military capacity. He or- 
ganized the Scventietli Indiana Infantry and 
was chosen its ( 'olonel. Althoufjh his I'ccri- 
ment was composed of raw material, and he 
practically void of military schooling, he at 
once mastered military t.'ictics and drilled his 
men, so that when he with his regiment was 
assigned to Gen. Sherman's command it was 
known as one of the best drilled organ- 
izations of the army. He was especially 
distinguished for bravery at tlie battles of 
Hesacca and Peach Tree Creek. For his 
bravery and efficiency at the last named bat- 
tle he was made a Brigadier-General, Gen- 
eral Hooker speaking of him in the most 
com pi i me n tary term s. 

While (ieneral Harrison was actively en- 
gaged in the held (lie Supreme Court declared 
the office of Supreme Court Heportcr vacant, 
and another person was elected to fill the 
position. From the time of leaving Indiana 
with his regiment for the front, until the fall 
of ISO-i, General Harrison had taken no leave 
of absence. But having been Tiominated 
that year for the same office that he vacated 
in order to serve his country where he could 
do the greatest good, he got a thirty-day leave 
of absence, and during that time canvassed 
the State and was elected for another term as 
Supreme Court Reporter. He then started 
'to rejoin his command, then with General 
Sherman iu the South, but was stricken down 



with fever and after a very trying siege, made 
his way to the front, and participated in the 
closing scenes and incidents of the war. 

In 186'S General Harrison declined a re- 
election as Reporter, and applied himself to 
the practice of his profession. He was a 
candidate for Governor of Indiana on the 
Republican ticket in Is7(!. Although de- 
feated, the brilliant camj)aign brought him 
to public notice and gave him a National 
reputation as an able and formidable debater 
and he was much sought in the Eastern 
States as a public speaker. He took an act- 
ive part in the Presidential campaign of 
1880, .'itid was elected to the United States 
Senate, where he served six years, and was 
known as one of the strongest deliaters, as 
well as one of the aljlest men and best law- 
yers. When his term expired in tlie Senate 
he resumed his law practice at Indiana]K>lis, 
becoming the bead of one of the strongest 
law firms in the State of Indiana. 

Sometime prior to the opening of the 
Presidential campaign of 1888, the two great 
political parties (Republican and Democratic) 
drew the line of political l.iattle on the ques- 
tion of tariff, vvdiich became the leading; issue 
and the rallyirg watchword during the mem- 
orable cami,'..;^-n. The Repul)licans appealed 
to the people for their voice as to a tariff to 
protect home industries, while the Democrats 
wanted a tariff for revenue only. The Re- 
pulilican convention assembled in Chicago in 
June and selected Mr. Harrison as their 
standanl bearer on a jilatform of jrinciples, 
among other important clauses being that (_d' 
protection, which he cordially indorsed in 
accepting the nomination. November H, 
1888, after a heated canvass, General Harri- 
son was elected, defeating Grover Cleveland, 
who was ao-ain the nominee of the Demo- 
cratic party. He was inaugurated and as- 
sumed the duties of his office March 4, 1889. 







4 X -:^^:m^-i/ 






^/<^^t£^(^2y(y t^ 





.^. 



fJ. :^fi//ro7^ C//Uf''J- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



125 



[IMEON MILLS.— Any history, bio- 
graphical or otherwise, of the city of 
Madison, or in fact of tiie State of Wis- 
consin, would necessarily be incomplete with- 
out extended mention and illustration of the 
life of Simeon Mills, who for over half a centu- 
ry has been a citizen of the State. During that 
time he has been in all probability more 
closely identified with the capital city and its 
growth than any other citizen now living. 
Since early in 1837, Mr. Mills has been a 
citizen of Madison, and during all that time 
he has occupied a high position in the es- 
teem and honor of his fellow citizens, and to- 
day he is an object of love and respect to all 
who know him. 

Mr. Mills was born in Norfolk, Litchfield 
county, Connecticut, February 14, 1810. He 
is a son of Martin and Clarissa (Tuttle) Mills. 
Martin Mills was also a native of Norfolk, 
Connecticut, and his father, Constantine, so 
far as can now be ascertained, was a citizen 
of the same town, (constantine Mills was a 
soldier of the Kevolutionary war, and for 
such military services received a pension 
from the Government during his last years. 
In 1817 he removed to Ashtabula county, 
Ohio, where he died. Martin Mills was 
reared on a farm in Connecticut, and followed 
farming in that State until 1812, when ac- 
companied by his wife and two children, he 
removed to ( )hio, making tlie journey by 
team, and taking with him all his possessions. 
He settled in Ashtabula county, and was one 
of the pioneers of Moi'gan township, where 
he purchased a tract of timber land. ICrect- 
ing a log house on his land in the wilderness, 
he cleared his farm, which he cultivated un- 
til his death. His wife was the daughter of 
Clement and Abigail (Uuttonj Tuttle, and 
was born in Connecticut. Her jiarents were 

10 



also natives of Connecticut, and removed to 
Ohio in 1812, settling in Morgan township. 
Simeon Mills was less than two years old 
when his parents removed to Ohio. He grew 
up in the wilderness, experiencing all the 
deprivations and hardships incidental to pio- 
neer life. In those days there were no rail- 
roads nor convenient markets in the lUickeye 
State, and the people lived principally upon 
the products of their land, and upon the wild 
game, which was abundant in the woods. His 
education was acquired in the pioneer schools 
taught in rough log schoolhouses, where the 
furniture was of the most primitive kind. 
When he was seven years of age he went to 
live witli his maternal grandparents, with 
whom he remained until he reached his ma- 
jority. At this time he entered a drug house 
in Ashtabula, where he clerked for some time, 
and then entered a dry -goods store in Ashta- 
bula as a clerk, where he remained over a 
year, and then engaged in mercantile busi- 
ness for himself at Jefferson, Oliio, con- 
tinuing there until 1835. During the latter 
year he made his first visit to the far West. 
Taking passage on the steamer Thomas Jef- 
ferson, he made the trij) to Chicago, then a 
village of about 8U0 people, and while there 
attended the first land sales held in that city. 
After remaining in Illinois for a short time 
he returned to Ohio, but in the following 
spring, 1836, again left Ohio for the West, 
with the intention of making it his future 
home. He made the journey tVom Ohio to 
Chicago on horseback, thence journeyed on 
to Joliet, and from there, by way of Galena, 
to the mining districts of Wisconsin, then a 
Territory, and was at Belmont during the first 
session of the Territorial Legislature. In 
the following June he came to Madison, and 
permanently settled here, the city at that 
time consisting of one small log house. He 



126 



BIOQRAPEIGAL REVIEW OF 



iiiiiTietliatoly erected a hewn-log house, 
16 x 16 feet in size, and then, going to Galena, 
purchased a stock of goods and at once opened 
a general store. After continuing success- 
fully the mercantile business for a number of 
years, he turned his attention to real estate, 
his sound judgment and business sagacity en- 
abling him to realize and appreciate the great 
possibilities of such investments in the new 
country in which he had cast his lot, and 
being a tirm believer iu the future of the 
then town of Madison. He returnt'd in the 
spring of 1838 to Ohio for his wife, who had 
remained behind, and returning to the West 
they reached Madison the following June. 
Tiie journey was made by water to Milwaukee, 
and thence across the country by wagon, 
crossing Rock river at Janesville. There was 
then no house between Janesville and Madi- 
son, a distance of forty miles, and no road 
nor marks to point the way they should travel, 
except a few stakes that had been driven into 
th(! prairie, and a few trees that had been 
blazed by an exploring party the previous 
fall. 

In 1837 there was no mail nor mail service 
route between Madison and Milwaukee, but 
in the fall of that year Mr. Mills made a con- 
tract with the United States for carrying the 
mail between these j^oint^ until the Istof July, 
1844. The difficulties of getting the mail 
through twice a week with no houses between 
Madison and Aztalaii, and only at rare inter- 
vals the remainder of the route, with the 
streams and marshes unhridged, and roads 
unliuilt, cannot be easily understood or ap- 
preciated by the present generation as they 
fly over the country with the speed of the 
wind, and talk with their friends at the anti- 
podes as with their next door neighbor. 
The task was however accomplished without 
the loss of a 8in<ile trip durinif the term of 



tlie contract, a feat rarely performed at the 
present day, though the distance is spanned 
with iron and traversed by powerful locomo- 
tives. 

August 12, 1837, he was appointed the 
first Justice of the Peace of Dane county, 
and was probably the only one at that time 
between Dodgeville and Milwaukee. In 
1839, Dane county was organized and he 
was elected one of the County Commission- 
ers, and appointed Clerk of the Court, which 
latter office he held about nine years. lie 
held the office of Territorial Treasurer when 
the State Government was organized, and was 
elected the first State Senator from Dane 
county, afterward receiving a renomination, 
which he declined. In 1848 he was aji- 
pointed one of the regents of the nniversity 
of Wisconsin, p.nd took an active part in the 
organization and establishment of the insti- 
tution, purchasing its site, and superintend- 
ing the erection of its first buildings. In 
1860 he was appointed one of the Trustees 
for the State Hospital for the Insane, and 
was an active member of that lioard for seven- 
teen years, taking a deep interest in the erec- 
tion of buildings, and in the general man- 
agement of affairs in and about the institn- 
tioii. He has always been identified with 
public improvements and has contributed 
largely to the general prosperity of the city 
of Madison. He invested all his gains in 
lands and in the erection of buildings, mak- 
ing their care the business of ins life. 

In 1861, at the breaking out of the Kebel- 
lion, he took an active part in tlie enlistment 
of troops by extending material aid to the 
families of the earliest volunteers, and was 
appointed by Governor Ilandall, Paymaster 
General, and during the first year of the war 
he disbursed more than §1.500,000 of the 
war funds of the State. Since 1838, Mr. 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



127 



Mills and his wife have made Madison their 
pennaneTit home, rearini^ here five children, 
two of whom still survive. Their eldest 
daughter, Florence Emeline, became the wife 
of Dr. C. Hayes, in 1859, and is now de- 
ceased. Their only living son, Arthur Con- 
staiitine, married Helen, daughter of Thomas 
Bennett, of Green Bay, in 1860, and with the 
youngest daughter of Mr. Mills, Genevive M., 
reside with their parents in Madison. Since 
1837. Mr. Mills has watched the constant 
growth of this beautiful city of Madison 
from its infancy with all the pride of a fond 
parent watching over the growth to manhood 
of a promising child. To-day, with one excep- 
tion, he is the oldest livino; citizen of the 
place or county, and to him more than to any 
other one man is credit due and given for 
assistance rendered from year to year in the 
development of the capital city from a primi- 
tive village to one of the largest cities of the 
State. Though well advanced in years he 
is still rugged in health, and retains all the men- 
tal vigor which has characterized him through 
life, and which has made him so prominent 
and conspicuous a tigure among the leading 
citizens of Madison. He has substantially 
aided in the building up of cliurches, schools 
and colleges, and in developing the resources 
of a new country he has encouraged iiis fel- 
low-countrymen, both by precept and exam- 
ple, in the attainment of a higher civilization- 
In religion he has always claimed to be ortho- 
dox, having been early taugl^t to believe that 
God foreordains whatever comes to pass. 
For many years he was a member of the Re- 
publican party, but of late years has affilia- 
ted with the Democracy, his views on the 
tariff question rendering it impossible for 
him to support the Republican platforms. 
Mr. Mills is considered one of the best in- 
formed men in the State, and he has con- 



tributed many articles to the literature of the 
day, which have appeared from time to time 
in different works, and these articles have 
ever stamped him as a writer of more tlian 
ordinary ability. 

Mks. Mauia Louisa Mills, deceased, wife of 
General Simeon Mills, of Madison, Wiscon- 
sin, was born in Sandstield, Berkshire county, 
Massachusetts, on May 21, 1815, and was the 
daughter of Church Smith. When about 
twelve 3'ears of age her father removed to 
Ohio, locating in Austinburg, Ashtabula 
county, where the family resided at the time 
of her marriage to General Mills, on May 21, 
1834. With her husband she came to Wis- 
consin, then a Territory, settling at Madison. 
At that time the interior of the State was 
sparsely settled, the entire population of 
Dane county not exceeding four or five fami- 
lies. The journey from Ohio to Milwaukee 
was made by water, then by wagon and on 
foot to INIadison, from Janesville to Madison, 
a distance of forty miles, there were nei- 
ther houses nor roads, and the trip consumed 
three days' time, they arriving at the latter 
place on June 18, 1838. In speaking of her 
pioneer life and e.vperience Mrs. Mills said: 
" I came expecting to make my home in 
Madison, and not for one moment have I ever 
been homesick, or regretted the location we 
made." This remark illustrates her strength 
of purpose and force of character. Full of 
life, animation and enterj)rise to a marked 
detrree, she infused the same elements in the 
company in which she mingled. Of excel- 
lent mental attainments, her conversation 
was ever ready, and interesting. Strictly 
domestic, industrious, and frugal, retiring in 
her ha!)its and disposition, she never made 
any pretension to publicity, and, being a firm 
believer in Christianity, ever inculcated in 
her children a love for the same principles 



128 



BIOGRAPHICAL RBVIEW OF 



whicli formed an attractive feature of her 
daily life and character. Her memory is en- 
shrined in the hearts of her family and large 
circle of friends and neighbors. In early life 
she united with the reliijious denomination 
known as the Christian or Church of Christ, 
better known as Cauipbellites, in which faith 
she died, but owing to the absence of any 
church in Madison, of that denomination, 
she attended the Methodist Episcopal. Her 
death occurred June 10, 1884. 



fANETTE W. AINSWORTII, nee Clng- 
ston, proprietress of the Madison Acad- 
emy of ]\[n8ic, located at 19-21 S. Pinck- 
ney street, and established by her in 1870, and 
which she has since managed and developed 
with wonderful success. 

Mrs. Ainsworth is a natural teacher, and 
has been thus engaged since she was twelve 
years of age. When not yet seven years old 
her musical al)ility was developed to a won- 
derful extent. Her early life was passed at 
Manchester, England, where she was born 
and educated, having served an apprentice- 
ship of si.x years as a pupil teacher, learning 
the science and art of teaching under the 
government in the public schools of Man- 
chester. 

For many years Mrs. Ainsworth was the 
organist in one of the leading churches of 
her native city. When she came to this 
country and desired to make a permanent 
home, she came to Madison, Wisconsin, in 
1870, and has continuously taught music 
since that time. She makes a specialty of the 
piano, of which she is a perfect master, the- 
oretically and technicall}', playing with skill 
and expression, and having the faculty of 
imparting some of this facility to lier pupils. 



She cannot make a musician out of a clod of 
earth, hut if there is a spark of the divine 
tire she will find it and nourish it to its great- 
est blaze. On account of this perseverance 
and her charming manner, Mrs. Ainsworth 
can have no fault to find with the good peo- 
ple of Madison, for her success has been 
steady from the tirst. 

To one of the temperment of this accom- 
plished lady, her music is as meat and drink, 
and she has scarcely lost a day from her pro- 
fession since her coming liere, and lias now a 
comfortable bank account, a good home and 
parlors where she devotes her time to her 
classes. She came of Scotch parentage, be- 
ing the daughter of John and Susan (Mc- 
Donald) Clugston, who were natives of Ar- 
gyleshire, Scotland, and botii came of old 
Scotch families, who have figured for years 
prominently in the history of Argyleshire. 
Especially is this true of the McDonald fam- 
ily. Mr. and Mrs. Clugston were uiarried 
in Manchester, whither they had gone from 
Scotland, and there the former established 
himself as a builder and contractor, and was 
thus engaged until 1869, when he brought 
his family to the United States and settled in 
Madison City, and here Mr. Clugston died 
April 27, 1873. He was born in the town 
of Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland (the birthplace of 
the Scottish poet, Robert Burns), August 3, 
1824. 

Mr. Clugston hail been reared a Presby- 
terian, but in England he joined the E])is- 
copal Church, and died in that faith. His 
wife is yet living, and makes her home 
with her daughter, Mrs. Ainswortii, of this 
notice. She is a well-preserved lady of 
sixty-six years, and has taken the full Chau- 
tauqua course, graduating from it in 1890, 
with thirteen seals, having read everything 
connected with the prescribed course. Since 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



129 



that time she lias earned more seals, and is 
now an active and interested student of 
Greek; is a lady of mucii intelligence and 
culture, and shows the result of her applica- 
tion to the delightful course laid down for 
those who desire to take it. 

Mrs. Clugston has been the mother of 
seven children, three of whom died while 
young. The living are: Agnes T., for some 
years a siudent in Italy for grand opera, but 
who, on account of failing health, after a 
few years upon the stage in Italy, was obliged 
to give up her ambitious plans, and is now a 
teacher of music in Elgin. She is also the 
organist and choir mistress of the Kpisco])al 
choir there. Annie S., is the wife of L. P. 
Goodchap, of Sparta, Wisconsin. She has 
the family gift also, and is a prominent 
teacher of music there. Alex 11., is an em- 
ploye in the watch- works in Elgin, and his 
wife was Miss Anna Lewis, of Monroe. Wis- 
consin. Mrs. Ainsworth, of this notice, is 
the eldest of the family, and is the mother of 
two children, Harry Holroyd, a student in 
the College of Physicians and Surgeons of 
Chicago; and Charles Sydney, at home, a 
student in the public schools. Both are 
bright youths. Both Mrs. Ainsworth and 
her sons are members of the Episcopal 
Church, where they are highly regarded and 
appreciated^ 

^SA E. PETTENGILL, one of the citi- 
zens of Madison, is the subject of this 
notice. He holds the important office 
of Clerk of the Municipal Court of the city, 
having been in that position since January, 
1875, and has been continually in office since, 
having served nearly all of his third term of 
six years. He was appointed I)y Judge A. 



B. Braley and was under him for fourteen 
years, and when this Judge died, in 1879, 
he has served since under Judge Keys. Mr. 
Pettengill has been a very prominent clerk 
and has many friends in the city. Comino- 
to Madison City in 1868, he engaged in 
business for two years, later going to Sioux 
City, Iowa, and for sixteen months engaged 
in the hotel business, opening a new hotel, 
which he called the Madison House. 

Our subject now went to Independence, 
Iowa, and conducted the St. James Hotel 
there until 1873, when he sold out tiiere on 
account of the ill health of his wife, return- 
ing to the city of Madison, where he spent 
about a year in retirement, then being ap- 
pointed to the position he now holds. He 
has been active in local afRxirs in any wav 
that he has thought looking toward the bet- 
tering of the city of his residence. He is a 
Democrat and a local worker for his party. 
Our subject is a Master Mason and has been 
so for nearly forty years, and a social being 
and has a natural love for good company, 
having many jolly friends on his list of ac- 
quaintances. 

The birth of our subject took place in 
Sheldon, Vermont, in 1816, March 21, and 
came of New England parentage, his father, 
John, was a native of Salisbury, New Hamp- 
shire, and he was the son of Samuel, who 
was either born in Scotland or of Scotch 
parentage, and lived and died in New Hamp- 
shire in the old town of Salisbury, be- 
ing then in middle life. He was a farmer 
by occupation and was a soldier throuo-h the 
Revolutionary war, and was in many emrage- 
ments. John Pettengill was yet a youncr 
man when he lost his father, and he was yet 
single when he went up to Vermont and be- 
gan life as a young farmer and was there 
married to Miss Sarah Stone, a Vermont lady 



ISO 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIRW OF 



h\ birth ami voariiiy;. oomiiigf of Now Eiisr- 
laiui stiH'k. Al'tor luarriaijo livinl on a farm 
in tlio town of SlioUlon for some years. For 
a short time Mr. tlohii Petten<;ill was a sol- 
dier ill the war of 1S12, but he took sick 
and his brotlier went as his substitute. In 
ISll' Mr. Tottensjill sohi out and moved into 
the township of Milo. Yates county. New 
York, and boiran life there as an aarieultur- 
ist. where lie resided for a number of years. 
Later he retired to Torrey in the same county 
and spent liis last years with his son. Geoiije 
AV., and liis life went out, like a lamp with- 
out oil, the day he was eii;litv years of ajje, 
January li>. 1870. .lohn rettengill had 
hardly known what is was to be sick, and 
was a ijuiet and very temperate man, with 
many friends. He was a strong Wiiig and 
Uepubliean in polities, and was active in 
school-matters, haviuij been a member of the 
School Hoard for years. He was a moralist 
in his Ivlief. and in later life joined the 
Methodist Church, dyinjj in that faith. His 
wife had died about 1S50 of an attack of 
pleurisy, aijiHl sixty-six years. She was. from 
early I'irlhood days, a strict Presbyterian and 
was the mother of ten children, six sons and 
four daughters, and all but one liveil to be 
grown until pjist sixty years. The eldest of 
the family is now eighty-three years of age. 
l>ur subject is the third son and sixth 
child and was reared and educated while at 
home upon his father's farm, and later at- 
tended an academy at I'enn Yan, Yates 
county. New York. He had learned the 
trade of satldler and harnessmaker and 
worked at it for twelve years. Later he was 
a general merchant in Brauchp^^rt, New York, 
where he remained for a perioil of twelve 
years, and then went into the drug and gro- 
cery business, i-emaining in it for tive years 
in Naples. (Ontario county. Later he came 



west in 1S67 and spent part of one year in 
N'ernon county, Wisconsin, and then came to 
Madison in 1868. Histirst presidential vote 
was cast for Martin Van Buren. 

Our subject was married December 17, 
1842, to Miss Mary A. Gamby in Hranch- 
port. New York, who was born in Yates 
county. New \ ork, a few months after her 
father had died and she later went with her 
mother to Massachusetts, which was the hit- 
ter's former home and there the widowed 
mother was a second time married and canie 
to nraiK'hport. settling on a farm, but later 
went back to Massachusetts, where the hus- 
band and stepfather died. His name was 
I miner Hubbard. Mrs. Hubbard afterwanl 
came to Vernon county, Wisconsin, and dieil 
at the home of her son when sixty-six years 
of age. 

Mr. and Mrs. Tettengill are good 'uul con- 
sistent people, but not creed followers. 
They have no children. 

ILLIAM K. GOl)l>AlU>, a farmer 
of Dane township, l)ane county, 
Wisconsin, was born in Shetiield 
county, Canada, in 1828. a son of William 
K. Goddaiil, who W!is born in the same place 
in 1808. The latter's father. Abram God- 
dard, was a farmer and blacksmith of Ver- 
mont. He married a ^Hss Kellogg, a native 
of New Entrland. and they had four sons and 
tivo daughters who grew to>-ears of maturity. 
William K., the father of our subject, was 
married in Canada to Catherine Phillips, also 
a native of New Euirland. In the summer of 
1848 they came with eight children to Mil- 
waukee. Wisconsin, and later to Walworth 
countv, where they farmed on rented land 
until the fall of 1849. In that v^ar the 




JJANI'! COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



131 



father pnrcliaHed 100 acrcH ol' l;uii| in Ujukj 
townsliip, iJiirie county, orcctcJ a log Iiouhc, I 
20 X 22 feet, one and a half Btories high, and 
there ho paBsod the remainder of IiIk dayB, 
dyiiif^ in February, 1855, at tlie age of forty- 
gix years, leaving his widow with five sonw 
and four daughters. She aftcsrward Bold her 
interest in the farin, conBisting of forty ufreK, 
and removed to Warren, .Jo Daviess coNnly, 
Illinois, where she died, in 1880, aged 
eeventy-iive years. Mr. and Mrs. (Joddard 
had three eons in the late war, Ahrani, who 
was discharged on account of nicknesB; 
Marshall N., who was with Slmrman during 
the Georgia campaign, and served until the ! 
close of the struggle; and George O., who 
served but a short time. 

William K. (Joddard, our subject, was 
early inured to hard labor, and his education j 
was received in a district school three mih^B | 
from his home. In company with his father 
and brother, he owned the home farm of 100 
acres, and at his death the father deeded our 
subject eighty acres. Mr. (Joddard is engaged 
in farming arirl stock growing, raising oats, 
corn and wheat, but he gives special atten- 
tion to the raising of I'oland (Jhina hogs, of 
which he sells from twenty to forty head 
yearly. He also keeps about seven head of 
horses, twenty head of horned cattle, and 
from forty to fifty head of Shropshire sheep. 

He was married in 1854, at the age of 
twenty- six years, to Miss (Jlarissa liabcock, 
a native of St. Lawrence county, New York, 
and a daughter of John and (Jatherine 
(Miller) Babcock, also natives of that State. 
They came to Wisconsin in a very early day, 
locating on a farm in Springfield township, 
Dane county, where the father soon afterward 
died. The mother died at the home of her 
daughter about twelve years later. Mr. and 
Mrs. Goddard bad fhrei- children: (Clarence 



h., a farmer of western Kansas, and has two 
sons and two daugliters; Ada May, wife of 
George W. lieynolds, a farmer of Spiring- 
fjeld townshif), Dane county, Wisconsin; one 
son and one daughter; and (Jlarissa K., widow 
of W. Vj. Rice, a resident of Tremjiealeau 
county, Wisconsin, and lias two ilaughters 
and one son. 'J'lie mother died eight years 
after her marriage, at, the age of twetity-six 
years. In December, 18(;;j, Mr. (Jodilard 
married Kate Hull, who was then visiting 
her uncle in this State, flu;rli Younir. She 
is a daughter of Hiram and Luna (lio-wortlij 
Hull, natives of N(;w York, but reared in 
(Jhio, where their pan^nts had moved at an 
early day. In 1872, .Mr. and .Mrs. Hull re- 
moved from that State to Nebraska. The 
mother <lied jn January, 18JJ0, at the age of 
seventy-eight years, and the father still re- 
sides at Kearney, Nebraska, aged eighty 
years. Two of their sons took part irj the 
late war. William Hull was in the South, 
and has niiver been heard froiri since, and 
Lieutenant .loi;l Hull, now a resident of 
jMinden, Nebraska, served in the (Jne hun- 
dred and fifteenth Ohio Volunteer infantry. 
lie remained until the close of the war, and 
served principally on the frontier. Mr. and 
Mrs. Goddard have had the following chil- 
dren: William IL, of Mason (.^ity, Iowa; 
Edward C., a telegrapli operator of Middle- 
ton, Dane county; Elmer J., a farmer of 
Trempealeau county, Wisconsin; Jesse IL, 
Veda 1'., and Horton M. at home. Mr. God- 
dard is a stanch iicjpublican in his political 
views, and has held the office of Postmaster. 
His wife held the same position at Hyers 
corners an<l at Acorn for eight years. Loth 
are members of the Methodist Church. 



132 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



j^ENRY LINLEY, a successful business 
man of Mazomanie, was born in Blyth, 
Nottinghamshire, England, May 24, 
1824, a son of John and Isabella (Beighton) 
Linley, also natives of Nottingham. The 
father was acrardener and coachman of Eng- 
land, and the parents moved to Yorkshire, 
that country, when our subject was eight 
years of age. In 1844 they came to America, 
locating in Iowa county, Wisconsin, where 
the father followed farniintf. 

Henry Linlc}', the eldest of live children, 
three sons and one daughter, received only a 
limited education, and at the age of ten years 
began work in a foundry. At the age of 
twenty-five years, in 1849, he joined his 
parents in the United States, in Iowa county, 
Wisconsin, and was engaged' in fanning 
there for thirty-nine years. In 1888 he 
came to Mazomanie, where he has partially 
retired from active business life. He still 
owns two sorghum mills and a fine farm. 
He votes with the RepublicaTi party, and 
while in Iowa county, held the office of 
Township Supervisor. Religiously, he is a 
member of the Congregational Church. 

Mr. Linley was married in Yorkshire, 
England, Juno 2, 1840, to Sarah Hagnell, 
and they have had ten childien, nine now liv- 
ing, viz.: Isabella, William II., Elizabeth, 
John, Arthur L., Frank, Gertie, Herman and 
May. 

SALTER SCOTT HIDDEN, editor 
and proprietor of the Countryman, a 
weekly newspaper published at Sun 
Prairie, is a native of Wisconsin, the son of 
J. E. and Catherine Hidden. Dane county, 
Bristol township, was the place of his birtli 
and April 2, 1861, the date. Ills primary ed- 




ucation was received at the district school, as 
he was reared on his father's farm, but in ad- 
dition to this he had the advantage of two 
years at the State University and a term at 
the business college of Bryant & Stratton, at 
Chicago, Illinois. He was seventeen years 
old when he first left home and after finish- 
ing at the last nan\ed institution he went 
to Ashton, Dakota, where he had charge of 
the Spink County Herald as general mana- 
ger. 

In two years' time he had returned to Dane 
county and worked in the office of the Coun- 
tryman, at Sun Prairie for four years. The 
paper was then under the management of C. 
S. Crosse, but in 1889 Mr. Hidden purchased 
the paper and since that time has had full 
charge. The paper has greatly prospered un- 
der his skillful management. Mr. Hidden 
has added new presses, an engine and other 
material and now has a first-class job office 
in connection with his paper. The paper is 
run in the interests of the Republican party, 
although Mr. Hidden is too just a man to let 
it become strongly partisan. The little sheet 
contains spicy editorials and local news and 
the steadily growing circulation indicates 
the appreciation of the people. 

Our subject comes of an old family and can 
trace his ancestry back on his paternal side 
to early days in England, while the maternal 
family tree runs almost as far back on the 
maternal side. The father came from Ver- 
mont to Lowell. Massachusetts, where he was 
engaged in merchandit^ing for a number of 
years. He then came to liristol township and 
bought the farm where our subject was born. 
This farm consists of eighty acres of unim- 
proved land, which he has cultivated, until it 
is now an attractive home. Mr. Hidden, Sr., 
made his advent into Wisconsin in 1858. He 
had two children, our subject and a brother, 



DANE COUNTT, WISCONSIN. 



133 



Clmrles, on the farm. Mr. Hidden, Sr., was 
one of nine children, two of whom are still 
living, the father of our subject and Violet, 
wife of W. H. Pember, of Craftsbury, Ver- 
mont. 

Our subject is a pleasant, agreeable gen- 
tleman, whose object seems to be to please 
every one with whom he comes in contact, and 
who succeeds, for few men of Sun Prairie have 
as many friends as has our friend, the editor 
of the Countryman. 



^. 



4(@)' 



^ 



r'ATI''^^**^' ^'■- ^"^^^EEX, Attorney of Ore- 
■]Ah> L\ tion, Dane county, Wisconsin, has 

£il--4ILL 1 

^i^^ been a resident of the county since 

1850, and consequently has a large and ex- 
tended acquaintance throughout the State. 
He was born in Wayne county. New York, 
November 21, 1S37, son of Samuel and Nancy 
(Chase) Green, natives of the same State, born 
in Washington and Ontario counties, I'espect- 
ively. The father of onr subject was born 
in the year 1807, being one inafamily of thir- 
teen children. Wlien he was seven years old 
his father died and four years later his motlier 
followed her husband, leaving him to the care 
of an elder brother, with whom he remained 
until he attained years of discretion, engaged 
in hard work instead of attending school. 
When still a young man with a brother-in- 
law he emigrated to Lyons, Wayne county, 
then on the frontier, where he pursued farm- 
ing on a tract of land he purchased, and as 
the country was unsettled he had plenty of 
work to do in order to clear his land. In 1835 
here he met and married Nancy Chase, of 
Ontario county, a daughter of Jenks and Je- 
miua (Robbins) Chase, natives of Rhode Is- 
land, and pioneers of Ontario county, having 
settled in Phelps, when wliite settlers were 



few and Indians plenty. After marriage Mr. 
an<l Mrs. Green, Sr., resided on the farm in 
Wayne county, which was a large one, finely 
located and considered to be the best in that 
section of country. Here they reared their 
family and continued to reside until 1850, 
when they emigrated to Wisconsin by way of the 
lakes to Detroit, railroad across Michigan and 
the lake to Kenosha, hnally settling in Fitch- 
burg township, Dane county, where he pur- 
chased 280 acres of land, of which fifty-five 
were broken and on wdiich was erected a log 
cabin and log barn, covered with straw. Here 
the family settled and lived for many years, 
the father dying on the farm May G, 1879. 
Many improvements were made during his 
life and the farm was nicely cultivated, al- 
though he contended against many difficul- 
ties, chief among which was the ilestroying 
of his residence and household goods by fire. 
She and ailaughter now make the farm, which 
contains 160 acres, their home. The father 
was a very quiet, industrious, unassumingciti- 
zen, a Democrat in politics, although he only 
took sufficient interest in ])olitics to vote. He 
was a very healthy man until about three 
years prior to his death when he suffered a 
stroke of paralysis. He and his wife had three 
children, namely: M. M., our subject; Mary J., 
now wife of Ethan S. Postle, who resides on 
the old homestead; and Allen J., a member 
of Company D, Twenty-third Wisconsin, who 
served until the end of the war. He was otily 
seventeen years of age when he enlisted and 
participated in all the engagements of the 
regiment from Arkansas Post to the close of 
hostilities. Although taken prisoner sev- 
eral times he always escaped. After the war 
he went West and drove stage on the plains, 
but never returned home, the last that was 
heard of him was that be started out on an 
Indian raid, fi-om which he did not come back, 



134 



BIOaRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



SO the natural inference was that he was killed 
by the savages, a sad ending to so brave a 
life. 

Our subject was in his tliirteenth year 
when he came to Wisconsin and in this State 
he attended district school in the winter and 
assisted his father on the farm in the summer 
and ran a tlireshing machine in the threshing 
season. During his boyiiood he eagerly read 
all law books he could possibly obtain. In 
1862 he enlisted in the same regiment that 
his brother joined and was mustered into 
State service with the Twenty-third Wiscon- 
sin Regiment in September,but when the regi- 
ment was mustered into the United States' 
service, he was commissioned recruiting of- 
ficer and served in that capacity until 1863, 
when he purchased horses tor the Govern- 
ment, being associated with John Dalrymple, 
of Green county, in the business, and in all 
they bought 535 iiorses. The partnership 
thus formed has since been dissolved, but tlie 
two gentlemen continue to be warm friends 
and many are the pleasant talks they have 
over those exciting days. 

In 1867 he was associated witli B. F. Nott 
at Oregon in the clothing trade, but later 
withdrew and went to Cherokee, going over 
much of the western country with a team. 
He was Justice of the Peace during his stay 
in (Jregon and did a large business. lie went 
to Madison in the fall of 1869, where he at- 
tended law school and did some collecting in 
the capacity of Deputy Sheriff and attended 
law school, [n 1873 he returned to Oregon, 
but the following year spent several months 
in Colorado and other parts of the West. In 
1876 he was admitted to the bar and has fol- 
lowed the practice of his profession ever since. 

Mr. Green was married July 1, 1858, to 
Hnldah C. Bennett, daughter of Egbert Ben- 
nett. Mrs. Green was born in Ciienantro 



county. Xew Vork, December 1, 1840. They 
have two children: George E., born Novem- 
ber 8, 1861, station agent and grain dealer at 
Dempster, South Dakota, married Miss Ruby 
Boswell, September 27. 1892; and Ilattie M., 
wife of Dudley S. Elliott, born March 4, 1866, 
married December 6, 1885. A little daughter 
Jennie Celestia, was born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Ellliott, July 22, 1888, at Sioux City, Iowa, 
who is the pet of her grandparents. Our sub 
ject was a Republican until 1888, since which 
time he has been a stanch Democrat, as a thor 
ough study of the tariff question convinced 
him that that party was the one which was 
in nearest accord with his own convictions, 
lie is a member of Oregon Lodge, No. 151, 
A. F. & A. M., of which he is a charter mem- 
ber, lie is also a member of the A. O. IT. W. 
and in both organizations is <iuite active. 
Mrs. Green and her daughter are devoted 
inembersof the Presbyterian Church, in which 
they are faitliful workers, and Mrs. Green is 
is a member of the W. R. C. The family is 
well-known and respected throughout the 
county. 

,UGUST WILLIAM BARTSCH, now 
deceased. — Our subject was born in 
Brandenburg, Prussian Germany, April 
1, 1841, of good German ancestry. His 
father died when our subject was a small boy, 
and iiis mother was left with a family of four 
children, two sons and two daughters. About 
1854 the family came to America, immedi- 
ately settling upon a small farm near Asha- 
pound, not far from Watertown, Wisconsin, 
and there the mother died, when past seventy 
years of age. Her name was Catherine 
Bartsch, and both she and her husband were 
members of the Lutheran Church. 



D^\IiE COUNTY, WISCONSIN, 



135 



Our subject remained with liis mother un- 
til he became of age, and then came to Madi- 
son. His brother Fritz had died at the old 
home, where the fainily settled after coming 
to the State, leaving a family. His two sis- 
ters are yet living: Minnie, the wife of Mike 
Lindert, a farmer of Wisconsin; and Emily, 
the widow of Jacob Ileimerl, and now lives 
in San Francisco. Our subject was the 
youngest of the children, still young when he 
came to Wisconsin and learned the trade of 
blacksmith in the shop ot a brother-in law. 
Just about the time the war broke out, our 
subject attained his majority and he went in- 
to the army, in Company D, Twenty-sixth 
Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, 
and fought at Chancellors vi lie, Gettysijurg, 
Mission Ridge, Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, 
Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, At- 
lanta and Sherman's march to the sea. A 
great many of the brave boys who went out 
to battle at that time never came back. Our 
subject soon won honors and was promoted, 
becoming First Lieutenant, taking part in 
the battle of Gettysimrg. He was wounded 
in the left lobe of the lung and from this in- 
jury was confined to the hospital for some 
time, only getting back to his regiment just 
before the war closed, and was honorably dis- 
charged. He was brevetted Captain of Com- 
pany D for bravery, as he had been in some 
serious engagements and did his duty with 
heroism and received other wounds, but none 
60 serious as the one mentioned. 

Afterthe war our subject returned to Madi- 
son and for a few years engaged in the manu- 
facture and wholesale cigar trade, and was 
successful in Imsincss from the beeinnine:. 
But a cold settled upon his weak lungs and 
for two years he suffered, dying at last as 
much a martyr to his country's cause as if he 
had fallen on the field in front of a cannon. 



He was much missed, havintr been one of the 
leading young Germans of this city. He 
took great interest in all local enterprises. 
When the Governor's Guards were formed 
in this city he was made Captain and held 
the ])Ositiou until death. He was in politics 
a Republican, and was also a member of the 
leading German societies, and also belonged 
to the Masonic order. 

In Madison, May 28, 1868, he was married 
to Miss Johanna Bans, who was born in 
Krefeld, near the river Rhine in Prussian 
Germany, April 21, 1848. She was the 
ilanghter of Richard and Sophia (Hess) Baus, 
natives of a Rhine province, who there grew 
up and married, and there their two children 
were l)orn. In 1851 they came to the United 
States in a sailing vessel and landed in New 
York, came to Wisconsin and finally settled 
in Madison, where Mr. Baus went into the 
cigar business with his son-in-law, and was 
thus engaged until his death. May 8, 1880. 
He was then fifty-six years of age. The 
mother of Mrs. Bartsch died in 18(i8, at the 
aged of sixty-seven years. They were mem- 
bers of the Lutheran Church. Mrs. Bartsch 
was the younger of two children. Her l)rother 
Edward, who is a cigar manufacturer, mar- 
ried Anna Hippeiimeyer, and tiiey have two 
children: Richard and Irma. Mrs. Bartsch 
has one bright son, Walter E., attending 
school at a German seminary in Milwaukee. 
He is about of age and has displayed great 
intelligence, and is a young man of whom his 
mother may be justly proud. Since the 
death of her husband, Mrs. Bartsch has man- 
aged the business with skill. She owns 
some valuable city property and her home at 
the corner of Spaight and Patterson streets 
is a very nice one, overlooking beautiful lake 
Monona. She is a lady gifted in many ways, 
and her friends know her to l»e kind, sympa- 



136 



BIOORAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



tlietic and oblicrins. The death of Mr. 
Bartsch opcurred August 17, 1^76, in Den- 
ver, Colorado, where he had gone hoping to 
derive benefit, but he passed away at the age 
of thirty-tive years, after a stay of but three 
weeks. lie was much lamented and is still 
remembered by the citizens of this city as 
one of the honest and true-hearted German 
citizens, whose heart was all in the right 
place. 



^ 



'^ 



IIIARLES POYNOR, a successful 
fanner of Dane township, Wisconsin, 
located on section 36, was born in 
Leicestershire, England, in 1826. His fa- 
ther, Jonah Poynor, a native of the same 
county, was a clock and watch maker by 
trade, which occupation he learned during a 
service of seven years in the town of Leices- 
ter. The grandfather, James Poynor, was a 
mechanic and followed blacksmithing the 
greater portion of his life. lie died in 
Leicester at an advanced age, having reared 
three sons and three daughters. The grand- 
mother of our subject was a Miss Erewen, 
who lived some years after her husband, died 
at the same place and both rest in tlie same 
churchyard. Jonah was the eldest child of 
the family and married Eliza iiiley, a 
daughter of Richard Kiley, and they came to 
America in the spring of 1847, having set 
sail from Liverpool, about the last of May, 
upon the merchant sailer, Elizabeth Bruce, 
under Captain Day. They had a pleasant 
voyage and landed in August, in New Or- 
leans, came up the Mississippi river to Ga- 
lenaontheGalenariver,then called Fever river. 
The family consisted of George W., who died 
in England, past middle life. By occupation 
lie was a mechanic and he left a family- 



Eliza was the next child and is now Mrs. 
James Slater, of Milwaukee. Iler husband 
was a mechanic, but is now living retired, 
living on his interest. Charles of this 
sketch; Thomas, who followed the high seas 
as a sailor for years and later was a mate on 
a Mississippi steamer, where he was acci- 
dentall}' killed in the prime of life, leaving a 
daughter; John Poynor died in London and 
left a wife and two sons, still in Loudon. 
He was apprenticed to one Thomas Cooke, 
of Cooke & Sons and was Mr. Cooke's secre- 
tary and amanuensis. Mary Ann is now the 
wife of John D. Placket, a farmer of Vienna 
township, Wisconsin, and Richard is also a 
farmer of Vienna township. 

After coming to America his family set- 
tled on eighty acres of laud. They moved 
into a rude log house on this land and here 
the parents i-esided until death. The mother 
died in 1854, aged about fifty-six years and 
the father in 1869, having been born in the 
first of 1800. They were possessed of some 
means when they came here and died leaving 
an estate of 200 acres, improved. 

Jonah Poynor was reared on the farm un- 
til the age of fourteen and then was appren- 
ticed to his trade. He received a fair amount 
of schooling and early became connected 
with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in 
which he became an earnest worker in this 
and the temperance movement. Ho accom- 
plished much both in this country and in 
England toward the evangelizing of the race. 
When he left England he received an ovation, 
a regular public demonstration, testifying to 
his faithfulness. 

Charles Poynor, of this sketch, served from 
his fourteenth to his twenty-first year in 
Leicester as an apprentice to the wood and 
bone turning business. The jirincipal occu- 
pation was that of making ivory spools. For 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



137 



one month he worked as a journeyman be- 
fore coming to America. Since locatincr 
here he has engaged in farming, altliongh lie 
does not consider this a congenial occupation. 

lu 1853 Mr. Poynor was married to Ame- 
lia A. Ford, born in Massachusetts, a 

daughter of Robert Ford and (Hogan) 

Ford, both parents from Scotland. They 
came to Wisconsin about 1851. The mother 
died at a ripe old age, having celebrated her 
golden wedding and the father, still living in 
Springtield township, Wisconsin, is an octo- 
genarian, having the use of all his faculities, 
except his hearing. Mr. and Mrs. Poynor 
have two children, George L., a mechanic in 
Kansas; and Estella I., a school teacher for 
some years. Immediately after marriage 
Mr. and Mrs. Poynor settled on their home 
place of eighty acres, of which they have 
sold forty acres and still live in their primi- 
tive log house. Mr. Poynor was Assessor 
for two years and has been School Treasurer 
and Director for several years. He has been 
a life-long Democrat and an Odd Fellow for 
nearly twenty years. 

Mrs. Poynor is the third child and second 
daughter of her family. She was the tirst 
child born at Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, 
where the parents moved soon after coming 
to New York city, in 1834. They made 
the journey on a sailing vessel. The father, 
Robert Ford, was reared to the weaver trade 
and was engaged mostly in the manufacture 
of damask linens. lie was a mechanical ge- 
nius and was the master mechanic in the 
gingham factory in Thompsonville, Connecti- 
cut. For years he was at the head of the 
print works at Chicopee Falls. They reared 
eight children, of wiiom five are still living 
and also the father, aged eighty-five years. 
His wife died in 1883 at the age of seventy- 
six. 



DOLPII WAGNER, proprietor of the 
I Lake City Bottling Works, located on 
■-iip^ the corner of Spaight and Peterson 
streets, is a successful man. He is a manu- 
facturer of that exhilarating l)everage known 
as "pop'' and all unintoxicating drinks. 
This business was established by himself in 
the spring of 1887, and ever since that time 
he has had a satisfactory increase in business, 
and now employs seven men all of the time. 
The name of his partner is Mr. Joseph Bol- 
lenbeck, who travels constantly, representing 
the business on the road in a commercial 
way. 

Mr. Wagner came to Madison in 1872 and 
established himself in the business, after a 
few years of experience as a clerical worker for 
Joseph Hausman, the extensive brewer of 
this city. Mr. Wagner is a man of energy 
and is bound to succeed. He was born at 
Carlsruhe, capital city of P>aden, Germany, 
March 21, 1848, and came of pure Gorman 
stock. His parents lived and died in their 
native country, where his father, Adolph 
Wagner, was a prominent manufacturer of 
furniture. Here the father died, in Carlsruhe, 
the place of his birth, when sixty-four years 
of age. He was well-known to the people of 
that city, and there he had lost his wife some 
years before, when she had reached only mid- 
dle life. She was in youth Miss Frederika 
Schneider, and was a native of the city, where 
she lived and died, and had become a mem- 
ber of the German Lutheran Church. 

Our subject was reared by his parents and 
obtained a practical education in the public 
schools of his native city. While a lad un- 
der seventeen years of age he was a dry-goods 
clerk, and at the age of seventeen he enlisted 
in the German army and reniained until he 
was twenty-tive. He marched through France 
in the Franco- Prussian war and was a mem- 



138 



BIOGUAPBICAL REVIEW OF 



ber of tlie Fourteenth Army Corps, General 
Werder coiuiuaudiug, and participated in the 
active engagements at Strasburg, Woerth and 
Weisenburof. and was in al! the battles 
thronirh Vosj^es; and tlience down to Relford 
and liis army corps, 45,0U0 strong, whipped 
Bonrbacke, with an army of 185,000 men, in 
a three days' battle. Almost every officer in 
the reojinient to which Mr. Wagner belonged 
was killed or wounded in the battle near 
Nuits, December 18, 1870. The same eve- 
ning he was the only sound officer in the 
battalion, and as such he marched back from 
the battle to the camp with the small part of 
the survivors. After the war was over he 
resolved that he would leave the service and 
come to the United States. This resolution 
he carried out in the spring of 1872. Since 
he has become a resident of tiie city of Madi- 
son he has been prominently associated with 
the German element, and is an active member 
of the German societies, including the Turner 
and singint^ associations. He also is a mem- 
ber of the Masonic order, Madison Lodge, 
No. 5, and of Monona Lodge, No. 69, A. O. 
U. W. 

Mr. Wagner has been City Alderman from 
the Sixth ward for two terms, and is a sound 
Democrat in his politics. 

The marriage of our subject was celebrated 
in this city, with Miss Albertina Hausman, a 
daughter of Joseph Ilausman, a prominent 
German citizen of the capital, and one of the 
leading brewers of the Northwest. Mrs. 
Wagner was born, reared and educated in 
this city, and is a worthy, good wife and the 
mother of three bright children: Meta, 
Grovcr C. and Paul, all at home. 



^ 



.^IIILETUS IirilD. of Blooming Grove 
township, Dane county, Wisconsin, was 
born at Ira, Cayuga county. New York, 
May 5, 1822, a son of Samuel Hurd, who was 
born at Fort Ann, Washington county. New 
York, and the grandson of Nathan Ilurd, a 
native, it is thought, of England, and an early 
settler of Fort Ann. The grandfather was a 
very early settler; removed thence to Cayuga 
county, being a pioneer there, making the 
journey with o.\ teams, lie let a tract of 
timber land in the town of Ira and gave each 
of his children a farm. The old gentleman 
continued his residence in Cayuga until his 
death. His wife, whose maiden name was 
Eiizal)eth (Cutter) Ilurd, likewise a native of 
England, died on the old home farm in Ira. 

Samuel Hurd was but a lad when his pa- 
rents removed to Cayuga. His location was 
upon a farm given him by his father, living 
for a long time upon the products of tlie farm, 
chiefly, as it was many years before any rail- 
roads or canals reached old Cayuga, and 
markets were too remote to make any eflort 
to keep one's self supplied with any of the 
luxuries now obtainable anywhere. The in- 
dustrious mother carded, wove, and nnide 
into garments the homespun clotliinir 
worn by the children. Elizabeth Ward was 
the maiden name of this jrood woman, daiiirh- 
ter of Israel Ward, and the mother of si.\ 
children. She su'-vived her husband many 
years, finally dying at the home of her daugh- 
ter. Samuel, the father, died in the town of 
Ira, in the year 1832. 

Our subject was the third son and fourth 
child of the children, the others being in the 
order of their naming: Nathan, Silas, Dru- 
silla, Simon and Sarah. Reared and educated 
in his native county, at the age of twenty-two 
he removed to the Territory of Wisconsin, 
going by way of Welland canal and the lakes 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



139 



to Milwaukee, and thence by team to Rock 
county. When be reached the Territory, a 
lari^e portion of its area was owned liy the 
Government and in the trreat forests deer and 
other wild <(ame undisturbed roamed at their 
pleasure. He bought eighty acres of Gov- 
ernment land in the town of Fulton at $1.25 
an acre, and then purchased forty acres ad- 
joining, for which he paid §300. Being sin- 
gle, he did not settle upon his projierty Init 
hired out for two years and then went back 
East, where he remained for an equal period. 
Upon his return, he went to Dane county 
and bought 120 acres on sections 34 and 35, 
in Blooming Grove township, for the sum of 
$150; after improving which, he purchased 
adjacent land until he had a line farm of 320 
acres, 240 of which ho still owns. JVlr. Hurd 
lived upon this property until 1883, when he 
built the home he now occupies on section 16, 
where he lives retired from active labors. Be- 
sides the holdings named, he owns land in 
Sauk county, Wisconsin, and also in Kansas. 
In the year 1849 our subject was married 
to Clarissa Malvina Sawyer, l)y whom he has 
had two daughters, Isadore and Eloise, the 
latter remaining at home. Isadore is the wife 
of Lawrence Eighmy. Mrs. Ilurd was born 
in Reading, Windsor county, Vermont, Au- 
gust 29, 1825, a daughter of Thomas Sawyer, 
a native of the same place. Tier grandfather, 
Cornelius Sawyer, born in Massachusetts, was 
one of the earliest settlers in Reading. Buy- 
ing a tract of timber hind there, he cut down 
the trees and built u[) a vaiual)le farm, upon 
which he lived and wiiere he finally died. 
This ancestor was a soldier in tiie war of the 
Revolution. 

The father of Mrs. Ilurd learned the trade 
of shoemaking, but did not fcjllow that vo- 
cation, preferring the life of a farmer. In 
1847 he sold his property and emigrated to 



the Territory of Wisconsin, accompanied by 
his five children, proceeding by team to 
Whitehall, thence by Champlain and Erie 
canal to Buffalo, then to Dane county, partly 
by stage and partly by private conveyance. 
His son had previously entered for him a 
tract of Government land located in what is 
now Blooming Grove township, on section 5 
and 6, upon which the father at once built a 
lof cabin, the first home of the familv at Wis- 
cousin. In this humlile liouse he died one 
year later. 

The maiden nanie of the mother of Mrs. 
Hurd was Clarissa Bigelow, born in Reading, 
Windsor county, Vermont, the daughter of 
Joseph Bigelow and the mother of six chil- 
dren, nantely: James D., Jerome ()., Clarissa 
M., Cornelia I., Marcus II., and Helen J. 
This estimal)le lady died at Reading, in the 
year 1835. 



'>^^^^^^}<^ 



'RANK GROSS was born in Germany, 
ft April 2, 1819. In 1848 he came by 
^3° sail vessel to the United States, having 
spent thirty-two days on the ocean. After 
landing in New York he immediately began 
work at the wagon-maker's trade in Roches- 
ter, wliere he remained nine years, and then, 
in 1857, came to Dane county, Wisconsin. 
DurincT that time he saved $1,000, and after 
coming to this county, bought eighty acres 
of land in Sun Prairie township, for which 
he paid §B00. Two years later he sold this 
land for $900, bought eighty acres for $1,200, 
of which he improved fifty acres, and then 
purchased eighty acres of his present farm. 
He afterward added to the last purchase un- 
til he owns IGO acres. 

Mr. Gross was united in marriage to Ann 
Wertli, who was born in Prussia, Germany, 



140 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 




in 1825, and came to this country with three 
sisters. Both her parents are now deceased. 
Our snhjectand wife had seven children, viz. : 
Nicholas, a farmer of Dakota; Frank, of the 
same place; ilargaret, deceased; John, at 
home; Thelka, of St. Agnes, P'ond du Lac 
county, Wisconsin; Albian, a farmer of this 
county; Peter, at home. Politically, the 
family are identified with the Democratic 
party; and religiously, are members of the 
St. Joseph Catholic Church at East Bristol. 

RS. MARY TRUMBULL.— The lady 
whose biography claims our atten- 
tion is the widow of Salmon Trum- 
l>ull. She was born in England, in 1815, 
and was the daughter of James Lee, a spin- 
ner in a woolen factory in England, and the 
mother of our subject was Bettsy Butter- 
worth. They came to Amei'ica and located 
in Massachusetts, in 1825. and came upon a 
sailer. The journey was in summer time 
and the ship was six weeks sailing from Liv- 
erpool to New York, and encountered some 
severe storms and the vessel was reported 
lost, and on their return to England it was 
lost, and some lives with it. The ]>arents 
resided at Pawtucket, Massachusetts, not far 
from Providence, Rhode Island. They had 
a family of three children, of which our sub- 
ject was the first born. Her first sister, 
Alice Lee, is the widow of John Ilershaw, 
of Westport, and Sarah is the widow of Na- 
than P. Ilicks, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. 
The father died in Providence, Rhode Island, 
in middle age, in 1837, and his wife sur- 
vived him many years, dying in 1872, in her 
eiglity-f(jiirth year. For eight years prior 
to her death she was a helpless and suffering 
cripple, cared for by Mrs. Trumbull, at whose 



home she died. The parents were in indi- 
gent circumstances and the dauijliters ob- 
tained but little schooling, but all were 
bright, enterprising girls and managed to be- 
come well informed. The mother of our 
subject was unlettered, as in her day the boys 
had the most of the education, as public 
opinion at that time decided that girls did 
not need any. The n^otlier did not come 
West until 1859, when all her girls were 
married. She buried her first husband, 
James Lee, and then married John Brieley, 
an Englishman, and this union was blessed 
with two daughters and one son, the latter 
of whom died at the age of four. 

Mrs. Trumbull has been twice married, 
first to William Perry, of Massachusetts. 
This occurred in Pawtucket, when our subject 
was twenty-six years old. At the age of 
eleven she had entered a cotton factory, where 
she remained eighteen years, and the most 
she received was S3 per week, out of which 
she paid her mother §2 for board. Mrs. 
Trumbull has but one son, Theodore Will- 
iam Perry, who died some ten years after 
his father, in his twentieth year. Mr. Perry 
was a farmer and the lad was reared on the 
farm and was a good and promising young 
man. 

The second marriage of our subject was in 
Pawtucket, in 1859. She and her husband 
came west to Madison and settled on an 
eighty-acre farm left her by Mr. Perry. 
This was wild land and required hard 
work to improve it, and Mr. Trumbull died 
in 1872, aged sixty-two. He had been a 
widower and had had one son and one daugh- 
ter. Fi-ances J. Trumbull is at home and 
Dennis Trumbull died in his nineteenth year, 
of consumption. 

Mrs. Trumbull has rented the land since 
the death of her husband. She was in debt 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



141 



at that time and has had a liard time to pay 
up. Mrs. Trumbull raises from ten to 
thirty pigs, keeps eiglit head of horned cat- 
tle and one pair of horses. Mrs. Trumbull 
is a lady much respected in this locality and 
is a consistent member of the Baptist 
Church. 

fHOMAS DAVIDSON, one of the sub- 
stantial farmers of Verona township, 
W Dane county, Wisconsin, is a native of 
the township in which he lives, the date of 
his birth being June 11, 1847. 

His father, Adam Davidson, was born near 
Edinburg, Scotland, May 2, 1811. Being 
poor and the oldest of a large family, he con- 
tributed all his time to the support of the 
family until he was twenty-eight years of age, 
being employed in whatever he could find to 
to do. That year he emigrated to America 
and located in Canada, in the vicinity of 
Hamilton. Two of his lirothers and one sis- 
ter also came to America. They are as fol- 
lows: George, who was a resident of Dane 
county, Wisconsin, is deceased; Thomas, a 
resident of North Freedom, Wisconsin; and 
Agnes, who received fatal injuries wliile 
alighfing from a wagon, died in Primrose 
township, Dane county, Wisconsin. In 
Canada Mr. Adam Davidson met and mar- 
ried Mary Ferry, who was born near Belfast, 
Ireland, in 1813. In 1844, learning of the 
advantages of Wisconsin, he moved from 
Canada to tliis State, then a Territory, and 
purchased a soldier's land warrant for forty 
acres, and witli this entered forty acres of 
land in what is now section nineteen, Verona 
township, Dane county. His capital at this 
time consisted of only $200. He cleared 
his land, lived in a Xon cabin, hauled his 

grain to Milwaukee with ox teams, and dur- 
11 



ing the early years of his residence here en- 
dured many hardships and privations. Af- 
ter some years a railroad was built to Madi- 
son, and after that he felt he was no longer 
on the frontier. He worked hard, oljserved 
due economy, never went in debt (except 
once for $50, on which he paid twenty-live 
per cent interest), saved his money and when 
able to do so purchased more land and made 
better improvements, finally becoming tlie 
owner of 400 acres of well-improved land. 
In 1885 he sold his farm to a son and ex- 
pected to retire from active life, but at this 
time he was persuaded to go to White Lake, 
South Dakota, where he invested in 160 
acres of land. He remained there eighteen 
months, lost some n;oney, sold out, and re- 
turned to Wisconsin, settling in Madison. 
He died in Madison in November 13, 1887. 
His widow still resides in that city. His 
life was characterized by simplicity, industry 
and generosity. He was well known in this 
vicinity and was held in the highest esteem 
by all. He assisted each of his children to a 
start in life before he died, and to his widow 
he left a C(Mnpetency. He was a member of 
the Presbyterian Church. FoUowinij^ are 
the names of the six children of this worthy 
couple: Thomas, the oldest; Neil, who lost 
an arm wliile operating a feed cutter, died 
soon afterward of blood poison; Sarah, wife 
of Thomas Thomas, resides at Dodgeville, 
Wisconsin; Adam, who lives on tiie old 
homestead; Bridget, wife of Melville Proud, 
Madisqn, Wisconsin; and Margaret, wife of 
Dennis McMann, Emery, South Dakota. 

Tliomas Davidson, witli whose name we be- 
gin this article, remained at home until 1877. 
That year he married Miss Agnes Whyte, who 
was born on the farm on which tliey now re- 
side, daughter of Peter Whyte, her parents be- 
ing among the pioneers of the township. Peter 



142 



BWGIiAI'UICM. UKVIMW OF 



Whjte was born in Scotland in 1837, and 
came to this county in 1842. He bought 
240 acres in Verona, wliere he resided until 
his death in 18G7. In 1858 he married Jes- 
sie Black, who was born in Scotland in 1827 
and died in Verona in January, 1865. There 
were three children: Agnes, Jane, and John, 
who died in childhood. J'oth parents were 
Presbyterians. Left an orphan at an early 
age, Afrnes Whyte was reared in the family 
of an uncle. Mr. and Mrs. Davidson have 
four children: William, Maggie, Jessie, and 
Blanche. 

One year after his marriage, Mr. Davidson 
purchased 280 acres of his j)resent farm, 
which was the estate of his wife's father. 
He is now the owner of 360 acres of line 
land and is engaged in stock raising and gen- 
eral farming. 

He is independent in his political views. 
Ileligiously, he is a Bresbyterian. 

fESSE S. MEYERS, Superintendent of 
the Dane County Asylum and Overseer 
of the Datie County Boor Barm, is the 
subject of the present sketch. It was said 
by the State Board of Charities that the 
United States provides the best care for her 
unfortunate poor and insane than probably 
any other nation in tlie world. The same 
Bjoard claims for Wisconsin the best system 
for the care of her chronic insane of any 
State in the Union, and that the Dane County 
Boor House and Asylum are among the 
models of their kind in the State. 

The farm is located on Section 15, Verona 
township, and for the beautiful and appro- 
priate buildings, and the careful attention 
which has made the place noted, much credit 
is due the subject of tins sketch. He took 



charge of the farm March 25, 1879, and at 
that date the buildings were old, dilapidated 
and inadequate, and lacking in and out of 
doors, needed facilities for providing proper 
care for th(! inmates. These unfortunate per- 
sons were kept in miserable outbuildings, as 
if their added misfortune was one for which 
they should be punished; in fact the whole 
place presented the appearance of a neglected 
old locality to be shunned. 

Immediately upon taking charge, Mr. and 
Mrs. Meyers set to work clearing up both 
liouse and buildings, and ere long all was 
remodeled and enlarged. In 1882 an asylum 
for the chronic insane was built, and March 
24, 1883, this large, handsome and conven- 
iently arranged structure, costing 835,000, 
was ready to receive inmates. Here 100 per- 
sons can be well cared for. For several years 
this place was well filled by unfortunates 
from other Wisconsin counties which had no 
suitable place in which to (^arc for them, but 
at present there are 108 inmates, 105 of 
whom belong to Dana county. 

The poor house has an average of sixty 
inmates, and all are comfortably cared for. 
This whole j)roperty is valued at §75,000. 
Mr. Meyers is one of those men who are 
built on a broad gauge, his sympathy and 
kindness of heart being temiiered with firm- 
ness and good judgment. He has introduced 
many reforms in the institution, one of these 
being the opening of the doors of the asy- 
lum (lurinir all hours of the dav, so that the 
inmates can jiass in and out at will. Many 
thought that this would not be feasible, but 
he has long ago proven to doubters the great 
benefit derived from such liberties, and it is 
now done in many institutions of the kind. Mr. 
Meyers is t^ thorough business man, his books 
are carefully kept, and he has always received 
the highest encomiums from the county 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



143 



officers and the State Board of Charities. 
The poor farm contains 331 acres of land 
with 120 more of timber lanii. Tlie poor 
house is lieated hy iiot water and tlie asylum 
by hot air. 

The subject of this sketch was born in 
Northampton county, Pennsylvania, February 
6, 1848, a son of John and Deborah (t^lick) 
Meyers, also natives of that county. Tiie 
family came to Wisconsin in 1847, and set- 
tled in the township of Verona, where the 
father entered 20U acres of land. Here he 
pursued farmiiicr until a few years prior to 
his death, when he removed to Verona village, 
where he lived a retired life until his death, 
June 30, 1865, at the age of tifty-eight. 
The mother is still living in Verona village. 
They had eleven children, eight of whom at- 
tained maturity: Aaron, Reuben J., Caro- 
line, Jesse S. (our subject), and Barbara E., 
all of whom live in Verona; Lydia, now Mrs. 
George Pitman, who lives in Madison; Han- 
netta, now Mrs. George Pehle, who lives in 
Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, and Jolinson, 
now deceased. 

Mr. Meyers, of this notice, was only four 
years of age wlien the family came to Wis- 
consin. He passed his early life on the home 
farm, and the first school that he attended 
stood on the present site of the poor farm. 
He attended a disti'ict school and spent a 
short time at the State University, but dis- 
continued his studies on account of ill 
health. He elisted in the late war on August 
14, 1862, and was mustered into service in 
Company I, Twenty-Third Wisconsin Volun- 
teers, with the rank of Sergeant. From 
Camp Randall he went South, and partici- 
pated in the first attack on Vicksburg, after 
which followed the battles at Arkansas Post, 
Port Gibson, Champion Hills, and Black 
River bridge, the Siege of Vicksburg, and 



the engagements at Jackson, Mississipjji, and 
Jacksdn, Louisiana, and Carrion Crow bayuu, 
interspersed with numerous mai'ches and 
skirmishes. At the last fight he was taken 
prisoner, and was held two months at Alex- 
andria, when, in May, 1864, he was exchanged. 
He then rejoined his command, with which 
he continued until the last fight at Spanish 
Fort and Fort Blakely, Alabama. 

After the war Mr. Meyers returned to his 
home in Verona, after a three years' faithful 
army service, and found that the father whom 
he had left mourning the departure of a son 
three years before, had died and been buried 
two weeks prior to his arrival from the war. He 
at once stepped into the place made vacant 
by his father, until business and other mat- 
ters, late in progress, were straiglitene(^i up. 
He then engaged in farming, carpenter work, 
and teaching, attempting by his etforts to 
gain for himself a university education, in 
which he failed on account of ill health. 

He was married June 30, 1873, to Ade- 
laide M. Shults, daughter of Daniel and 
Louisa (Sanford) Shults. His wife was 
l)orn near Terre Haute, Indiana, September 
3, 1850. March 25, 1879, he received his 
ajipointment as Overseer of the Dane County 
Poor House and Farm, and in the sprint of 
1883 was also appointed Superintendent of 
the Dane County Asylum. During the time 
of service in these institutions Mr. and Mrs. 
Meyers had born to them two children: 
Jessie Josephine, who died when ten months 
old; and Idella May, now nine years of age. 

Mr. Meyers has a farm of 240 acres, well- 
improved, on which he expects to raise 
horses. 

Politically, he is a Prohibitionist, and has 
always been independent. Socially, he is a 
member of Sylvester Wheeler Post, iN^o. 75, 
G. A. R. In religion he is a Baptist, and 



144 



niOOHAPnWAL REVIEW OF 



has always been interested in churcli and 
Siinday-sciiool work, of which latter he has 
been Superintendent for many years. 

In all the various walks of life Mr. Meyers 
has always been characterized by integrity, 
fidelity, and capability, and justly enjoys the 
favorable regard of his fellow-men. 



^ M. WILLIAMSON, a retired real- 
estate dealer, and a venerable pioneer 
^* of Wisconsin, was born at Bedford, 
Westchester county, New York, October 19, 
1801, son of Garrett, and Elizabeth (Ilaight) 
Williamson, who were born and reared in the 
same county. Garrett Williamson was en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits, and reared his 
children on the farm. Four of these still 
survive, two sons and two daughters. The 
Williamsons are descended from Holland, 
and have been residents of America since be- 
fore the Revolution. The mother of our 
subject was of Welsh descent, and was a 
great-granddaughter of Rev. James Whit- 
more. His father emigrated to Broome 
county, New York, about* 1804 or 1805, when 
that country was nearly an unbroken wilder- 
ness, leaving E. M. with the grandparents, 
with whom he continued to live until he was 
fifteen. lie then joined the family in Hroome 
county. Although his educational advantages 
were limited, he made the best of his oppor- 
tunities, and at an early age was able to meet 
the requirements of a teacher of a public 
school. He spent his winters in teaching 
and his summers in work in the lumber 
camps or at milling until he arrived at the 
age of twenty-five, when lie left his father's 
home and engaged in farming. 

In 1839 Mr. Willianison decided that the 
West offered better advantages for a young 



man, and accordingly he began to look about 
for a location. Friends of the family had 
come to Wisconsin, and through their solici- 
tude he started here in 1839, reaching Dane 
coutity in the spring of 1840. In accordance 
with his life-long motto of "make hay while 
the sun shines," be had so vigorously prose- 
cuted his studies when young, that he became 
a competent surveyor, and did much ot that 
work in New York. After coming West he 
at once drifted into surveying. He was 
elected County Surveyor of Dane county, 
and while in that office did tnucii toward sur- 
veying and laying out early roads in the 
county. This business he followed officially 
and otherwise, for many years. Wild land 
in Wisconsin — and at that time there was 
not much except wild land — was largely 
owned by non-residents, speculators in the 
East. Seeing an opportunity for a profitalde 
business, Mr. Williamson and his brother-in- 
law, Mr. Catlin, formed a partnership for the 
handling of real estate. They at once se- 
cured the agency of several large Eastern 
owners, and worked away in this line of busi- 
ness till they became one of the leading firms 
in Wisconsin, as agents for non-resident par- 
ties, their sales running up to many hundred 
thousand dollars. Mr. Williamson was for 
three years Clerk of the Board of County 
Commissioners, under Territorial organiza- 
tion. 

In 1850, Mr. Williamson married, at 
Rochester, New Yoik, Mrs. Eliza Wallace, 
7iee Bristol, a lady of culture and refinement 
born in New York city and educated in Roch- 
ester. Tliey had three children, two of whom 
are deceased. Mrs. Williamson departed 
this life in 1891, and is interred at Madison. 
Miss Susan, their only living child, is now 
the comfort of her father in his declining 
years. He has suti'ered the misfortune of 



DiilfE CODNTY, WISCONSIN. 



145 



total loss of sight, but he is quite active and 
is as clear in mind as one of tiiirty, not- 
withstanding he is now in his ninety-second 
year. 

For more than forty years Mr. Williamson 
has lived on the same block, ou east Dayton 
street. On this same lilock he owns and 
rents a residence, which, years ago, when it 
built, was among the linest in Madison. At 
the time he erected this building, it was dif- 
ficult to procure the necessary material, so he 
had his lumber hauled from Milwaukee and 
Sauk City, and the shingles from northern 
Wisconsin, all of wliich required much time 
and great expense. 

Politically, Mr. Williamson is a Republi- 
can. He has never been an ofHce seeker, 
although at one time he filled the office of 
Justice of the Peace, and at another was 
Deputy Sheriff of Dane county. He is a 
member of the Episcopal Church. 



fSON. RICHARD DOUGLAS FROST, 
H\ one of the first settlers of Ulooming 
Grove, Dane county, Wisconsin, is our 
subject. This well-known resident was l)orn 
in the town of Schaghticoke, Rensselaer 
county, New York, October 9, 1821. His 
father, Stephen Frost, was born in Washing- 
ton county. New York, and his grandfather, 
Ezra Frost, was born in New England of 
Scotch ancestry, later removing from Massa- 
chusetts to Washington county. New York, 
and settling at Union village, where he en- 
gaged in mercantile life and so continued 
until death. Tiie father of our subject re- 
ceived a good education, and wlien lie grew 
to maturity, he engaged in clerking, later in 
bookkeeping, and from Union village he 



went to Brooklyn, where he continued as an 
accountant, and remained until death. 

The maiden name of the mother of our 
subject was Elizabeth Cooper, born near 
Fort Edward, New York, daughter of Richard 
and Sarah (Osborne) Cooper. She died at 
her home in Schaghticoke. The maternal 
grandparents of our subject were of English 
ancestry. The grandfather, Richard Cooper, 
was born in New York, May 12, 1771, and 
spent his entire life in his native State. His 
parents were born in England. His wife was 
born in New York April 2, 1783, and her 
father was born in England and came to 
America in colonial times, dying in New 
York at an advanced age. The mother of 
our subject married for her second husl;>and, 
John Dusenberry, and liy this marriage 
reared two^children : Joseph and Mary. Our 
subject was the only child of the first mar- 
riage. 

Richard was about eleven years of age when 
he lost his father. He grew up in his home 
until manhood, attending school steadily, and 
obtaining an excellent education. After mar- 
riage he went to Troy, New York, and as- 
sisted in starting a gingham factory, the 
second institution of the kind in America, 
superintending the operation of that factory 
until 1850, when ill health compelled him to 
change his business. He had purchased a 
tract of laud in 1848, in the great West, on 
section 20, Blooming Grove township, where 
he now resides, and when he knew that he 
must change his mode of life he started to- 
ward his western purchase, liy way of rail- 
road he reached 13uflalo, then by lake to De- 
troit, then by rail to New Buffalo, thence to 
Milwaukee, and then by stage to Madison. 
The pleasant old days of stage coaching have 
passed away, only now enjoyed by the votar- 
ies of fashion, as tliey make a summer tour, 



146 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



but in the days of which we write that was 
the only possible way to quicklv cover long 
distances, as there were no railroads so far in | 
the wilderness. At the present time Mr. 
Frost rents his tine farm, having retired from 
active labor. j 

The marriage of our subject took place | 
February 4, 1841, to Miss Sarah M. Van 
Anden, a native of Schaghticoke. New York, 
and her father. Bernard Van Anden was 
born in the Mohawk valley, and was of 
Holland parentage, but married and spent 
his last days in New York. The maiden 
name of the mother of Mrs. Frost, was Miss 
Clarissa Robinson, born in Rensselaer county, 
New York, and her father. Nathaniel Robin- 
son was a native of New England, and had 
been a soldier in the Revolutionary war. lie 
spent his last years in Schaghticoke. The 
mother of Mrs. Frost came to Dane county 
and spent her last years with her daughter. 

Mr. and Mrs. Frost reared a family of 
three children; Lewis, Emma E. and Sarah 
M. The latter was born in 1849. and died 
in 1S65. Emma married i[. E. Flesh, and 
resides in Chicago, and has two children. 
Sarah B. and Linnie. Lewis, the first child 
and only son, enlisted in 1862, in Company I, 
Twenty-third Regiment, Wisconsin Volun- 
teer Infantry. Among the many battles in 
which he participated, was that of Carrion 
Crow, Louisiana, where he was severely 
wounded. He was mustered in as a private, 
was promoted to be First Lieutenant, and as 
such commanded his company, and was hon- 
orably discharged with it at the close of the 
war, and is now in business at Winona. Min- 
nesota. He married Miss Julia Karns, and 
has a family of three children: Gertrude B., 
Lewis V. and Donald K. 

Our subject has been a Republican since 
the formation of the party. He has served 




as Township Assessor, and for a period of 
twelve years he represented the town on the 
County Board of Supervisors, and in 1887 
was called still higher, being elected to the 
State Legislature, and cast his vote for Hon. 
Philetus Sawyer for State Senator. He was, 
for several years a member of the Executive 
Committee of the State Grange, and was also 
Director of the Northwestern Relief Associa- 
tion, and also Director and Treasurer of the 
Cottage Grove Fire Insurance Company. 
He is one of the most prominent men of the 
county, progressive and popular, the model 
of a good citizen of State and county as well 
as of his town. 



EORGE H. FOX, a physician of Stongh- 
ton, Wisconsin, was born in Oregon 
township, Dane county, this State, 
Jnne 6, 1846, a son of Joseph G. and Mary 
(^Lalor) Fox, natives of Ireland. The father 
was born in Waterford county, and came to 
America at the age of thirteen years, but 
later returned to his native country. After 
completing his education he came again to 
America. The mother is a sister of Richard 
Lalor, now a member of Parliament, and she 
came to this country after marriage. She 
died when our subject was only four years of 
age, and four years afterward the father 
again married. 

George H. Fox remained on a farm and 
attended select schools until fifteen years of 
age, after which he entered the University of 
Wisconsin. In August, 1S66. he became a 
student in the Bellevue Medical Hospital, 
where he remained two years, but was en- 
gaged in the practice of medicine after his 
first course of lectures. Mr. Fox then fol- 
lowed his profession in Dayton, Green 



BASE corsTF. wmooNsiy. 



147 



county, Wisconsin, two years, was in part- 
nership with his nncle thirteen years, re- { 
maiued alone four years, ami in 1887 came to ' 
Stono-hton, where he has ever since re- 
mained. i 

Mr. Fox was married Febraany- 5, 1870, to i 
Lucy Allen, a native of Buffalo, New York, 
and a daughter of Kin^ P. Allen, a farmer '■. 
near that place. To this union lias been born 
six children: May, Paul A., Lynn, Anna, 
William H. and Lucy. Paul has spent the 
past three years in the University of Wis- 
consin, and the remainder of the children are 
attending the public schools of Stoughton. 
Mr. Fox affiliates with the Democratic 
party, but has never sought public office. 



|ANIEL G. SHELDON, one of the pio- 
neers of the great city of Madison, and 
a man worthy of mention in every walk 
of life, is the subject of this sketch. 

Mr. Sheldon was born in Pittsfield, Otsego 
county, New York, August 10, 1823. His 
father. Gardner Sheldon, was born in Rhode 
Island, and his father, Isaac Sheldon, was 
born in the same State. The great-grand- 
father of our subject was also named Isaac, 
and his father was born in England, and 
came to America in the seventeenth century, 
and settled in Rhode Island. He was one of 
three brothers, the others being named Isaac. 
William and John. 

The grandfather of our subject was reared 
to agricultural pursuits. He removed from 
Rhode Island to New York, and lived in 
Saratoga county a few years, then moved to 
Otsego county, but spent his last days in 
Sherburne, Chenango county. The father of 
our subject went to New York when eighteen, 
and resided in Saratoga county a few years; 



from there he went to Pittstield, Otsego 
county, and lived there until 18i3, then with 
his family moved to Genesee county, making 
the journey overland with teams. He located 
in that part of Genesee now known as and 
included in Perry. Wyoming county, and 
purchased a farm and resided there many 
years. At the time of his death he was 
living retired in Bethany, Genesee county. 

The maiden name of the mother of our 
subject was Nancy Gorum, born at Ballston 
Spa, New York, a daughter of George and 
Sarah (White) Gorum. She spent her last 
years with a daughter in Middlebury. New 
York. Oar subject was ten years old when 
his parents moved to Genesee county. At 
that time the country was but sparsely set- 
tled and but little improved. There was no 
railroad or canal there, and Albany was over 
200 miles distant, and it was the principal 
market and depot for supplies. Wheat at 
that time sold as low as 40 cents a bushel. 
The mother used to card, spin and weave, 
and dressed her children in homespun. She 
spun and wove the cloth for the first overcoat 
our subject ever wore, and then made the 
garment herself. Farming was conducted on 
a very different plan from that of the present. 
All grass was mown with a scythe; all grain 
was cut with a cradle and bound by hand. 
Farm labor was cheap: for ordinary farm 
work 50 cents a day was giyen; for haying, 
60 cents a day; for harvesting, $1 a day. 
His mother used to cook by a fireplace, and 
his earliest recollection is of having no lamps, 
and even candles were a luxury. Evening 
work was done by the light of the tire. 

Our subject resided with his parents until 
he was twenty-one. then began life for him- 
self, working on the farm at SIO a month. 
He remained a resident of New York until 
18i9. when he came to Wisconsin. He jour- 



148 



BIOGRAPHIOAL REVIEW OF 



neyed by team to Buffalo, thence via the lake 
to Detroit, thence on the lake via Chicacro to 
Milwaukee, thence with a team to Dane 
connty, where his uncle, Daniel Gorum, had 
previously settled. At that time his entire 
wealth was S-lOO, and he looked around for a 
place to invest his money in a home, and in 
December of that year he purchased eif^hty 
acres of land, which is included in iiis present 
home. He had no team, and used to change 
work with his uncle, and in that way got a 
team to break a portion of his land, lie 
worked out by the month, and was tinally 
enabled to buy a pair of oxen. With those 
he did his farm work and marketing. Mil- 
waukee was the principal market for some 
time. Wheat would sell for from 35 to 40 
cents a bushel, and corn at home would sell 
for from 10 to 12 cents, and oats from 7 to 
10 cents. People who in later years have 
obtained so much larger prices can realize 
little what struggles he had to go through 
with before he could build and equip his 
farm. He was very industrious, and success 
crowned his efforts. He was at one time 
owner of 240 acres of land, IGO of which he 
still retains. His place has a beautiful loca- 
tion, overlooking the lakes and capital city. 

On October 8, 1851, our subject was mar- 
ried to Miss Adeline Curtiss, who was born 
in Middlebury, Wyoming county, New York. 
Her father, Levi Curtiss, was born in Berk- 
shire county, Massachusetts, in 1805, and his 
father. Comfort Curtiss, was born in Massa- 
chusetts, of Scotch ancestry. He removed 
from Massachusetts to Genesee county, New 
York, in 1807, and made the removal with 
team. He was one of the pioneers in the 
town of Middlebury, and bought land from 
the Holland Purchase Company, and erected 
the log house in the wilderness. For some 
years bear and wolves were plentiful, and all 



stock had to be placed in pens at night to 
preserve them from harm. Here he im- 
proved a farm, which he occupied until his 
death. The maiden name of his wife, the 
grandmother of Mrs. Sheldon, was Priscilla 
Whitney. She was born in Massachusetts, 
and died on the home farm in Middlebury. 
The father of Mrs. Sheldon was reared on a 
farm, bought land adjoining that of his 
father, and resided there for many years. 
He then moved to Wyoming village, where 
he died one year later. 

The maiden name of the mother of Mrs. 
Sheldon was Climeiia Roberts, a daughter of 
Ebenezer and Mary (^Stanhope) Roberts, both 
natives of Massachusetts, the former born in 
Greenfield, Franklin county; and the mother 
died in 1890, at the home of her son. in 
Saunders county, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. 
Sheldon have three children living: Levi, 
May and Bertha. Levi married Miss Roxy 
Benson, and lives in Chicago and has two 
diildren: Cora and Curtiss. May married 
Jerome Holt. 

Mr. Sheldon is independent in politics, and 
has oHieiated as a member of the Township 
Board of Supervisors. 



higxg).-: 



^^S«^ 



fOHN DUDLEY, one of the early .set- 
tlors and self-made men of the county, 
was born in Orleans county, Vermont, 
February 20, 1823. His father, TiTnothy Dud- 
ley, was born, as far as known, in New Hamp- 
shire, and his father, Stephen, is thought to 
be a descendant of three brothers, natives of 
Eiiirland, who came to America in early colo- 
nial times. Stephen removed to Barton, Or- 
leans county, Vermont, where he followed his 
trade of blacksmith and spent his last days 
there. 



DA^E COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



149 



The father of our subject was nineteen 
years old when he left his native State for 
Vermont, where he was married. A few 
years after marriage he removed to Caledonia 
county and bought a farm, on which he re- 
sided a number of years and then returned 
to Orleans county, bought a farm in Barton, 
where he died. He speculated extensively 
in land and raised a good deal of stock. His 
death occurred in July, 1890, when he was 
in liis ninetieth year. The maiden name of 
his wife was Patience Jackson, born 
in New Hampshire, daughter of Tiiomas 
Jackson. She died al)out ISfiO, after bear- 
ing her husband nine children, tive 
of whom are still living, namely: John, 
George, Levi, Henry, and Diantha. 

Our subject was reared and educated in 
his native county, attending school in the 
winter and working on the farm in the sum- 
mer. He remained with his parents until 
1844, when he resolved to go West to seek 
his fortune, so via team, Burlington railroad, 
Lake Champlain and Cham plain canal to Al- 
bany, Lake Erie to Buffalo and then to Mil- 
waukee, from which city he secured a ride 
with a Green county farmer to Janesville, 
and from there made his way on foot to the 
present site of Brooklyn. Here he spent 
four months with Esquire Graves and as- 
sisted him at cutting and splitting rails. 

Li July, 1845, he went to Janesville, 
which was only a small town and the sur- 
rounding country was but sparsely settled, 
much of the land being owned by the Gov- 
ernment and selling for $1.25 per acre. 

Mr. Dudley found employment in Janes- 
ville, quarrying stone and burning lime and 
remained three years, during which time 
he saved his earnings and at the end of the 
three years purchased the place he now owns, 
consisting of 120 acres, at $3.50 per acre, on 



which there were no buildings nor fence. At 
this time he was a single man and was 
obliged to pay for his board, a part of tiie 
time working for it. At times he worked 
by the day, at others by the job and when 
nothing else offered directed his energies to- 
ward improving his own land, on which he 
settled at the time of his marriage. 

His marriage occurred February, 18, 1852, 
when he was united to Rhoda Simmons, born 
in Shrewsbury, Vermont, September 15, 1823, 
daughter of William Simmons, a native of 
the same town, and his father John Simmons, 
was a native of Germany, who came to 
America during the Revolutionary war as a 
soldier in the British army. His sympathies 
became enlisted on the side of the colonists, 
so he deserted and fought for independence, 
and became a good and loyal citizen of the 
United States, after the war. He settled in 
Shrewsbury, Vermont, where he pu7-chased a 
farm and resided on it until his death. The 
maiden name of his wife was Roby, born in 
Rliode Island, and died in Shrewsbury. 
The father of Mrs. Dudley was their only 
child, and was reared and married in his na- 
tive State. In April, 1827, he moved to 
Mendon, Vermont, and bought a farm, where 
he remained a few years. His ne.\t removal 
was to Sherburne, Vermont, where he lived 
until 1846, when he came to the Territory of 
Wisconsin, settled in the town of Fulton, 
Rock county, bought a farm of forty acres, 
improved it and resided there a few years, 
then renioved to Minnesota, settled in Rice 
county, and resided there until bis death, 
which occurred in 1870, in the eighty-third 
year of his life. The maidan name of his 
wife was Jane Cheney, born in Deerlield, 
Vermont, daughter of Barnabas and Rhoda 
Cheney. Mrs. Simmons died in Rice county, 
Minnesota, in 1871, aged eighty-three. 



150 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



Mr. Dudley has been a Republican since 
the formation of the party. His farm is one 
of the finest in the county, and on it he has 
a set of buildings that surpass almost all in 
the county. He and his wife are good, 
worthy citizens, and highly esteemed by all 
who know them. 

||ETEK W. MATTS, one of the venerable 
I? pioneers of Dane county, Wisconsin, 
has been prominently identified with 
its history, and it is therefore fitting that 
honorable mention be made of him in this 
work; indeed, without some biographical 
mention of him a history of Dane county, 
would be iucompk^te. 

Peter AV. Matts was born in J5ucks county, 
Pennsylvania, June 20, 1814, son of John 
and Catherine (Hoffman) Matts. His father 
was born in Philadelphia, March 16, 1786, 
and his mother in Bucks county, same State. 
April 7, 1786. Grandfather John M. Matts 
was born in Bavaria, (Jermanj, where he 
grew to manhood and was married. He emi- 
grated to America prior to the Revolution- 
ary war, and was a resident of Philadelphia 
during that memorable struggle. Being a 
cripple he was unable to serve in the army, 
but he made shot pouches, and his wife car- 
ried them on foot or horseback to the front 
and distributed them among the soldiers. 
After the war they settled on a piece of land 
in Bucks county, and engaged in the tanning 
of leather. He died there, September 23, 
1818; his wife, November 25, 1825. Of 
their nine children only two reached adult 
years: Sarah and John. The former was 
born November 7, 1781, became the wife of 
Jacob Anthony, and died in Northam])ton 



county. Pennsylvania, leaving a large fam- 

iiy. 

John Matts, the father of our subject, 
worked in the tanyard with his father, car- 
rying on an extensive business. In 1808 he 
married Catherine Hoflnian, daughter of John 
and Margaret (Mayer) Hoffman, natives of 
Germany. Her father died November 28, 
1838, aged eighty-two; her mother, August 
31, 1834, aged seventy -sLx. After his mar- 
riage Mr. Matts also carried on farming. He 
died January 14, 1875. His wife passed 
away in Pennsylvania, May 2, 1887. They 
had ten children, all of whom grew to ma- 
turity, namely: Maria, wife of Joseph An- 
thony, was born December 5, 1809, and died 
in Kansas in 1892; Josiali H. B., born June 
7, 1812, was a farmer and at the time of his 
death, in March, 1882, was a resident of Ve- 
rona township, Dane county, Wisconsin; 
Peter, whose name heads this article; Alex- 
ander, J., born October 3, 1816, resides on a 
farm in Lehigh county, I'ennsylvania; Elias, 
born July 24, 1818, lives on the old home- 
stead that was settled by his grandfather; 
Delia F., born October 22, 1820. married 
W'illiam Servatus, of Franklin county, Kan- 
sas; John M., born August 7, 1822, lives in 
Oregon, Wisconsin; Nicholas M., born Oc- 
tober 16, 1824, is a resideiit of Franklin 
county, Kansas; Jackson F., born March 2, 
1827, lives in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania; 
Catherine, born June 28, 18B1, lives with 
her brother on the old homestead. The 
average age of the eight living children is 
over seventy years. 

The subject of this sketch was reared in 
his native county and spent his early life 
working in the tannery and on the farm, re- 
ceiving only a limited education in the conn- 
try schools. At the age of eigliteen he en- 
tered upon an apprenticeship to tiie trade of 



DjiNE COUNTY, WI8C01SSIN. 



151 



carpenter and cal>inet-maker, and served two 
years. He then followed his trade in Penn- 
sylvaTiia, New Jersey and New York city. 
In 1837 business almost suspended on ac- 
count of the panic, and he returned home. 
He did not remain long, however, for a de- 
sire to see the Western country brought liim 
out to the frontier. He went by stage to 
Philadelphia, then by I'ailroad to within eight 
miles of Harrisburg, by stage to Pittsburg, 
and thence down the Ohio river to Cincin- 
nati. Cincinnati was then only a small village. 
This was in the summer of 1837. From 
there he went on foot and alone to Indian- 
apolis, where he found business lively, and at 
once obtained employment at fi2.5tl per day. 
In 1838, in company with Elias Stouthover 
and wife, and two yonng men, with a four- 
horse team, he started for Wisconsin, arriving 
at Madison in June. Tiie old capitol was 
then being erected and he worked on it two 
months. After that he again started out 
alone and on foot, going to Galena, Illinois, 
Dubuque and Potosi, and returning to Wis- 
consin and again locating in Madison. There 
he worked at his trade and also did contract- 
ing, continuing thus employed until 1846. 

That year he was elected Sheriff of Dane 
county. In 18-48 he was again elected to the 
same office, and served etficiently in that 
capacity two terms, his tirst term being the 
last under Territorial Government, and his 
last term, the first after Wisconsin was made 
a State. In 1848 he moved his family to the 
present site of Paoli, where he purchased a 
section of land from the Government and 
built a house. After leaving the sheritPs 
office he improved the water-power at Paoli 
and built a sawmill and several houses, and 
also cultivated his land. He ran the sawmill 
until he sold the water-power to B. M. Minch 
& Co., about 1867. In the meantime, in 



1853, he was elected to the State Legislature, 
and served one term. As the years rolled by 
and the country became settled, he was one 
of the pi-ominent factors in advancing the 
interests of this place. He platted Paoli on 
his land, and still owns nearly all the unim- 
proved lots in the town. He finally sold his 
farm, with the exception of forty acres. For 
a numiier of years he was Chairman of the 
Town Board. He has been serving a num- 
ber of years as Justice of tlie Peace. 

Septeml)er 4, 1842, Mr. Matts married 
Helen R. Dickson, who was born in Butter- 
nuts, Otsego county. New York, October 7, 
1824. Her father, Thomas P. Dickson, was 
born in Voluntown, Connecticut, April 1, 
1780, son of Thomas Dickson, who was born 
in the same place, October 27, 1753, and died 
January 13, 1803. Thomas P. Dickson was 
married three times. His first wife, nee 
Hanna Olnistead, died in 1808, leaving two 
children, viz.: Anna, wife of David Hyer, 
who died in Madison, Wisconsin, in Septem- 
ber, 1843; and Hannah, who died at the age 
of eighteen. May 15, 1809, he married Deb- 
orah Kichardson, who died March 10, 1825, 
leaving an only child, the wife of Mr. Matts. 
His third wife was Esther Richardson, whom 
he wedded February 5, 1827. She departed 
this life at Galesburg, Illinois, in 1869. Mr. 
Dickson died at Butternuts, New York, in 
1829. The only child by his third marriage 
is David T., who came to Madison, Wiscon- 
sin, when a small boy, and was " devil" in the 
first newspaper office in Madison, delivering 
the first papers there. This was in 1838. He 
is now a printer in Chicago. 

Mr. and Mrs. Matts have had seven chil- 
dren, as follows: Eugene W., born November 
15, 1845, married Calista Andrews and lives 
in Paoli; Alvernon T., born May 25, 1848, 
died that same year; Mary, born .lune 22, 



152 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



1852, married Edwin D. Wood, and her death 
occurred in I'aoli, November 10, 187S; Ella, 
born March 25, 1855, died January 5, 1878; 
Orville E., born July 7, 1857, resides at 
home; Florence, born February 4, 1800, died 
October 2, 1886; aud Elmer D., bora Octo- 
ber 1, 1863, resides at Missoula, Montana, a 
lawyer by profession. After fifty years of 
happy married life, Mr. and Mrs. Matts 
celebrated their golden wedding in 1892. 
They are not members of any church, but are 
believers in the faith of the Second Ad- 
ventists. 

Politically, Mr. Matts was a Whig in his 
early life. F>om 1854 till 1868, he was a 
Republican, then he was independent of party 
for a while, and since 1876 has voted with 
the People's party. 

fOHN 0. CRABTKEE, oneof the wealthy 
and influential farmers of Burke town- 
ship, was born tifty-tive miles from Liv- 
erpool, England, December 8, 1835. Uis 
father, Jonathan Crabtree, was, as far as is 
known, a native of Lancastershire, although 
his ancestors were formerly from Yorkshire. 
The grandfather spent his entire life in Lan- 
castershire, as did his wife, Ann Hudson. 
The father of our subject learned the trade of 
block printer. This was before machinery 
was invented to do printing with. Mr. 
Crabtree followed liis trade until machinery 
was introduced into the mills where he 
worked, when, in 1846, he came to America, 
accompanied by his wife and eight children. 
They embarked from Liverpool on the sailing 
vessel Empire, aud landed in New York June 
17, after a voyage of twenty-eight days. 
They went directly to Staten Island, where 
the father found work at his trade, and later 



became manager of the factory. Here he re- 
sided until his death, which occurred in 1871. 
The maiden name of his wife was Mary Hud- 
son, born in the same shire, daughter of 
George and Martha (Barcroft) Hudson. She 
died iu 1867, after rearing ten children, viz.: 
Annie, James, George, John C, Martha, Su- 
sannah, Sarah, ^Mary, Isabella and Barcroft. 

Our subject commenced work in the mill 
at the tender age of seven, and received three 
shillings a week for his labor. When he was 
eight years old he entered the coal mines 
and received eight shillings a week. Here 
he continued until coming to America with 
his parents, in his eleventh year. After ar- 
rival in America he commenced work in the 
mill at Staten Island, receiving $6 a month 
for the same work he had only received three 
shillings a week for in England. In time 
his waives were increased and he reniuiiied in 
the mill until 1856, when he went to Penn- 
sylvania and engaged in farming and mining 
until 1866, when he emigrated to Wisconsin, 
selecting Judah, Green county, as his first 
location. Here he only remained one year, 
and then bought land in Monroe, where he 
resided until 1877. At that date he sold 
this farm and bought the land he now owns 
and occupies, on section 11, Burke township. 
This farm contains ninety-tive acres of well- 
improved land. 

Mr. Crabtree married in Pennsylvania, in 
1857, Miss Matilda Moughmer, born in Cen- 
ter county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Adam 
and Margaret (Traister) Moughmer. The 
father of Mrs. Crabtree was born in Berks 
county, Pennsylvania, and her mother at 
Selin's Grove, same State, both parents 
I were of German ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. 
Crabtree have had nine children, namely: Cy- 
rus, Margaret, Mary, Elmer, Annie, Charles, 
Albert, Cora, Edward. Cyrus married Jessie 



DANE COUNTT, WISCONSIN. 



153 



Cramptoi) and has four children, namely: 
Alice, AUiert, Ernia and an infant. Mar- 
garet is the wife of Edward Keelock and has 
one child, Arthur. Mary is the wife of Fred- 
erick Wolf. Elmer married Sarah Roberts, 
and Annie is the wife of Arthur Hunt. Po- 
litically, Mr. Crabtree is independent in 
politics, votincr for the man he considers is 
best suited for the office, regardless of party 
lines. 



^ 



^ 



I^OLON De VALL, of Stonghton, Wis- 
consin, was born in Weathersfield, 
Windsor county, Vermont, January 22, 
1823, a son of James and Eliza (Gould) De 
Vail, natives of Lancaster, in Massachu- 
setts. Solon was given a district school 
education, and began life for himself as a 
farm laborer in Vermont. In 1853 he pur- 
chased 200 acres of unimproved land in 
Rutland township, Dane county, AVisconsin, 
which he improved. lie afterward sold this 
place and purchased another farm, three- 
quarters of a mile nearer Stonghton. where 
he remained from 1872 until 1884. In the 
spring of 1885 he came to this city, where 
both he and his wife still reside. 

Mr. De Vail was married in 1848, to Fran- 
ces M. Show, also a luitive of Weathersfield, 
Vermont, and they have three living children : 
James D., of Stonghton; Calvin, of Coun- 
cil Bluffs; and Carrie, wife of A. E. Gurmal, 
of Gihnore City, Iowa. One child died in 
infancy. 

James D. De Vail was born in Dane county, 
Wisconsin, February 5, 1854, a son of Solon 
and Frances M. De Vail. At tlie age of 
twenty-one years he began learning the car- 
penters' trade with Ellis Bros., of Oregon, 
Wisconsin, at which he worked for the fol- 



lowing six years. For the next four years he 
farmed on rented land in Rutland township, 
and in 1884 came to Stonghton, where lie has 
since been engaged in the leaf tobacco trade. 
At one time he owned the warehouse across 
the track, at No. 15, but now does business 
at No. 16. Mr. De Vail is one of the tobacco 
dealers in Stonghton. 

He was married January 12, 1879, to 
Alice Gurnsey, a native of Dunkirk town- 
ship, Dane county, and they have two chil- 
dren: Inas M. and Cora A. Politically, 
Mr. De Vail is identified with the Democratic 
party; and socially, is a member of the Ke- 
trosa Lodse of Freemas(tns, also the Knitrhts 
of Pytiiias. 



1^«|[ILLIAM S. WHEELWRIGHT, M. 
'WiMM ^' — Prominent among the medical 
[■=sffeS profession of Belleville occurs the 
name of the gentlemen whose name opens 
this sketch. He has made this city his 
home since the month of June, 1878, when 
he located within its borders. Dr. W^heel- 
wright was born in Ohio, Decemlier 18, 
1851, being a son of David and Jane (Sim- 
mons) Wheelwriijht, natives of Englaml. The 
father came to the United States when he 
was twenty-one years of age and the mother 
emigrated to this country with her parents 
when a small child. The father of our sub- 
ject located in Ohio upon bis arrival in this 
country, and it was in this State that he mar- 
ried. In 1854 he removed to Wisconsin, 
settling in Middleton, Dane county, where 
he remained until 1865, tilling the soil. At 
that date he removed to Vernon county, Wis- 
consin, where he settled in the town of Frost, 
remaining until his death. After his demise 
the mother came to Belleville and made her 



154 



BIOGRAPHICAL HE VIEW OF 



home with our subject, but died in Iowa 
wiiiie 1)11 ii visit to a daugliter. She had 
borne licr hushaud eleven children, of whom 
nine grew to maturity, namely: Sarah, who 
married Daniel Garlield, resides in Dawes 
county, Nebraska; Subject; Hattie, who mar- 
ried William T. Markee, resides in Toledo, 
Iowa; lluth, wbo married James H. Under- 
wood, resides in Nol)raska, but is now at- 
tending medical college at Iowa City, Iowa; 
Ella, who married Henry Pepper, resides in 
Elroy, Wisconsin; Daniel W. is a physician 
of Lake View, Iowa; Thomas S. is a wagon- 
maker of Chicago, Illinois; Sidney is a stu- 
dent of Toledo, Iowa; Nellie is in Omaha, 
Nebraska. 

The early life of our subject was passed 
on the farm, he receiving his early education 
in the district schools of the neighborhood. 
His medical studies were commenced under 
Dr. A. A. Kowley, of Middleton, and later 
he attended Rush Medical College, at Chi- 
cago, graduating in the class of 1878. Im- 
mediately after graduation he located at 
Belleville, where he has since remained. In 
the spring of 1878 he married Miss Lnln 
Kowley, daughter of N. C. and Sarah Row- 
ley, l)orn at Verona, Dane county, Wiscon- 
sin. Three children have been born to Dr. 
and Mrs. Wheelwright, namely: E. Maurine, 
William Orville and Vivian R. Professional 
duties engross the Doctor's attention to sucli 
an extent that he only takes sufficient inter- 
est in political matters to cast his ballot for 
the candidates nominated by the Republican 
pai'ty. Socially, he afiiiiates witii Belleville 
Lodge, No. 74, I. (). O. F., in which be lias 
passed all the chairs, and he is also a mem- 
ber of the A. (). U. W. Both professionally 
and socially Dr. Wheelwright is popular, and 
deservedly so, for his constant endeavor is to 



faithfully perform every duty as it is pre- 
sented to him. 



LEXANDER McMURRAN, an es- 
teemed farmer, residing in the town of 
lUirke, Wisconsin, was born in the home 
where he now resides, September 28, 1859. 
His father, Marshall McMurran, was one of 
the early settlers of Dane County, and was 
born in Pennsylvania in 1811. The latter 
went to Indiana when a young man, and U\hu 
there removed to AViscotisin, settling on the 
farm now occupied by the subject of this 
sketch. He was accompanied by his wife 
and family, and the journey was made over- 
laTid with a team. At this time the county 
was sparsely settled, and deer and other kinds 
of game were plentiful. His death occurred 
August 21, 1887. The maiden name of tiie 
mother of our subject was Mary Knight, 
who was born in Indiana, and died on the 
home farm March 15, 1890. She reared 
eight children. 

Our subject now has a fine farm of 320 
acres, and is considered one of the best 
farmers in the county. He has been engaged 
in farming and general stock raising. For 
some years he raised Galway cattle, but not 
liking them for dairy purposes, changed them 
for shorthorns. In politics he is a Repub- 
lican. 

||LE S. NORS^[AN, the popular City 
Clerk of the city of Madison, although 
yet a young man, has held a number of 
important and responsible positions, and is at 
present serving his third term as City Clerk. 
He is also a member and clerk of the Board 
of Education, and director and secretary of the 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN, 



155 



Madison Benevolent Society. He is a man 
who enjoys to the fullest extent the confidence 
and esteem of his fellow-citizens, and deserv- 
edly so, on account of his unswei'ving fidelity 
to duty, unquestionetl integrity and accom- 
modating disposition. 

Mr. Norsman was born in the townsliip of 
Vienna, Dane County, Wisconsin, on the 
13th day of September, 1851, and his boy- 
hood life" was spent on his father's farm, at 
work in the summer, and attending school in 
winter. At the age of sixteen he entered 
Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, and remaineil 
there two years, after which he attended the 
Wisconsin State University a couple of terms. 
Returning home he continued working on 

o to 

the farm during the summer, and teaching 
school in the winter, until the spring of 
1876, when he came to Madison and accepted 
a position as Clerk in the office of the Reg- 
ister of Deeds, under Hon. L. J. Grinde, 
who was then Register. After one year's 
service as Clerk he was appointed Deputy 
Register, which position he held for two 
years. He then, in 1879, accepted a posi- 
tion as clerk in the office of the Ilekla Fire 
Insurance Company of Madison, and after 
a few months he became the company's book- 
keeper, and continued in its employ until 
December 31, 1S82. During the last year 
of his connection with the company', he was 
assistant secretary thereof. 

In the fall of 1882 he was oftered and ac- 
cepted the Democratic nomination for the 
office of Register of Deeds. Securing the 
election, he assumed the duties of the office 
January 1, 1883, and continued as Register 
until December 31, 1886, having been re- 
elected in 188-1. In June, 1887, he was 
appointed Deputy Collector of Internal Rev- 
enue under General A. C. Parkinson, Col- 
lector Second District of Wisconsin. 



This position he held until the expiration 
of General Parkinson's term, and was also 
reappointed by his Republican successor. 
General Earl M. Rogers, in July, 1889, but 
re-igned (Jctolier 1st of the same year. In 
January, 1890, he was elected to his present 
position as City Clerk, taking the office on 
the succeeding tirst day of April, and he has 
been re-elected annually since. 

Mr. Norsman was united in marriage, in 
Madison, on tlie 21st day of June, 1882, to 
Miss Eleonora Katinka Seemann, who was 
Ijorn anil reared in Madison, and who is a 
most faithful and helpful wife and mother. 
She is of Norwegian birth, her father, Jacob 
Seemann, and her mother, whose maiden 

name was Johanna Maria IJrunsberg, were 

to' 

both born in Norway, near the city of Chris- 
tiania. Mr. Seemann came to this country 
in 1854, and to Wisconsin in 1855, and Mrs. 
Seemann came here with her parents, at the 
age of nine, in 1850. They were married in 
Madison in Mav, 1857, and having made the 
Capital City their home ever since, are well- 
known and prominent people. Mr. Seemann 
is a successful attorney, who has held various 
important official positions. He is an ac- 
complished musician, his specialty being the 
violin. In politics he a true blue Jackson- 
ian Democrat of the old school. 

Mr. and Mrs. Norsman are the happy par- 
ents of three bright and promising children, 
the eldest a girl, now ten years of age, named 
Cora Marion Ray; and two boys: Jerome 
Orton, seven years old; and Edgar, the 
youngest, a little over four. 

Mr. Norsman is also of Norwegian parent- 
age, his father, Ole Svallieim, and his mother, 
Randi Thomasdatter I'^then, were both born 
in the parish of Sogn, Bergens Stift, Norway. 
They came to this country, and to Dane 
county, in 18-18, the year Wisconsin was ad- 



1D6 



BIOGIiAPUlCAL REVIEW 'OF 



initted as a State. They became acquainted 
after tlieir arrival in this country, and were 
married at Vienna in 1850, settling down 
immediately on tiie farm, whicli still consti- 
tutes the family homestead. His father 
died in 1876, at the age of iifty-six. He was 
a man of tiie strictest integrity, a worthy and 
highly respected citizen, a good and success- 
ful farmer, and an active member of the 
Lutheran Church. His mother is still living 
on the old homestead, active and in fairly 
good health, although over si.xty years of age. 
She is also a Lutheran in her religious faith, 
and has tenderly reared a large family of 
children, of whom ten are now living, two 
having died in infancy. 

Three sons and two daughters are married. 
Our subject is the oldest of the family. His 
brothers are: Thomas, married to Betsy 
Eggiim, and they have three children. He 
owns and operates a farm near the old home- 
stead; Peter, married to Nellie Huseboe, 
lives on the old homestead; Soren, is a hook- 
keeper in the Stoughton State J'ank, of 
Stoughton, Wisconsin, and John, the young- 
est in the family, is bookkeeper in the Capi- 
tal City Mills, at Madison. His sisters are: 
Emma, married to Ole Gullickson, machinist, 
residing in Chicago; Julia, married to O. S. 
Wangsness, a merchant at Minneapolis, 
Minnesota; Mollie and Carrie, both employetl 
in Chicago, and Anna, who is a teacher, and 
lias just completed a full course at the State 
Normal School at Whitcnvator, Wisconsin. 

^•-ir.^f.VKON 13. FRENCH, a businessman 
,1, Vm? ^^ ^''^ ^''■y *'*" Madison, Wisconsin, 
^^~ and also of Gainesville, Florida, is 
the subject of the present sketch. He was 
born in Leno.\ township, Madison county, 



New York, July 8, 1826, and was the son of 
Leonard and Mary (Wallace) French. The 
mother was born in Greenfield, Massachusetts, 
and the father in Vermont, near l'>rattlei)oro. 
His people were originally from Wales and 
Scotland. By occupation his father was a 
carpenter and farmer. Mr. and Mrs. French, 
Sr., became the parents of eight children, of 
whoni our subject is the third in number. 
The father passed away in 1853, in ALidison, 
and the mother in 1880. They had come to 
the State in 1847, locating in Fitchburg 
township, where the father took npafarm. 

Our subject received very limited school 
facilities, leaving school altogether when he 
was si.xteen years of age. At this time he 
began work as a carpenter and farmer, al- 
though he had done some clerking in a store 
when but fourteen ye^iX^ old, in New York. 
For two terms our subject taught school in 
Fitchburg township, and then came to Madi- 
son, entering the store of Robinson ife Water- 
man as a clerk. Here he stayed until 1853, 
when he began keeping a restaurant in this 
city, which he followed until 1855, when he 
opened a grocery and meat market with 
James E. Rhodes. This firm kept the first 
meat market on State street. He followed 
in this Iiusiness until 1S()6, when he sold out 
on account of ill health and entered into the 
real estate business. Since that time he has 
done nothing else. Since 1882 he has had 
an ofKce in Gainesville, Florida, where he 
spends the winter, and one in Madison, where 
his summers are spent. 

Tiie marriage of our subject took place 
October 19, 1853, with Miss Elizai)eth Page, 
of Bucksport, Maine. The adopted daughter 
of our subject, Katie B., married Edward W. 
Hawley, a merchant of this city. Mr. Frencii 
has been identified with the real- estate busi- 
ness in this city, being a pioneer in it, and 




h/L 



aAO~T^i^ 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



157 



has liandled much property and possesses tlie 
coniidence of the business coniniunity. In 
politics he is a Republican, active in the 
party work, and was once a member of the 
Board of Supervisors of Dane county. Ke- 
ligiously, both himself and wife are connected 
with the Methodist Episcopal Church. So- 
cially, he has long been an ardent and useful 
member of the I. O. O. F., and while upon 
attendance at one of the meetincrs in Florida, 
he was so unfoi-tunate as to dislocate the 
knee of his left leg. His name is one well- 
known in both States, and he is held in high 
efateem. 



^ 



^ 



I^ON. WILLIAM PENN LYON.— The 
Iffl^ subject of this sketch, one of the Asso- 
'^M ciate Justices of the Supreme Court of 
the State of Wisconsin, is the son of Isaac 
and Eunice (Coffin) Lyon. He was a native 
of Chatham, Columbia county, New York, 
born October 28, 1822. His parents were 
members of the religious society of Quakers 
and he was reared in that faith and still 
clings to some of its excellent doctrines. 
AVilliam attended an ordinary common dis- 
trict school until he was eleven years of age, 
when he was placed at the counter as, a clerk 
in a small store conducted by his father and 
after this he had the advantage of about one 
year at select schools. These were the only 
educational advantages whiph he enjoyed, 
but he was bright and ambitious and by 
close application he qbtained a fair English 
education, inclndii^g a limited knowledge of 
algebra, geometry and natural philosophy, 
and gave sqnie time to the Latin language. 

At the early age of fourteen years he 
taught a district school, but this emj)loyment 
did not suit his taste and as soon as he could 
manage the matter he took a clerkship in a 

12 



grocery store in Albany and continued there 
until the age of eighteen. While there his 
mind ran upon other lines and he spent all of 
the time he could spare from his duties in 
attendance upon the courts and Legislature 
then in session. In 1841 when he was nine- 
teen years old he accompanied his father and 
family to Wisconsin and settled at what is 
now the town of Lyons, in AValworth county, 
and here he residetl until 1850. 

With the exception of two terms of school 
teaching he worked upon a farm until the 
spring of 1844, when he entered the office of 
the late Judge Gale as a student of law at 
Elkhorn. He remained a short time with 
the Judge, but returned to spend the sum- 
mer at farm work, and soon after this he was 
attacked with an inflammation of the eyes, 
which prevented him using them for a year. 
That year he worked on a mill, tlien being 
erected in Lyons, for $12 a month and 
earned §100. In the fall of 1845 he 
ao-ain became a law student, and this time 
entered the office of Judge Baker, of Geneva, 
and in 184(3 was admitted to the bar in Wal- 
worth county. He was chosen Justice of the 
Peace of the town of Hudson, now Lyons, 
ami immediately opened an office for the prac- 
tice qf law. His receipts for professional and 
pulilic services during the first year amount- 
ed to $60, the second year the receipts 
were $180, the third he had increased it to 
$400 and the business of the fifth yeai- 
amounted $500. 

In 1847 Judge Lyon decided that his in- 
come had increased sufficiently to admit of 
his marriage and the lady of his choice was 
Miss Adelia C, the accomplished daughter 
of the late Dr. E. E. Duncomb, of St. Thomas, 
Ontai'io, Canada. In those days the necessi- 
ties of life, as well as the luxuries, did not 
cost as much as now, and Judge Lyon and 



158 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



his bride found their income ample in that 
part of tlie cduiitry. In 1S50 he removed to 
Eurliiigton, Ilacine county, and tiiere formed 
a partnership with the late C. P. Barnes and 
remained at that place until 1855, when he 
removed to the city of Racine and continued 
there in active practice until 1861. From 
1855 to 1858 he was the District Attorney of 
Racine county, and in 1859 he was chosen as 
a Representative in the Wisconsin Legisla- 
ture and was made Speaker. This was an 
unusual proceeding, as very seldom does a 
deliberative body call to the delicate and 
onerous duties of presiding oliicer, one wlio 
has not been a member of any previous legis- 
lature, but in the case of Mr. Lyon the choice 
wasjustiiied by the capable manner in which 
he discharged his duties. The following 
year he was again elected and again chosen 
Speaker and he retired from his second term 
in the Legislature of his State at the age of 
thirty-eight, with the warm admiration of 
the members, without distinction as to party, 
and with an enviable reputation throughout 
Wisconsin. An honorable and useful career 
was prophesied for him and this prophecy has 
been fully realized. 

When the attack upon Fort Sumter 
aroused the country to arms Mr. Lyon did 
not allosv his peaceful religious scruples to 
interfere with his patriotic duty. One hun- 
dred brave and determinoil citizens enlisted 
under him and he became Captain of Com. 
pany K, Eighth Wisconsin Infantry, ranking 
from August 7, 1801. The regiment to 
which this company was assigned was or- 
ganized September 4th, with Robert C. 
Murphy, of St. Croi.\ Falls, as its colonel. 
Leaving Madison on the 4th of October 
they arrived at St. Louis on the evening of 
the next day. This was the famous " Eagle 
liegiment," so called from the circumstance 



of their having with them an eagle, "Old 
Abe." They reached Renton barracks 986 
strong. The very next day after their arrival 
they marched against the enemy. By the 
20th of October they were in pursuit of 
"Jefferson Thompson" and on the 21st were 
near Greenville, when a desperate tightensued, 
of which Major Jefferson, of the Eighth wrote: 
" The battle lasted an hour and a half and I 
think it was one of the most brilliant and 
complete victories we have had during the 
war." Captain Lyon took an active j)art in 
this, the first conflict engaged in by his regi- 
ment. After various duties had been per- 
formed by them, on the yth of May the 
Eighth regiment was posted in front, when 
the enemy, with 20,000 men came out to at- 
tack Gen. Pope. The Eighth was employed 
as a skirmish line and was intended to tall 
back when the (Confederates advanced in 
force. The regiment withstood the artillery 
fire of the foe for an hour without support, 
as the enemy outnumbered the Federals and 
(general Ilalleck did not wish to bring on a 
battle, the National line retired to the rear 
and that terminated the action. After other 
important service the regiment went into 
summer quarters at Camp Clear creek, nine 
miles south of Corinth. On the 5th of Au- 
gust, while in the hospital at luka, Missis- 
sipjii, the Captain was promoted to be Colo- 
nel of the Thirteenth Wisconsin. He subse- 
quently returned home for a brief period and 
after being mustered out was made Com- 
mander of the regiment just named, joined 
it at Fort Henry, Tennessee, in October, 1862. 
In the last of October they joined the force 
of General Ransom, marciieii thence to IIop- 
kinsonvilie, intending to attack the enemy 
under General Morgan, but did not come up 
with them until the 6th of November. A 
short skirmish took place at Garrettsburg, 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



159 



and subsequently Colonel J^yon returneil to 
Fort Henry. 

From tlie 21st of Deeenilier to the end 
of the year the regiment ])ursued Forrest, 
but returned to Fort Henry January 1, 18G3. 
On February 3d, information was received 
that Fort Donelson was attacked. In half 
an liour Colonel Lyon had his rei^iment on 
the road, marching to re-enforce the Eighty- 
third at tiiat point. They arrived in the 
vicinity of the f(.)rt in the evening, with the 
loss of one man on the march. Meanwhile 
the garrison of Fort Uonelson, assisted by 
gunboats, had repulsed the Confederates, had, 
in tact, gained a signal victory. During the 
spring and summer of 1863 Colonel Lyon's 
men were sent out by him on scouting duty, 
taking many prisoners and preventing the 
formation of any considerable force of guer- 
rillas. This duty was perhaps the most diffi- 
cult that the soldiers of the war were called 
upon to perform. Participating in the for- 
ward movement of the Army of the Cumber- 
land the Tliirteentli liegiment left Fort Don- 
elson on the 27tli of August, reaching 
Stephenson, Alabama, on the 14th of Sep- 
tember. Colonel Lyon was placed in com- 
mand of that post and this was a post of 
great importance, being the depot of supplies 
for the whole army. The garrison was very 
small, provided with but little artillery and 
the place was easily accessible to the cavalry 
of General Bragg; however, help came at the 
beginning of October, with General Hooker 
in command, from the Army of the Potomac. 
On the evening of the 26tli of October, 1868, 
Colonel Lyon left Stephenson with his regi- 
ment and joined the brigade and went into 
winter quarters at Edgefield, where they 
were employed on picket and guard duty. 
However, three-fourths of their number hav- 
iugveteranized, the regiment left for Wiscon- 



sin on furlough, where they remained five 
weeks and then returned to Nashville, ar- 
riving on their old camp-grounds on the 25th 
of March. In the last of April the Tliir- 
teentli regiment was ordered again to Ste- 
phenson and Colonel Lyon placed in command 
of that post. In the reorganization of the 
army, in 1868 and 1864, Colonel Lyon's 
regiment was assigned to the First Brigade, 
Fourth Division, Twentieth Army Corps. 
He left Stephenson the 5th of June and for 
nearly three months had his quarters at Clay- 
ville, Alabama, guarding during this time 
various fords and crossings of the Tennessee 
river. Late in August he was ordered to 
Hunts ville, where he arrived September 3, 
and was placed in charge of the railroad from 
Claysville to Stephenson, and was responsi- 
ble for the preservation of the posts and 
lines of communication within his charge. 
His headquarters were at Huntsville until 
1865. On the 7th of July all this command 
was ordered into camp at Green Lake, Texas, 
and here on the lltli of September, 1863, 
Colonel Lyon was mustered out of service. 
He was subsequently brevetted Brigadier- 
General of the United States Volunteers, 
to date from October 26, 1865. The Thir- 
teenth Regiment was mustered out in 
November, at San Antonia, reached Madi- 
son on Christmas, the men were paid off 
aiul the Regiment disbanded. Alhough 
Colonel Lyon and his men were not engaged 
in any of the great actions of the war they 
have an honorable record for the performance 
of arduous duties, holding important posi- 
tions, guarding trains, watching the move- 
ments of the enemy and contributing in var- 
ious ways to the success of the battles. Be- 
fore Colonel Lyon was mustered out of the 
service he was chosen Judge of the First 
Judicial Circuit ot Wisconsin and entered 



KiO 



BIOORAPniCAL REVIEW OF 



iipon the dnties of tliat poBition December 
18G5, and ser%"ed with ability until the close 
of hie term. July 4, 1866, Judge Lyon was 
selected to deliver an address to the Gov- 
ernor and people on behalf of the soldiers on 
the presentation to tiie State of the battle 
flags. His oration was a masterly effort, 
impressive in its eloquencre. 

In 1879 Judge Lyon was the Kopublicau 
candidate for Congress in the Fourth District, 
but was defeated by Alexander Mitchell. 
The death of Byron Payne January 13, 1871, 
caused a vacancy on the Supreme J>encii of 
the State, which was filled by Governor Fair- 
child by the appointment of Judge Lyon on 
the 20th of the same month. In the foUow- 
ing April he was elected by the people for 
the unexpired term and for the full term 
succeeding. He was again elected in 1878 
and again in 1884, the last time for ten years. 
He is now the Senior and ex-otiicio Chief 
Justice, his term expiring in January, 1894. 
Without considering whether, if ho desired, 
he could be re-elected to his present position, 
.Judge Lyon publicly announced two years 
a<:o that he did not desire, and would not ac- 
cept a re-election. He has never wavered in 
his determination to retire from the bench at 
the close of his present term. His associates 
u])on the l)encli are Orsamus Cole, Ilarlow S. 
Orton, David Taylor and John ]>. Cassidy. 
On commencement day, 1872, the Uni- 
versity of Wisconsin conferred upon him the 
honorary degree of LL. D. 

The published decisions of Judge Lyon 
since he has been upon the bench run from 
volume 27 to 82 inclusive, and are character- 
ized by their brevity, and also sliow a careful 
examination of tlie law appertaining to the 
cases in liand. Proi)al)ly Judge Lyon was 
the first of the Supreme Court justices to 
jirepare a statement of the facts in each case, 



a task usually performed by official reporters. 

Judge Lyon is distinguished for his plain 
simplicity of speech, and while it indicates 
the thoroughness of the lawyer, it also shows 
the straightforwardness of the man. Judge 
Lyon's knowledge of law is thorough and his 
instinct of equity perfect. ~/ 

There are two surviving children of the 
family of Judge Lyon: Clara Isabel, born in 
1857, the wife of J. O. Hayes, Esq.; and 
William Penn, Jr., born iu 1861. Both re- 
side in California. 



lis^ON. WILLIAM II. POKTEIi.— Our 
subject is a wealthy farmer, miller and 
Legislator, of Medina township, Dane 
county. Wisconsin, whose sterling (jualities 
and manly ways have won for him legions of 
friends and an enviable reputation far and 
near. Mr. Porter is the son of William F. 
Porter, whose father was Jonathan Porter, a 
native of Massachusetts, a farmer born in 
1771 and died in 1829, being the father of 
six children, viz.: Harriet S., John, Tyler, 
William F., Henry and Edward. The father 
of Jonathan and the great-grandfather of our 
subject. Dr. Tyler Porter, was a physician of 
Wenham, Massachusetts, and a distinguished 
citizen ami patriot during the Ivevulutionary 
war. Edward is the only one of the six 
children of Joiuithan Porter who is now liv- 
ing. William F., the father of our subject, 
was, as will be seen above, the fourth child. 
He was born in Essex county, Massachusetts, 
April 18, 1806; was brought up on the farm 
and received his education in the public 
schools of Massachusetts; left that State in 
the spring of 1856 and came to Madison; 
had been previously married to Clarisa Lum- 
mis, .laiiuary 30, 1830, in Massachusetts, and 



DANE OODNTT, WISCONSIN. 



161 



slie had died at Bradford, Massachusetts, 
September 23, 1854, leavinir two childrtMi, 
Martha and William II., our subject. The 
father of the latter after reaching Madison 
settled upon what is now known as Orchard 
farm, in the town of Burke, buying 22-4 acres 
of unimproved land, mostly prairie, which lie at 
once proceeded to improve; erecting upon it a 
good brick residence, built a barn, outhouses, 
erected fences, etc. This farm he sold in the 
spring of 1859; then removed to Madison, 
where he began to speculate in the real-estate 
market; for several years he continued to buy 
and sell and then went to Boston. He spent 
bis winters in Florida, where he bought 
thousands of acres of land; owning a portion 
of the island of St. George, where he erected 
two hotels and ran steamers for the accommo- 
dation of guests; put out orange groves, 
graded streets and had three hundred acres 
in Orange county, which was one of the best 
orange groves in the State. He died at 
Jacksonville, Florida, Noveml)er 20, 1878, 
aged seventy-two years, and was buried in 
his native town of Wenham, Massachusetts. 
He was married to his first wife January 30, 
1830; and his second wife was Elizabeth 
Lane, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, there being 
no children by the last marriage. The widow 
is living at Maiden, Massachusetts. 

Our subject, William H. Porter, was the 
only son of his parents, and was born in 
Essex county, Massachusetts, Novemi)er 10, 
1830. He was educated first iu the common 
schools, and after in the Lawrence Academy, 
at Groton, Massachusetts. Accompanying 
his father to Wisconsin, he remained on 
the farm in Bnrke with his father until he 
sold out; when ho prospected for some time 
going through Minnesota, Iowa, Ohio and 
Pennsylvania, looking at oil lands in the lat- 
ter State. Finally he came to Dane county. 



at Marshall, in 1860, where his father had 
property — land and a flouring mill — which 
interests he took charge of and lived in Mad- 
ison until 1865, when he made Marshall his 
home. He now owns in Marshall 800 acres 
and 360 acres in the adjoining town. Atone 
time he owned nearly all the townsite and 
now owns nearly all the vacant pro|)erty 
there. All the land is used by him in fai-m- 
ing, he employing the necessary help. He 
also owns the flouring mill at Marshall, a 
fifty- barrel water mill on Waterloo creek; 
also is owner of the creamery building; is a 
dealer in salt, etc., and owns a warehouse at 
the depot. His business interests are much 
larger than those of any other man in the 
township and he is adding steadily and 
largely to his already great means by shrewd 
management, clear business ability and 
economic use of his forces. He is a man of 
great force of character, exact justice, strong 
will power, fine sense of right and possessed 
of ])urpose to be fair in all things. 

Our subject was married April 26, 1870, to 
Elizabeth Bell, of New Brunswick, whose 
people came to Marshall from that province 
and afterward settled at Washburn, where her 
father still lives, her mother being dead. 
One child was born to Mr. Porter by this 
union, William, who died when thirteen 
months old. Aftea the death of his first wife 
Mr. Porter married December 26, 1876, 
Nettie Page, of Dunkirk, Dane county Wis- 
eonsin, who was born in Columbia county, 
Wisconsin. Her people were from New 
York State, and removed to Wisconsin, where 
they were early settlers. Her parents now 
live in Cowley county, Kansas. By the sec- 
ond marriage there have been three children, 
viz.: William F., deceased; James II., at 
home; and Charles, deceased. 

Mr. Porter has some valuable property in 



163 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



terests in Florida. He was adininistrator of 
iiis father's estate, and in that capacity dis- 
posed of property to the value of about $40,- 
000. He has been chairman of his town for 
about twelve years; and was Postmaster for 
eighteen years, beginning witii the adminis- 
tration of Andrew Johnson; and was treas- 
urer of Marshall Academy. Mr. Porter was 
elected to the Legislature in November, 1S90, 
and has proved a most efficient public servant. 
His election to the Legislature is a high com- 
pliment to his merit and his popularity, he 
being a Republican and the district from 
which he was elected being Democratic. His 
success in life, the wealth he has attained, 
has not lifted him up in pride above his neigh- 
bors, but on the contrary, he is a man of 
modest merit, kind to all and a favorite of 
all who know him. 



4^ 



^©^ 



^ 



fHOMAS O'M ALLEY, resident for 
nearly one-half a century on his present 
farm in section 13. Westport, Wiscon- 
sin, was born in Ireland, January 12, 1815. 
His father was Michael O'Malley, born in 
county Mayo, Ireland, and his father, the 
grandfatiior of onr subject, was born in 
the same place, and these early settlers of 
Dane county, Wisconsin, named the town of 
Westport for their ohi home of the same name. 
The name of the grandfather was Patrick 
O'Malley, and his wife was Mary Stanton, of 
the same neighborhood. Tiiis family had 
been a family of farmers for generations, and 
the occupation of the descendants since has 
been the same. The grandparents of our sub- 
ject had six sons and four daughters, whom 
they reared on their farm in Ireland, and 
Miciiael was one of the older children. These 
old people died at a venerable age in their 
comfortable home in Ireland, he at the age of 



eighty-two years, and she after a few years 
died at about the same age. 

Patrick O'Malley and some of his sons 
were active and efficient in aiding the French 
in the war between the French and the 
British. The wife of Michael and the mother 
of our subject, was named Mary O'Neil, the 
daughter of Martin and Hannah (Fadden) 
O'Neil, and they too, were farmers in Ireland 
and died there, having reared a large family. 
Our subject and his brother John were the 
advance guard of the family to America, 
sent by their father and with the privilege of 
returning to the old home and sharing in the 
estate if they did not like the new world. lie 
fnrnished the means for the journey, and they 
sailed from Westport with four or five hun- 
dred other passengers in a sail boat, and after 
a pleasant voyage of seven weeks landed in 
Quebec. 

From this port they went to St. Catherine, 
and worked for a farmer until spring. Mr. 
O'Malley had but SS in harvest time, but no 
promise for the winter, and the first boat 
that made the passage in the spring to Wis- 
consin carried our subject to join his brother, 
who had accompanied their uncle Thomas 
there. This uncle had come with the boys 
to America. These two sons at first bought 
120 acres on Big Foot Prairie, on which they 
lived in bachelor style, and then went on the 
Mississippi river to New (Orleans, working 
their passage and chopped white ash wood at 
$1 per cord, and lodged on a flat boat on the 
bayous and small rivers. The country was 
wild in the extreme and the weirdness of the 
scene was heightened at night by the howl 
of panthers, which infested the place. While 
down tiiere they also worked at ditching on 
sugar plantations, and they celebrated St. 
Patrick's day by picking blackberries in the 
woods. 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



103 



Wlien our subject came to Dane county, in 
the spring of 1843, Lie entered eighty acres for 
pre-emtion, where hn now lives, and bought 
eighty acres of the Government adjoining. 
Here he built a rough lo"; cabin, 16 x 20, one 
and a half stories, and the steps to the upper 
room was a ladder. This house he roofed with 
stakes, which ho rived and these pins were 
made of red oak from a fine large tree on an 
adjoining piece of land. The old log house 
was of the simplest kind, made in the most 
primitive style of architecture. In additiiin 
to the unskilled labor it required I)ut a small 
outlay of money for lumber, hardware and 
glass to construct those humble log abodes, 
as the first fioor contained two small windows 
and one door, hung on wooden hintres, and a 
gaping fireplace, as stoves were something 
yet unknown. The dwelling was not spacious 
nor elegant, but supplied all the needs of a 
comfortable home for the hardy dwellers 
who settled among the hills. This log cabin 
was very durable, as it _stood erect until six 
years ago, when it was torn down to make 
room for an orchard. The timbers were hewed 
by his own hands, and for the remainder of 
the material he hauled logs ten miles to a 
mill to be sawed into lumber. 

One long summer he lived alone, but he 
remembered a bright Irish girl from his old 
home that now lived in Milwaukee. She and 
her parents, I'eter and Bridget (Boland) 
Walsh came to America one year before the 
O'Malley's. They also sailed from Westport, 
landed in Quebec after a voyage of seven 
weeks of storm. Their passage to Quebec 
cost five pounds, but to New York would 
have been much more. Miss Catherine ap- 
preciated the lover who would come 100 miles 
to woo her, and became the wife of our sub- 
ject January (3, 1848, the marriage ceremony 
being performed i>y Father McLaughlin. 



Three years after the location of our subject 
in America his parents also came to this 
country. Mr. and Mrs. O'Malley settled at 
once in the little but comfortable house which 
he hail liuilt, and she appreciated his care to 
have a home before he asked any one to be- 
come his wife. 

Our subject is a man possessed of real immly 
courage. To build a home at that time in that 
wild, forsaken spot, he also must I)e endowed 
with good physical strength and endurance 
to withstand the many hardships necessary to 
remove the heavy forests and convert the 
rough lands into such a fr\iitful farm as may 
be gazed ujjon to-day. Mr. and Mrs. O'Mal- 
ley are now living in the full enjoyment of 
their hard-earned possession. They performed 
their mission well; and when departing leave 
to posterity a good inheritance^ and their 
honored names, homes and deeds that their 
children of to-day or future generations should 
long cherish in grateful remembrance. 

This is a couple who left kindred 'mid tears, 
Who quitted the scenes of their earlier years, 
With hearts full of hope for their fiUine success, 
Who lal)ored for years amid want and distress 
In the depths of a desolate dark wilderness. 

For the first two years after our worthy 
couple settled in their wild home the nearest 
neighbor was three miles distant, which was 
the father of our subject, excepting Indians, 
there being as many as six camps to be seen 
about half a mile away. Mrs. O'Malley, not 
being used to such society was very much afraid 
of her new associates at first, but in a short 
while she grew to rather enjoy their company 
in her lonely hours, and now takes great 
pleasure in relating her dealings with them, 
and even going to visit them in their camp. 
Once during Mr. O'Malley's absence from 
home a rail fence took fire through the means 
of hunters, ancf had it not been for the faithful- 



164 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



ness of the Indians in assisting Mrs. O'Mal- 
ley to extinguish it, the loss of property 
might have been great, as the flames were fast 
approaching tiie barn. Ofttimes the Indian 
women brought pieces of gingham and calico 
to swap for meat, potatoes, turnips, etc., and 
after making a satisfactory bargain to both 
parties, would sit down usually and make 
the goods into aprons for Mrs. O'Malley be- 
fore leaving the liouse. She relates one very 
amusing incident; while slicM'as in the cellar 
filling their bill, they helped themselves to a 
cradle (juilt. wliich was over the sleeping 
baby. She did not miss it until she discovered 
a corner of it hanging from nnder one of their 
blankets, as they were a short distance from 
the house, she said nothing but with hastened 
step overtook them, and the tiist thing they 
knew she gently drew tlie prize away. They 
only lauglied and seemed to enjoy the joke as 
much as she did. However, this did not 
lessen her dealings with the Indians or her 
regard for them, but it certainly was the 
cause of her doul)ting their honesty, and ever 
afterward kept them well in sight. Wells 
and cisterns in those days were unknown in 
this part of the world, and two years passed 
before digging a well, during which time for 
household purposes, water was drawn three- 
quarters of a mile from a lioiling spring, to 
which place Mrs. O'Malley often, during the 
8umm(^r days took the clothes of the family 
and did a large washing rather than bring 
such an amount of water as was necessary, 
80 long a distance. She even boasts of wash- 
hw some of the best butter that was ever 
eaten at the self-same spring. 

In these early days deer and wolves were 
very numerous. Mr. O'Malley often sent his 
dog to hunt a large flock of deer from grazing 
on his tine field of winter wheat, and enjoyed 
the sport of watching them jump so grace- 



fully over a high rail fence. (A.11 the fences on 
his place in those days were made of rails, 
split by our industrious subject.) On no rare 
occasions were wolves known to come to the 
door of this hnrable dwelling and help them- 
selves to slaughtered pork or the like, hang- 
ing outside, if not taken indoors by dark. 
Mrs. O'Malley, on returning from the home 
of her father-in-law, where she had been 
visiting, barely escaped with her life from a 
large gray wolf, who followed her three- 
quarters of a mile. The first year of Mrs. 
O'Malley pioneer life, when her husband 
was called from home on business and had 
not returned at nightfall, would take a wrap, 
go out and crouch in the corner of a fence 
close by to await his return, which ofttimes 
reached the lonely hours of twelve and one 
o'clock, owing to the great incon\eniiMice of 
travel, rather than remain in the house, lest 
the Indians would happen in find her alone 
and kill her. Who now among us in these 
days of pleasure and plenty would willingly 
face the privations and many dangers of these 
early pioneers; yet they have lived through 
it all, Mr. O'Malley in the seventy-eighth year 
of his age, healthy looking, with a constitution 
of a school boy, Mrs. O'Malley in her sixty- 
fifth year, was a woman of wonderful strength 
and endurance, looks well, with an intellect 
as brifht as a 4rirl of sixteen, deliixhts to re- 
late to her children and grandchildren her 
experiences of former years. 

When Mr. O'Malley first came here he 
went thirty miles to the nearest gristmill. 
Here they lived for some ten happy years. 
In 1861 onr subject built the present large 
and comforta])le home. Trior to building the 
barn, Mr. O'Malley proposed a new house, 
but his wife was practical and proposed that 
the barn should be built first, and this was 
done, and it is still iti good condition. It is 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



165 



40x60 with a basement for stables. The 
barn looks well now by the side of the new 
barn, which was built in 1880, at a cost of 
$800. In the old oak barn he stored his 
wheat and oats for some years, and stacked his 
hay outside. His first crop of winter wheat 
remained in the stack for three years, there 
being no market for it and as there were no 
threshing machines. He then made a bed 
and trampled the grain out with oxen; this he 
hauled to Milwaukee by a slow team of oxen, 
taking a whole week to go and return. 
Traveling accommodations being very poor at 
that date, he camped out over night on the 
journey. He sold his wheat for 60 cents a 
bushel, and in order to make the trip profit- 
able, he would take with him on his return 
loads of merchandise for the few storekeepers, 
who had just opened business in Madison. 
There were better times in store for our sub- 
ject, however, and lately, during the Russian 
war, he sold his fine crops of wheat for from 
$1 to $2 per bushel. Milwaukee was also 
their nearest place of worship for six years, 
when a Catholic Church was erected in Madi- 
son, i'riests being very few Mass would not 
sometimes be held oftener than once in 
three months. At that time the settlers 
traveled fifteen miles to reach Madison, which 
is now only nine miles, thei'e being then no 
bridge across the Cattish stream. In those 
days the priests used to hold Mass in the 
different farm houses in turns, occasionally 
offering up the Holy Mass, to give the faith- 
ful an opportunity to attend to that all im- 
portant part of their souls' salvation, which 
was appreciated by those God-fearing people. 
Some years ago they buried one daughter, 
Bridget, aged nine years, and another named 
Catherine, who became a Sister of Charity, 
bore the name of Sister Felieitia, and was one 
of the noble volunteers who became victims 



of fever in New Orleans, September 26, 1878, 
aged only twenty-three years. She was a 
volunteer from I'altimore in the yellow fever 
scourge in 1878, and had been a Sister three 
and one-half years. All honor to the memoiy 
(.>f this noble woman! The living children 
are: Mary, who now is a Sister of Charity in 
Buffalo, New York, where she has been for 
four years, and is known as Sister Mary 
Francis. She took the veil at the age of 
seventeen years at Einmettsburg, and about a 
year later was sent to New Orleans, where she 
remained for twenty-three years, and in 1867 
barely escaped with her life from an attack of 
fever. Hannah is the widow of Thomas Welsch 
and resides in Milwaukee, where she removed 
from her farm in Springtield township, in 
order to educate her children, of whom she 
has six. Martin is a farmer on his 280 acres 
in this township. His wife was Anna Con- 
nor, of Toten Creek, and they have two sons. 
Michael is a physician in Milwaukee, a gradu- 
ate of Rush Medical College, and married 
Lizzie Sweeney, of Watertown. Annie is the 
wife of Garret Sullivan, and lives in New 
London, Wisconsin. Bridget is a maiden at 
home; Ellen is a teacher at Marinet, Wisconsin. 
She was received into tlie order of the School 
Sisters de Notre Dame at the mother house 
in Milwaukee August 14, 1887, at the age 
of twenty-four, and is known as Sister Laetitia, 
and is a very accomplished woman. Thomas 
is a young man at home on the farm; Vin- 
cent is the youngest of the family and is now 
twenty-four years of age. 

Mr. and Mrs. O'Malley and sou Vincent, in 
January, 1882, took a trip to New Orleans, 
to see their daughter. Sister Mary Francis, 
who was at that time nursing the sick in 
Providence Retreat Hospital, whom they had 
not seen since her first depai-ture from 
home, in 1866. They also knelt at the vault 



16G 



BIOGRAPUIOAL REVIEW OF 



which contained the dear remains of their 
daughter, Sister Felicitia, and on their return 
visited niatiy friends in Chicago, whom they 
had nut met in years. Mr. O'Malley always 
had a threat desire to view once more his 
native land, so, after receiving full consent of 
his wife, who preferred remaining on land, 
set sail for his old home in Ireland, June 14, 
1882, landed tlie 2l8t, after seven days of 
very enjoyable voyage. While all around 
him were seasick he boasts of never missing 
a meal. He was also accompanied by his son, 
Michael, who was at that time attending 
college at the Seminary of Our Lady of An- 
gels, Suspension Bridge, New York. Time 
had wrought wonderful changes in that old 
home since Mr. O'Malley's boyhood days. 
Of the companions of his youth few were 
left to greet him now, some dead and others 
gone to lands unknown; not a trace of tlie 
house in wiiich he was born, but he recognized 
tlie very spot where it stood, every hill he 
had climbed in youtiiful days, as well as other 
places of interest wiiicii he had known. He 
arrived home in August, after an absence of 
two montiis, fully convinced there was no 
place like his American home. 

Mr. O'Malley now owns nearly 4:00 acres of 
land in one body, and has more than half of 
it under cultivation, and the balance in tim- 
ber. He has 150 acres in corn and oats, 
keeps forty head of cattle, a number of work 
horses. He feeds all of his corn to stalled 
cattle and hogs, and turns out as high as 150 
hogs aTid from fifteen to twenty beeves yearly. 

In Ids politics Mr. O'Malley is a Democrat, 
and is one of the most highly respected men 
in this county. 



AYDEN H. BEEBE, the efhcient and 
popular State agent for William Deer- 
ing & Company, located at Madison, 
Wisconsin, was born in Platteville, this State, 
June 6, 184:9. His parents were William 
and Hannah (Holcomb) Beebe, the former a 
native of Perry, New York, and the latter of 
Southwick, Massachusetts. His father, a 
saddler and harnessniaker by trade, removed 
to Ohio when a young man, wliere, on April 
11, 1838, he was married. In the fall of 
1843 he made a prospecting tour to Wiscon- 
sin, at the time a new and sparsely settled 
country. The journey was made by the way 
of the canal and river. In December of the 
same year they returned, but as the river was 
frozen they were cou)pelled to walk the 700 
miles, which they did in eighteen days, ar- 
riving at their destination several days before 
the regular mail. In tlie year of 1845 he 
returned to the Badger State with his family, 
and settled in Platteville, Grant county, 
where they now reside. They had four chil- 
dren, two sons and two daughters. 

The subject of this sketch was reared on a 
farm, and walked three miles to the district 
sciiool of his locality. At the age of twenty- 
one, he began to learn the blacksmith, car- 
riage and wagon trade in Platteville, at which 
he served an apprenticeship of three years. 
He was shortly afterward oifered an induce- 
ment to rejirosent a large retail house, deal- 
ing in machinery and implements, which 
position he accepted, remaining with them 
four years. About 1882 or 1883 he entered 
the employ of William Deeriug & Company, 
as expert and canvasser, and after four years 
became, in 1886, the manager at Platteville 
for the territory of southern Wisconsin and 
northwestern Illinois. In 1889 he came to 
Madison to assume the management of 
southern Wisconsin, where he has remained 



DANE VOUNTT WISCONSIN. 



167 



ever since. By energy and perseverance he 
has succeeded in placing the business of his 
company at the head of its line in the State, 
their present wareliouse being now too small 
to accommodate the increased demands of 
their trade. He brings to his position a 
thoroughly practical knowledge of machinei-y, 
being able to make anything from a hay rake 
to a traction engine. 

Mr. Beebe was married in November, 
1874, to Jennie Iloskings, of Platteville, 
whose parents were pioneers of the State. 
In 1892 she died, leaving to his care two 
children: Julius De Lessel and Edithe May 
Ette. 

Socially, Mr. Beebe affiliates with the Ma- 
sonic fraternity, in which order he has attained 
the Thirty-second degree. 

As a business man and citizen, Mr. Beebe 
stands deservedly high in his community, 
being widely and favorably known as a per- 
son of unswerving integrity, indefatigable 
energy and excellent judgment. 

EORGE DURKEE, Postmaster of 
De Forest, Dane county, Wisconsin, 
was born in Malone, Franklin county, 
New York, July 17, 1830, a son of Martin 
K. Durkee, a native of Burlington, Vermont. 
The latter's father, Harvey Durkee, was a 
mechanic by profession, and also conducted a 
hotel in Burlington for many years. He 
was twice married, had six sons and three 
daughters, and his death occurred in his na- 
tive State in 1860. Martin Durkee, the 
third son and fifth child by his fatlier's first 
marriage, was married in New York, to Abi- 
gail Miller, a native of that State. He died 
at his home in Franklin county, New 
York, in 1857, at the age of fifty years, leav- 



ing his widow with twelve children, three 
of whom died when young. The nine that 
grew to years of maturity are: Laura, widow 
of A. Huntington, and a resident of Charles 
City, Iowa; Louisa, now wife of David Hoag, 
a land agent of Charles City, Iowa; Charles, 
who died in 1878, aged fifty years; George, 
our subject; Joseph, who was killed during 
the late war; James, deceased at Hastings, 
Nebraska, when a young man; Harvey, a 
teacher in a commercial school at Charles 
City, Iowa; Lavina, now Mrs. George W. 
Furness, of that city; and Ellen, wife of 
Henry Church, engaged in the Pension De- 
partment, at Washington, District of Colum- 
bia. He carries seven scars, received in the 
late war. Joseph and James Durkee were 
also volunteers in that struggle, serving in 
Company G of the Berdan sharpshooters. 
Joseph was killed at Yorktown while on 
picket or scout duty, in March, 1862, in his 
twenty-ninth year. He left a wife and three 
children. James was taken prisoner at the 
battle of the Wilderness, and served as Hos- 
pital Steward in the Andersonville prison for 
eleven months. 

George Durkee, the subject of this sketch, 
came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1851, at the 
age of twenty-four years, and went immedi- 
ately to the home of his uncle, Cliarles Dur- 
kee, a large land owner of Southport. The 
latter served in the Territorial Legislature 
from Milwaukee District for four years, was 
a member of the Senate in 1855, and after- 
ward was appointed Governor of Utah, by 
Lincoln. After workinof at farm labor in the 
summer and in the pine woods during the 
winter for four years, Mr. Durkee purchased 
ninety acres of land of his uncle, where he 
remained until 1871. In that year he bought 
a store building and opened a general mer- 
chandise business in De Forest, where he has 



168 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



engaged in trade about five years, and during 
that time also served as Postmaster. Since 
tliat time he has given his attenion entirely 
to tlie post office, and now has three routes. 
He served as J ustice of the Peace four years 
in Leeds, Wisconsin, and two years at De 
Forest, and married four couples during his 
time in office. While in the former city he 
also served as Postmater ten years. 

Mr. Durkee was married in 1859, to Lydia 
Lord, a native of Leeds, Wisconsin, and they 
have had fourteen children, two now de- 
ceased. Their living children are: James, a 
telegraph operator of Jamestown, Dakota; 
Edgar, of Carpenter, Iowa; Mira, now Mrs. 
Hiram Smith, of De Forest, Wisconsin; E. 
M., engaged in railroad work in Iowa; Frank, 
of Stoughton, Wisconsin; Lulu E., at home; 
Mabel E., attending the high school in 
Stoughton, Wisconsin; and John C, Albert 
J., Sarah L., Hattie and Geneva, attending 
school. Mr. Durkee is a stanch Republican 
in his political views; and religiously is a 
member of the Second Adventist Church. 



(OLONEL WILLIAM H. ANGELL, a 
popular lumber dealer, is a resident of 
Sun Prairie, Dane county, Wisconsin. 
His great-grandfather, Henry Angell, was 
one of three brothers, who emigrated from 
Germany, and became one of the early set- 
tlers of Massachusetts, where his son, the 
grandfather of subject, Augustus Angell, 
was born, October 14, 1757. He served 
through the Revolutionary war, and then set- 
tled in Washington county. New York, where 
he married a daughter of Colonel Asa Mar- 
tin, and afterward removed to Rutland county, 
Vermont. The father of our subject. Cap- 
tain Newel Angell, was born in Washington 



county. New York, December 20, 1789, and 

served through the war of 1812, with his 
father, grandfather of our subject, and sub- 
sequently removed to the eastern part of New 
York. Augustus Angell afterward removed to 
Ticonderoga county. New York, where he 
died, at the age of niiiety-si.\ years. His son, 
father of subject, died iu Wisconsin, March 
9, 1863, aged seventy-three years. The 
father of our subject was married twice, the 
first time to Charity Blackmail, March 10, 
1810, and the mother died June 23, 1822. By 
thismarriage Captain Angell had six children. 
April 4, 1823, Captain Angell married Mary 
Hollis Ransom, who died November 5, 1872. 
By this marriage there were nine children. 

William Harrison Angell, the subject of 
this sketch, was the second child of the first 
marriage, and was born June 20, 1813, in 
Rutland county, Vermont. His youth was 
spent in that State, where he attended the 
common schools of that State in the winter 
months, and in the summer worked on his 
grandfather's farm. He resided with the lat- 
ter from his ninth year, when the death of 
his mother occurred, until he was eight- 
een years of age, when he returned to 
the State of his nativity, and worked on a 
farm. Subsequently he learned the carpenter 
trade and followed it about thirty years. In 
1842 he came to the territory comprising the 
State of Wisconsin, and settled in Walworth 
county, but only remained there two years, 
when he removed to Dane county in 1844, 
and has since made it his home. At that 
time the county was sparsely settled, there 
not being more than 500 people in the entire 
city of Madison. His work here was on the 
Territorial capitol house. 

As soon as Mr. Angell had accumulated 
sufficient money he bought eighty acres of 
land from tlic Govern inctit, nuw located 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



1G9 



within the village of Sun Prairie, paying ten 
shillings per acre for it. About two years 
later he bought forty acres ffom the Govern- 
ment, which is also witliin the limits of Sun 
Prairie, and upon a portion of it the Chicago, 
Milwaukee & St. Paul depot is now located. 
He subsequently sold the eighty acres and a 
portion of the forty, and at the present time 
is the owner of 160 acres in the vicinity. 

Mr. Angell has served in several capacities 
since coming to the State, among which were 
a six years' term of service as Deputy Sheriff, 
first president of the Village Board of Sun 
Prairie, which position he tilled acceptably as 
long as the people could induce him to do so, 
and twice Chairman of the County Board of 
Supervisors. He has always been prominent 
in all political enterprises and those tending 
to benefit the general good, and althouo-h 
eighty years of age still retains his interest in 
political matters to a wonderful degree, and 
now is and always has been a stanch Democrat. 
He is very active for his age, and carries on 
his business with the aid of his oldest son. 
He and his wife are the oldest settlers of Sun 
Prairie, and both enjoy the well-earned re- 
spect and esteem of the entire community. 
They have been married fifty-three years. 

Colonel Angell was married, January 16, 
1840, to Electa L. Abernethy, at New Haven, 
Vermont, and they have six children, of 
whom two are still living, namely: William 
E. and Darwin C. The former was born in 
Vermont, and has always been, as he is now, 
engaged in business with his father, except- 
ing the interval of army service, which ex- 
tended from the beginniug till near the 
close. He enlisted in the Twentieth Regi- 
ment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and 
served about three years, participating in 
various battles, commencing with Prairie 
(^rove. He was honorably discharged on ac- 



count of broken healtii and returned home, 
where lie has since remained. He married 
Maria Ayres, and eight children have been 
born to his wife and him, six of whom are 
still living. 

Darwin C, the younger son, left home at 
the age of twenty-two and went to what is 
now South Dakota, remaining two years, 
when he went to Leavenworth, Ivansas, where 
he is now engaged in business for the Leaven- 
worth Coal Company. He was married to 
Ruth Moak, and two children, both livino-, 
have been added to the family. 

When our subject was fifteen years of age, 
he chanced to write his name "Angell," and 
liking the appearance of it spelled it in this 
way ever since. At some remote date in the 
history the family changed the spelling from 
'•Engel," to that of "Angel." 

— ,ROFESSOR STORM BULL, of the 
University of Wisconsin, was born in 
Bergen, Norway, October 20, 1856, son 
of Jens and Johana (Horugup) Bull. His 
parents were both born and reared in Bergen. 
His father, a Colonel in the regular army, 
was retired on a pension in the summer of 
1892. His mother died in 1888. Their five 
children are still living, and all in P]urope 
except the subject of this article. 

Professor Bull received liis preparatory 
education at Bergen, and spent about six 
years in an engineering and drawing school, 
at the same time taking private lessons in 
mathematics and language. In 1873 he en- 
tered tlie Polytechnic Institute at Zurich, 
Switzerland, where he graduated with the 
degree of M. E. in 1877. He traveled ex- 
tensi\-ely in Finance, Belgium, Germany and 
Switzerland, visiting various shops and insti- 



170 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OP 



tutes, and in the fall of 1877, returned to 
Norway. Tliere he was for two years head 
dranghtsinan in shipbuilding in the naval 
yards. 

In 1879 he received a call from the Board 
of Regents of the University of Wisconsin, 
and through the influence of his uncle, Ole 
Bull, his father's oldest brother, came to 
Madison, Wisconsin. He has since been 
connected with the University. He was in- 
structor in engineering from 1879 to 1885; 
assistant professor of Mechanical Engineer- 
ing, 1885 to 1886; professor of Mechanical 
Engineering, 1880 to 1891; and professor of 
Steam Engineering since 1891. In the sum- 
mer of 1892 he returned to Europe and 
visited the Polytechnic Institutes of Norway, 
Germany and France, and the summer be- 
fore he spent in visiting institutions of a like 
character in America. 

Professor Bull was married in Madison, 
October 8, 1881, to Maria Steineger, a native 
of Bergen. She died October 5, 1883, leav- 
ing one son, Eivind. August IS, 1886, he 
wedded Dina Munster, also of Bergen, Nor- 
way. Politically, the Professor is a Demo- 
crat; religiously, a member of the Unitarian 
Cliurch. He has made various contributions 
to scientific and literary magazines, both in 
this country and in Norway, his works show- 
ing marked talent and careful study. He is 
a mem1)er of the American Society of Me- 
chanical Engineers. 

JLE NELSON FALK, of Stonghton, 
Dane county, Wisconsin, was born in 
Amble, Bergens Stift, Norway, August 
26, 1841, and emigrated with his parents to 
Wisconsin in 1852 and located in the town 
of Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, where his 



father died in 1854. In 1858 Mr. Falk 
moved to Whitewater, Wisconsin, attending 
the public schools there. 

In August, 1862, he enlisted as Private in 
Company H, Twenty-seventh Regiment of 
Wisconsin Infantry, and was promoted to 
Orderly Sergeant, and later, to Secoml and 
First Lieutenant. Was present at the fol- 
lowing engagements: Siege of Vicksburg, 
Mississippi; Sartartia, Mississippi; Capture 
of Little Rock, Arkansas; Spanish Fort and 
Blakely, Alabama, and in many severe and 
fatiguing marches and countermarches and 
expeditions usual in war; was at the sur- 
render of the Confederate fleet at Macin- 
tosh BluflF, Alabama, in May, 1865. In the 
latter part of this month he, with the com- 
pany, was sent across the (iulf of Mexico to 
the Rio Grande, under the command of Gen- 
eral Sheridan and was mustered out at 
Brownsvillle, Texas, in Septeml)er, 1865, af- 
ter serving three years. 

After returning to Wisconsin our subject 
opened a drug store, which business he still 
holds. It is now conducted under the name 
of Falk Brothers. In 1884, in company with 
O. M. Turner, Mr. Falk organized the Dane 
County Bank, of which he holds the position 
of flrst cashier. The business is carried on 
with a banking capital of $60,000. His resi- 
dence is situated on one of the most choice lo- 
cations in the city and is surrounded by 
more than an acre of ground. 

Mr. Falk was married in the winter of 
1866, to Mary J. Gjerde, a resident of Pleas- 
ant Springs, Dane county. They liave si.\ 
children: Clara J., Ilattie Adelle, Nelson II., 
Fredrica M., Elmer and liolf. Miss Clara 
has made a special study of music, taking a 
course at Rockford SemiiiHry, Rockford, Illi- 
nois, and in 1890 graduated at the celebrated 
Chicago Musical College, receiving the an- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



171 



mial Marshal Field diamond medal for ex- 
cellence in the work. Since that time she 
has met with great success in teaching 
music. Hattie Adelle has also made a spe- 
cial study of music, graduating from the 
teachers' class of the Lyric School of Chicago. 
Mr. Falk is socially a member of the (1. A. 
R. Post, and belongs to the Lutheran Church. 

fUDGE DAVID TAYLOR.— This arti- 
cle places before the public a record of 
one of the prominent men of Madison, 
Wisconsin, who has passed away, having died 
at his home April 3, 1891. He was born in 
Carlisle, Schoharie county, New York, 
March 11, 1818. He came of Scotch-Irish 
ancestry and was the son of Joseph Taylor, 
who was born in the north of Ireland and 
there was reared and received good educa- 
tional advantages. His family were almost 
all professional men and so continue in Ire- 
land to this day. 

Joseph Taylor came to America and set- 
tled in the State of New Yoi-k when he was 
quite a young man and became a farmer in 
Schoharie county. 

Our subject grew up under the good, 
Christian training of pious people and was 
one of a family of eight children, the most 
of whom are now dead. He obtained an 
academical education in his native country 
and graduated from Union College, New 
York, with the class of 1841. He at once 
turned his attention to the practice of law 
and was in the office of Attorney Henry 
Smith, of Catskill, New York, and after two 
or three years of study, he practiced some 
three years in his native place. In 1846 he 
decided to try his fortune in the West and 
came to Chicago and proceeded to Milwaukee. 



From there ho made his way on the back of 
a pony to Green Bay, Wisconsin, and thus 
traveled over tlie sparsely settled country 
where there were but few houses scattered 
over the wide prairie. Seeking a location 
that bore the appearance of future growth, 
our subject selected Slielioygan, as presenting 
more signs of greatness than either Chicago 
on her muddy swamp, or tiian Milwaukee 
with her incipient breweries, and at the little 
village he entered into partnership with 
Cyrus P. Hiller (since deceased) and this 
partnership proved a pleasant and successful 
one for fifteen years. 

While in the city of Sheboygan, Judge 
Taylor, in 1863, became a member of the 
Assembly and in 1855-56 he was made a mem- 
ber of the Wisconsin Senate. In the contest 
for a seat in the United States Senate, in 1857, 
he was mentioned as one deserving of tliat 
honor, and in the election of the Legislature 
he received the vote of the venerable Wyman 
Spooner, notwithstanding the choice of the 
Republican caucus had fallen upon James R. 
Doolittle. The following year he was chosen 
as Judge of the Fourth Circuit and served iu 
that position until January 1, 1869. 

Three times was Judge Taylor a Repre- 
sentative and twice a Senator; prior to 1853 
he had been a Circuit Judge, and lie had 
twice revised the State Statutes of Wisconsin 
and was known as a most competent cudifier 
and law counselor and the last revision of the 
State Statutes was started about 1874 and re- 
quired the close application of three revisers 
for about four years, sometimes requiring 
the assistance of two others. 

Judge Taylor was elected Circuit Judge in 
1858 and filled that office for eleven years. 
He was later elected to the State Supreme 
Pencil and held that office from 1878 to his 
death. He came to Madison in lS7Sandde- 



172 



BIOORAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



voted his whole soul to the work of his pro- 
fession. He left a host of friends in Wiscon- 
sin and was among the well-known men of 
the State and was considered one of the hest 
judges of the State. 

Judge Taylor was no office seeker, but his 
talents as a scholar and as a jurist could not 
be hidden and he was elected to office without 
regard to party lines. In politics he was al- 
ways a sound Republican and for many years 
a consistent member of the Congregational 
Church. 

fiiOMAS HEATTIE, a coal merchant 
of Stoughton, Dane county, Wisconsin, 
was born in Northumberland county, 
England, December G, 1830, a sod of Henry 
and Margaret (Muitt) Reattie, also natives of 
that country. The father was a stonemason 
and builder by occupation. Thomas, the 
second child in a family of three sons and 
two dauehters, attended the common schools 
of England until fourteen years of age. He 
then learned the millers' trade, after which 
he followed that occupation with his uncle 
for years. At the age of nineteen years he 
came to America, locating in Wisconsin, 
but shortly afterward removed to Chicago. 
In 1850 he came again to this State, and the 
country was then oidy sparsely settled, there 
having been but a few homes between Beloit 
and Janesville. Mr. Reattie was engaged at 
liis trade at Lockport, Illinois, live years; then 
went to Chicago; next rented a mill at 
Dayton, Green county, this State, two 
years; owned an interest in a steam-mill in 
Green county, Wisconsin, one year; and 
then rented a mill at Albany, in the same 
CDimty. 

In 18G2 Mr. Reattie enlisted in Company 



R, Thirty-First Wisconsin Volunteer In- 
fantry, of which he was commissioned Lieu- 
tenant by Governor Solomon. The regi- 
ment left the State March 1, 1863, landing at 
(^olumbus, Kentucky, ^farch 8, and was as- 
signed to the Sixth Division, Sixteenth Army 
Corps, and ordered into camp at Fort Hal- 
leck. April 14, 1864, the regiment was 
assigned to the Fourth Division, Twentieth 
Army Corps, and on the 3d of July, was 
transferred to the Third Brigade, First Divi- 
sion, Twentieth Army Corps, Joe Hooker's 
corps, with which it was identified from this 
time until after the grand review at Wash- 
ington. Lieutenant Thomas Reattie was de- 
tailed in June, 1863, as Superintendent of 
the Military Prison at Columbus, Kentucky, 
in which capacity he served until about the 
last of September, when the regiment was 
ordered to Nashville, Tennessee. During 
the winter of 1863 and '64, he was in com- 
mand of a detachment of mounted Infantry, 
and scouted in middle Tennessee. On June 
10, he was again detached and appointed 
second in command of the Military Prison at 
Nashville, Tennessee, in which capacity he 
served until April, 1865, he was then relieved 
and ordered to report to his regiment, which 
he did at or near Raleigh, North Carolina, 
on the day of Johnston's surrender to Gen- 
eral Sherman. From Raleigh, he marched 
with the regiment to Washington, and took 
part in the grand review, and was mustered 
out of service with his regiment June 20. 
1S65. 

After the war he rented a small mill in 
Green county, Wisconsin, but later conducted 
the same business at Loveland, near Council 
Blutls, Iowa. He then rented a mill at 
Dayton, Wisconsin, one year, and in 1867, 
in company with James Norris, bought the 
Stoughton Mills, which they conducted about 



VANE COUNTY, WrsCONJSlN. 



173 



eleven years, under tlje firm mime of Norris 
& Beattie. In 1878 Mr. I'.eattie sold his 
interest to George Dow, since which time he 
has been engaged in selling coal. 

lie was united in marriage, in New York, 
in 1858, with Ann Tailor, a native of Eng- 
land. Tiiey have had four children; Marga- 
ret Ann, wife of W. Atkinson, of Stough- 
ton; Henry, at home; and two deceased in 
infancy. Mr. Beattie is a llepublicaii in his 
political views, has served as president of the 
village Board for four years, and Mayor one 
year, and in 1879, was elected to represent 
liis district in the Legislature of Wisconsin. 



4^ 



^ 



|LAUI)IUS ELLI8 was born in Schuyler 
county, New York, August 3, 1822. 
lie was the son of iJenjamin Ellis, a 
native of Dutchess county. New York, born 
about 177<5, and died in Schuyler county in 
1859. The grandfather of our subject was 
also named Benjamin, and was a farmer, 
which occupation the family has followed 
since. He died in Dutchess county when 
about seventy-tive years old. Ilis wife was a 
Miss Carpenter, and they had two childi'en; 
one died young, and the son became the 
father of our subject. (Ttrandfatluu- Ellis 
was one of six brothers who came to America 
from Wales, and served in the war of the 
Bevolution, although si>nie of his brothers 
took part in the same struggle in tiie British 
navy. 

The father of our subject was reared to the 
life of a farmer, and married Martha Town- 
send, a lady of (lerman o.xtraction, and she 
bore liim eleven children, of whom our sub- 
ject is the youngest, and the only survivor. 
They moved west to what is now Schuyler 
county, near Seneca lake, in 1816. The ro- 

13 



ni(>\-al was made with teams of their own, 
and they bought a squattiu-'s claim of 200 
acn^s of heavily timbered land. They moved 
into the rough log cabin until they ccmld 
build a better. The means of the subject 
were limited, but wheat was a necessity for 
family use for food and for seed, and he paid 
$200 for 1(10 bushels of it. His first crop 
was marketed at Gimeva, which he took 
down the lake in a boat of his own builditig. 
He irave twelve bushels of wheat for one 
barrel of salt, and (iight bush<^ls for one 
j)ound of cotton yarn. The first ten acres 
was cleared by himself and two grown sons 
in the first year. They sold this farm, which 
was all well improvetl many years later, and 
bought another in Townsend, Steuben county. 
The mother of these children died in middle 
life, and the father was again married. The 
cause of his death was a smoke cancer. 

Our subject was brought up op the fai-m, 
but learned tlit^ trade of carpenter and joiner, 
Ixiginning at the ago of sixteen, and by the 
time he was twenty-one he was a contractor 
and builder. 

()ur subject was married before^ he was 
nineteen years of age, and his wife was 
nearly tW(Mity. Her name was Janet Rood, 
of Reading, Schuyli^r county, now Steuben 
county. Her father was Rockwell Rood, and 
her mother was Sally Davis, born in Sara- 
toga, New York. Mrs. Ellis had a good 
education and had taught school for three 
terms in that section. The young couple 
caine West in 1853, and soon settled on their 
present farm. They came by water to Tole- 
do, and by rail to Chicago, and landed in 
Verona, Dane county, October 14. They 
brought their own teams and drove out frotn 
(Jhicao-o. They had sold their old farm in 
New York for $<)5 per acre, and bought 204 
acres here for $1,650, and the first year his 



174 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



wheat crop repaid him his money. The price 
that year was from SI to $1.50, and within 
three years he sold 1,400 bushels at 48 cents. 
They first bought a farm in Middleton town- 
ship, and sold it at an advanced price of 
^1,000, and that was one of the financial 
bariraiiis of his life. 

Our subject has always done a mixed farm- 
ing. Their three children were born in 
Schuyler county, and their names were: 
B. R. Ellis, now a farmer in Windsor town- 
ship, and he married Olyette Smith, of New 
York, and they have a son and daughter; 
E. li. Ellis married Martha Leland, who was 
born in this county, of New England par- 
ents. They have four sons and three daugh- 
ters, and still reside on the farm. These 
sons were in the civil war. The eldest was 
the first to go from the Madison University, 
at the age of twenty years, and enlisted as a 
private in the cavalry, but was made a Ser- 
geant, and served three years, and was never 
wounded, although he liad two horses fall 
beneath him. The one that he brought home 
had a iiall through its jaws. The second son 
went into the army the last year of the war, 
and entered the Second Cavalry as a private. 
He was with Custer in Te.xas, and came 
home sound. 

Mr. Ellis was chairman of the Board of 
Suj)ervisor.s for two years, and served three 
years during the war. He was a Justice of 
the Peace for many years, and has been a 
Democrat all his life. The quota of soldiers 
in this town was filled largely through his 
efforts, and he paid out $18,000 in bounty 
during lii.s administration, for his town of 
Westport. 

In 1859 Mr. Ellis went to Tike's Peak, 
and was in that country for two years, pros- 
pecting, and he took a ranch near Denver, 
which he improved by building upon it. [Ic 



owned some village property there. He went 
across the plains with a company of forty 
others, of whom he was the captain. His 
team was two yoke of oxen and one yoke of 
cows. The party was three months on the 
way. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis had but one daugh- 
ter, Alice, who married David Davis, of 
Windsor. They settled on their fine farm in 
Windsor, and have one son, Robert E., and 
one daughter, Nettie A. Mrs. Davis died 
May 15, 1889, aged thirty-seven years. She 
was an accomplished teacher, and had taught 
eighteen terms before marriage. She is 
sadly missed, as her many lovable traits 
made her very dear to husband and children. 



rf J. NASETT, of Christiana township, 
III Rockdale post office, Dane county. Wis- 
•V* cousin, was born in Sogen, Norway, De- 
cember 80, 1833, a son of Johannes and 
Ella J. Nasett. His parents came to Amer- 
ica in 1845, locating on section 25, Christiana 
township, Dane county. Wisconsin. For the 
last ten years of his life his father was 
troubled with a diseased leg, which was 
afterward amputated, and both he and his 
wife are now dead. They had seven eliil- 
dren, four daughters and three sons, of whom 
our subject was the fifth in order of birth. 

He came to this country at the age of 
twelve years, where he received a limited 
education, and has always been engaged in 
farmintr. He still resides on the old home- 
stead of 160 acres, where he makes a 
specialty of raising tobacco. Mr. Nasett is 
a Democrat in his political views, and has 
held many of the minor offices of liis town- 
ship. Religiously he is a member of the 
Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran congrega- 
tiun of Dane county, Wisconsin, belonging 



DANE COUNTT, WTSCONkTN. 



175 



to the society called the JSorwegian Lutheran 
Synod of America. 

Mr. Nasett was united in marriage, No- 
vember 13, 1855, to Anne S. Larson, then of 
Christiana township, Dane county, Wiscon- 
sin, hut who came from Norway, her native 
State, to America, in 1843. Tliey had six 
children, of whom five are now living: Lars, 
now a general merchant at Robbinsdale, 
Minnesota, of the firm of Nasett & Linde; 
Gustav, a farmer at Utica, Wisconsin ; Adolpli, 
a farmer; Hannah, now the wife of Neis 
EUingson, a farmer at Utica, Wisconsin; and 
Josephine, who resides at home. The de- 
voted wife and mother died September 8, 
1875, leaving many to mourn her loss. Au- 
gust 2, 1879, Mr. Nasett married Maria 
Johnson, who left Norway for America May 
6, 1878. They have six children: Abel, 
John, Otto, Ella, Anna (deceased) and Anna. 



^^ 



ILLIAM B. ATKINSON, a farmer 
of Dane county, Wisconsin, was born 



^^^^ ill the city of Leeds, i orkshire, Eng- 
land, May 30, 1839, a son of John and Sarah 
Atkinson, the former a native of Leeds, and 
the latter of Yarmouth, England. The parents 
were married in their native country, and 
reared a family of nine children, six boys and 
tiiree girls. They came to America when 
our subject was nine years of age, locating in 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the following year 
went to Rock county, and the next year came 
to Dane county. 

William B. Atkinson attended school in 
England, also in I)unn township, Wisconsin, 
and was a student at the Stoughton Academy 
one year. In the fall of 1862 he enlisted in 
Company K, Thirty-third Wisconsin Infan- 
try, under J. B. More, in the Seventeenth 



Army Corps. He served in the Army of the 
West, was one and a half years under Sher- 
man and Grant, and participated in all the 
battles and skirmishes of his regiment. His 
brother, E. J., was killed near a spring be- 
tween Jackson and Vicksburg, by a stroke of 
lightning. Mr. Atkinson was mustered out 
of service at Madison, in 1805, after which 
he remained at his father's home in Pleasant 
Springs township until thirty-three years of 
age. In 1873 his father gave him his farm, 
160 acres on section 31, where he has since 
been engaged in general tanning, making a 
specialty of the raising of tobacco. In 1887 
Mr. Atkinson erected a tine two-story brick 
residence, one of the best in the county. 
Politically he affiliates with the Republican 
party, has served as Supervisor of Pleasant 
Springs township, and a member of the 
Board several terms. Socially he has lieen 
a member of the Philo C Buckman Post, 
No. 153, of Stoughton, for the past five years. 
Mr. Atkinson was united in marriage, in 
1875, with Lncretia E. Devoe, a native of 
Oakland, Jefferson county. They have had 
five children, namely: George E., Willie W., 
deceased, at the age of four years nine months 
and nine days; Forest A., Lorenzo D., and 
Clare J. II Atkinson. 



LA A. SOLHEIM, the able superinten- 
dent of the Martin Luther Orphans' 
Home of Madison, Wisconsin, was born 
in the parish of Foerde in Soendfjord, Nor- 
way, October 19, 1858. His parents were 
Nels O. and Oleana J. Solheim. His father 
was a farmer who emigrated with his wife 
and children to America in 1870, and went 
to Grand Haven, Michigan. Here the father 
immediately secured employment on a rail- 



170 



mOORAPHWAl. HE VIEW OF 



road then under construction, but died within 
two inontlis time, leaving his family desti- 
tute. 

The subject of this sketch was about twelve 
years of age when his parents emigrated to 
this country, his previous lite having been 
passed on his father's farm, during which 
time he was able to attend school only eight 
weeks annually, beginning with the ninth 
year. 

Arriving in Grand Haven ho found em- 
ployment in a shingle mill. After his father's 
death the support of the family, for some 
time, devolved on himself and a nineteen 
year old brother, who had come to this coun- 
try four years previously. lUit it was not 
long before his strong and energetic mother, 
always anxious to give lier childi-en the best 
possible opportunities for advancement, by 
the hard and assiduous toil of her hands, was 
enabled to contribute cotisiderable toward 
maintaining the family, until she, from the 
early spring of 1874, became the sole sup- 
porter of herself and the three youngest chil- 
dren. In 1S75 the family removed to Lee 
county, Illinois. 

Having by this time become imbued with 
an ambition for an education, young Ola was 
not long in finding a way to attain the de- 
sired object. Soon after going to Illinois he 
entered Luther (college at Decorah, Iowa, at 
which he graduated in 1881, with the degree 
of A. B. He continued there one year as 
instructor in music, and then entered the 
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Madison, 
Wisconsin. This school then occupied the 
buildings now used by the Norwegian Synod, 
as an or])hans' iiome. From here Mr. Sol- 
heim went to Willmar, jMinnesota, where he 
for two years was connected with the Will- 
mar Seminary, the first year as a teacher and 
the second year as a traveling agent. We 



next find liini in Norway as a student of 
theology at the University of Christiania, 
where he remained two years and a half. In 
1888 he returned to America and, since the 
fall of 1889 has held his present ])osition at 
the head ot tlio <)rj)hans' Home in Madison. 
He is eminently (jualitied for his work, both 
by experience and natural adaptability. He 
has taught dififerent private schools and, at 
times, has filled the pulpit of his church. 
His interest is now solely centered in his 
charge, to which he lends every effort to make 
it a success, lie has forty-two little home- 
less waifs, who are made ha[)py and com- 
fortable through the charitable and noble 
efforts of the Synod, and no one has done 
more to promote the welfare of the home 
than the subject of this sketch. 

Mr. Solheim was married in October, 1889, 
to Guro L. Ullensvang, a native of Norway, 
who came to America when six year of age. 
Ijefore her marriage, she was for nine years 
an efficient teacher in the public schools of 
Illinois. They have two children: Olea S. 
and Laura. Mr. Solheim's mother is living 
with him, cheered in her declining years by 
the thoughtful care of her noble son. 

Mr. Solheim is engaged in a noble work 
and is justly entitled to the best wishes and 
esteem of his fellnw-men. 



-h^^i 



-^ 



>0,N. WILLETTS. MAIN, Deputy 
United States iMarshal for the western 
district of Wisconsin, was burn in Ed- 
meston, Otsego county. New York, August 
15, 1828. His father, Alfred Main, was bor^ 
in North Stonington, Connecticut, and his 
father, Laban Main, was born in the same 
place. Tile great-grandfather of our subject 
was also a native of the same place, but the 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



177 



great, great-grandfather was a native of Eng- 
land and came to America in colonial times. 
The grandfather of uur subject emigrated to 
Otsego county in 1814, and followed agricult- 
ural pursuits there for many years. lie then 
removed to Allegany county, where he spent 
the remainder of his days. The maiden name 
of his wife was I'olly Brown. The father of 
our subject was nine years old when his par- 
ents removed to Otsego county. There he 
was married at tlie age of eiirhteen, his wife 
being in her fifteenth year. In 1833, with his 
wife and three children, Mr. Main emigrated 
to Allegany county. They made the removal 
with teams, taking all their earthly posses- 
sions with tiiem. He purchased a tract of 
timber land and at once began to improve a 
farm. There was water power on the place 
and Mr. Main utilized it by building a saw- 
mill, which he operated in addition to his 
farming interests until 1846, when he sold 
and came to Wisconsin, making the renjoval 
by team to liSuffalo, thence by lake to Mil- 
waukee, thence with a team to Waukesha, 
where he remained until April, 1847, and 
then came to Madison. In 1850 he was elected 
Sheriff of Dane county, and served two years. 
During the war he was Clerk in the Quarter- 
master's Department, and after the war was 
over settled on his farm, four miles from the 
city, where he resided until his death, which 
occurred when he was seventy-seven years of 
age. The maiden name of his wife was Se- 
mantha Stillman, born in Otsego county. New 
York, daughter ot llev. Willett and Soviah 
(Noyes) Stillman. She died on the home farm, 
at the age of sixty-nine, after rearing five 
children as follows: Alexander H., Willett 
S., Amelia A., Fannie and Annie. 

Our subject was seventeen vears of age 
when he came to AVisconsin with his parents, 
in February, 1847, became to Madison, mak- 



ing his advent into the city on foot. At that 
time the capital city was a small village of 
about 500 people. He soon found employ- 
ment of various kinds, most of the time clerk- 
ing, until January 1, 1851, when he was ap- 
pointed Under Sheriff' and served in that ca- 
pacity for two years. In 1852 he was elected 
Shei'itF, and also served two years in that po- 
sition. At the expiration of his term of office 
he and his brother engaged in mercantile pur- 
suits and continued in the same until 1860, 
when he was again appointed Under Sheriff, 
and served two years, ami in 1862 was elected 
Sheriff in which capacity he sei'ved two years. 
The next two years he served as Under Sheriff" 
when again, in 1866, he was elected Sheriff 
for the third time. At the end of his term 
of office he was again made under Sheriff" and 
on January 1, 1871, he was appointed Chief 
Deputy United States Marshal, in which po- 
sition he served sixteen years. He then re- 
tired to his farm, where he engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits. But he was not permitted 
to remain in obscurity, for in 189t) he was 
again called into public life to fill the position 
he had held four years before, that of Deputy 
United States Marshal, which position he still 
holds. Mr. Main has been a Republican since 
the formation of the party. He has served as 
a delegate to the different county, district and 
State conventions, and was elected to the State 
Senate, in 1888, representing Dane county 
for a period of four years. He is now presi- 
dent of the Monona Lake Assembly. 

<Jur subject was married in 1855, to Miss 
Eliza A. Jenison, a native of Indianapolis, 
daughter of Hon. Samuel and Melvina (Win- 
gate) Jenison. Mrs. Main died January 15, 
1866, and in June of the following year Mr. 
Main married Sophia L. Smith, born in Ro- 
chester, Windsor county, Vermont, daughter 
ofSamuelN. Smith and Lois Dickinson Will- 



178 



BIOGRAPHIOAL REVIEW OF 




iarus. Mr. Main has two sons by bis first 
marriage: riaiiiiiton W. and Frank J., who 
are engaged in business in Hastings, Ne- 
braska. By the second marriage there are 
four children: Susie, Annie, John and Lois. 
Mr. Main has been a member of the Baptist 
Church since he was twenty-one and has been 
a Trustee since 1852. 



SAJORCHAKLES GEORGE MAY- 
ERS, a popular citizen of Madison, 
Wisconsin, was born in Manches- 
ter, England, August 31, 1826, and grew 
np there and received iiis education in bis 
native place at both public and private schools. 
lie served his articles of apprenticeship in an 
accountant's office^ which was also the office of 
the secretary of the Royal Institution of 
Alanchester. AV^hile there he attended all of 
the lectures of the Institution. He then de- 
cidt!(i to come to this country, and took pas- 
sage early in the spring of 1848 from Liver- 
pool on the sailing ship Ivanlio, which landed 
him after some weeks' voyage in New York, 
and from there he came on up to Albany and 
then came across to the city of Buffalo and 
then around the lakes to Milwaukee. He 
canK^ thence overland in prairie schooner 
style and settled on eighty acres of land near 
Waunakee, in Dane county, a tract which ho 
had bought in England for twenty pounds 
without ever seeing it. He spent two years 
on this place and then came to what was then 
but a small village, but has now grown to the 
great metropolis. Soon after tliis he became 
the State Librarian and made the first cata- 
logue of the library. Later he was made as- 
sistant superintendent of Public Instruction 
of Wisconsin, and afterward Assistant Secre- 
tary of State under Charles D. Robinson. 



Later he became interested in buying and 
selling land and in 1857 he was elected City 
Clerk and held that office until 1861, when he 
enlisted in the Union army. He became 
Lieutenant and Quartermaster of the Eleventh 
Wisconsin Regiment Volunteer Infantry and 
did service for some time, being on the staff 
of General Canby. Ho was thus connected 
at the close of the war and was retained in 
that department until September 30, 1865, 
having been breveted Captain and Major 
March 24, 1865. Hisservice was in the Army 
of the Tennessee. 

Major Mayers witnessed many of the seri- 
ous engagements of the war, as Port Gibson, 
Vicksburg, Black River Bridge, Champion 
Hills and many others. He was neither hurt 
nor imprisone<l and was one of the staff of 
General Canby, at the capture of Spanish 
Fort and Fort Blakely and Mobile. Our sub- 
ject returned to his home in Madison, bought 
out a grocery house and was thus engaged for 
some time. During the reunion of the Army 
of the Tennessee at Toledo, in 1874, he wrote 
in particular a forty-three verse poem that 
was heartily received by all who lieard it, as 
it was tilled with loyal enthusiasm. He has 
published many poems, in various Chicago, 
Madison and eastern newspapers, also a small 
volume, entitled, "The Songs of Taychobera 
or, Romances of The Four Lakes,'' in which 
he tells the story of the origin of tiie names 
of the several lakes. He has written several 
dramas, the principal of which were, " Waves " 
and " The Three Crosses, " the former, pro- 
duced at Wallack's. was highly complimented 
by the* Tribune and other papers of New York 
city. He is not only an art critic, but a 
Shakesperian critic and has won laurels as an 
amateur actor and in such characters as Richi- 
lieu, Shylock, Werner, Sir Anthony Absolute 
and De Mauprat. He is director and one of 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



179 



the promoters of the Shakesperean club of 
Madison. He has been Assessor of the city 
of Madison for seventeen years and has been 
in the insurance and real-estate business for 
the same length of time. Mr. Mayers is a 
member of a numl)er of orders, was one of 
the organizers of the G. A. R. Post here, 
which was the first post organized in the 
United States, the date being June, 1866. 
He is Past Commander of the post, known 
now as C C Washburn, No. 11. lie is a 
member of the Wisconsin Commandery, 
Loyal Legion and is the oldest member and 
the oldest Past Master of the Madison Lodge, 
No. 5, A. F. & A. M. He has been for some 
years, and is at present Eminent Commander 
of the Commandery, Knights Templars, and is 
a sound Democrat in his politics. 

Mr. Mayers was married, in Manchester, 
England, to Miss Catherine Fitzgerald, a lady 
who has proven a true helpmate to him. The 
family residence is on Jenifer street, in view 
of Lake Monona. He attends the Unitarian 
Church. Six children have been added to the 
family, as follows: Maggie, who was educated 
in the University is the principal of the Sixth 
Ward school; Andrew A. is a grocery mer- 
chant at Madison; Emily A. was educated 
in the university, and is an artist, married; 
Julia F. is a well educated lady, married; 
Minnie, married and lives in Minneapolis; 
and Charles is in the Hartford Insurance 
business, with office in Chicago. 

Major Mayers has been many years com- 
modore of the Yacht Club. He is a member 
of the executive committee of the State His- 
torical society and is one of the oldest mem- 
bers of the far-famed Madison Literary Club. 
He is a companionable gentleman and one 
whom his friends delight to honor. 



-^^lyi/UO- 



<>~ 



q/irm^^ 



fOSEPH C. CANNON, of Dunkirk 
township, Dane county, Wisconsin, was 
"1^ born in Delaware township, Tompkins 
county, New York, December 12, 1828, a son 
of Joseph and Rachel (Huyck) Cannon, the 
former a native of Connecticut, and the lat- 
ter was born on the banks of the Susque- 
hanna river. When our subject was seven 
years of age, the parents came West, first 
locating in Chicago, in July, 1836, but re- 
mained there only a short time. In February, 
1837, they removed to Racine county, Wis- 
consin, and in the fall of 1843 Mr. Cannon 
and his brother came to Dane county, the re- 
mainder of the family coming the following 
year. They settled on section 24, Dunkirk 
township,while Wisconsin was yet a Territory. 
The father died September 28, 1850, and the 
mother July 23, 1846. They were the par- 
ents of seven children, of whom three are 
livincf: Mrs. E. E. Roberts, E. D. Cannon, a 
farmer now living in Cherokee!, Cherokee 
county, Iowa; and the subject of this sketch, 
who was the youngest child. 

Joseph C. Cannon was reared to farm life, 
and received only a limited education. He 
came to this county in early life, took the 
first load of books to the capital when the 
State was organized, and only a few of the 
settlers still survive who were then in the 
county. He immediately began improving 
a farm, and in February, 1859, went overland 
to California. He returned to this State the 
following year, resumingagricultural pursuits, 
and now owns two farms, (me of 238 acres, 
on sections 23 and 24, and ninety-eight acres, 
on sections 26 and 23. In his political views, 
Mr. Cannon affiliates with the Republican 
party, and his first vote was cast for Lincoln. 
He has held the office of Supervisor one year, 
was elected Postmaster of Hanerville, in 
1876, and has held other offices. 



180 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



Mr. Cannon was married March 9, 1856, 
to Hannah M. Dickson, who was born in 
Franlvlin county, Oliio, February 25, 1832. a 
daugliter of Hiram and Elizabeth M. (Hay- 
ward) Dickson. Mrs. Cannon came to Wis- 
consin in June, 18-45. To this ntiion has 
been born five children, viz.: Charles H., of 
Los Angeles, California; Joseph H., of Dunn 
township, Dane county, Wisconsin; Alice E. 
and Mary E., both married and reside in 
Chicago; and Eva M., at home. Mrs. Can- 
non is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

(NDREW S. BROWN, is .Sheriff of Dane 
county, Wisconsin, where lie is widely 
and favorably known, having been born 
in Verona township, that county, April 3, 
1855. His parents were Alexander and 
Margaret (Smith) Brown, both natives of 
Fifeshire, Scotland, where they were married. 
His father was a rope- maker by trade, and 
emigrated with his family to America, in 
1842, making the voyage in a sailing vessel, 
which was eleven weeks on the way. Six 
months after their arrival in New York city, 
his father became superintendent of a rope- 
making establishment, which position he re- 
tained six years. In 1848 the family removed 
to Wisconsin, then the extreme frontier, and 
settled in Verona township, Dane county, 
where his father commenced farming. By 
industry and perseverance, he acquired a com- 
petence for his family, and enjoyed the es- 
teem of his community, because of his 
thorough integrity and uniform good nature. 
The subject of this sketch was reared on 
the home farm and attended the common 
schools of his locality. At the age of eighteen 
he came to Madison, where he was employed 



for some time by Mr. John La Mont, in sell- 
ing farming machinery. After this, he was 
head salesman ten years, for Mr. S. L. Shel- 
don. In January, 1892, he entered the em- 
ploy of the Fuller cfe Johnson Manufacturing 
Company, for whom he has continued to sell 
goods ever since. September 21, 1892, he 
was nominated Sheriff on the Democratic 
ticket, and was elected by a very large major- 
ity, emphasizing most thoroughly his popu- 
larity among his fellow-citizens. 

Mr. Brown was marrieii November 13, 
1877, to Katharine Mausbach, an intelligent 
lady and a native of Madison. They have 
three daughters: Iva, Agnes Edna and Mar- 
garet Alexandra. They reside in their at- 
tractive and comfortable home at the corner 
of east Johnson and Fen streets, where they 
are the center of a large circle of friends. 

Possessing intelligence and enterprise, 
thoroughly upright and holding the welfare 
of the community at heart, there is every 
reason to believe that Mr. Brown will make 
an efficient sheriff, discharging his duties 
with exemplary fidelity and judgment. 

EliMANN PFUND, a lawyer of Mad- 
ison, Wisconsin, was liorn in llallau, 
canton Schaffhausen, Switzerland, Octo- 
ber 28, 1842. His parents were Conrad and 
Margaret (Berger) Pfund, also natives of 
Hallau, where the father was for several years 
principal of the public school, thereafter oc- 
cui)ying the same position at Schleitheim 
from 1843 to 1857. In March, 1857, this 
family left the latter place and emigrated to 
America. They came to La Crosse, AViscon- 
sin, near which place the father bought a farm, 
which he sold several years afterward, and 
removed to La Crosse, where he took up his 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



181 



former vocation again and coiitiaiied teaching 
there until his death, Novenber 11, 1891, the 
worthy wife and mother still living there. 
They had thirteen children, seven boys and 
six girls, of whom four sons and two daugh- 
ters died in infancy, and adult son dying sev- 
eral years ago. 

Hermann Pfund was the fourth cliild, and 
passed the tirst fourteen years of his life in 
his native land. He attended the elementary 
schools there, until he was eleven years of 
age, after which he entered the high school, 
where he remained three years longer, dur- 
ing wliich time he had private instructors in 
Latin and English, in addition to his other 
studies. He accompanied his parents to La 
Crosse, and worlied on the home farm during 
his minority. Being sufficiently well versed in 
the English language lie then secured a posi- 
tion as teacher in the county schools. He 
afterward conducted a school at Nauvoo, Illi- 
nois, wheie he went in 1866, remaining there 
three years, when, on account of ill health, 
he returned to his home in La Crosse. In 
1869 he was called to take charge, as princi- 
pal, of the schools at Alma, Uuflalo county, 
Wisconsin, where he continued teaching for 
five years, when his health again failed, and 
after a short rest, he commenced, in the spring 
of 1875, the study of law in Eau Claire, with 
Judge Ellis. In 1876 he entered the law 
department of the State University, at which 
he graduated the following year, 1877. Mr. 
Pfund shortly afterward, at Madison, Wis- 
consin, formed a partnership with F. E. Par- 
kinson, in the practice of law. Sometime 
later this union was dissolved, and H. M. 
Lewis, then United States District Attorney, 
became Mr. Pfund's partner, both continuing 
as partners about live years, when, in the 
spring of 1891, this partnership was also dis- 
solved l)y mutual consent, and ]\[r. Pfund 



now practices alone. He enjoys a good law 
practice, and is the only attorney in Dane 
county who attends to the settlement of es- 
tates and collection of claims in German 
speaking countries, as he is equally well 
versed in English and German. His busi- 
ness is divided between this and local prac- 
tice. 

Mr. Pfund was married P'ebruary 23, 1879, 
to Annie Scheibel, an intelligent lady, the 
only child of Fred Scheibel, of Madison, Wis- 
consin. The father died in the spring of 
1892, while the mother died when Mrs. Pfund 
was still in her girlhood. To this union have 
been born live children: August Herman, 
Helen, Adolf, Carl and Annie. 

Politically, Mr. Pfund has usually affiliated 
with the Republican party. In 1886 he was 
appointed Circuit Court Commissioner by 
Judge Alva Stewart, which office he still 
holds, having been reappointed by Judge Sie- 
becker upon the death of Judge Stewart. 
Religiously he is a member of the German 
Lutheran Church, and is one of the Trustees 
(_>f the congregation at Madison. 

fOHN A. ROSS, one of the pioneers of 
1845, is one of the prominent and sub- 
stantial farmers of Montrose township, 
residing on section 32. He was born in the 
town of Jerusalem, Yates county, ISew York, 
June 8, 1818, a son of John and Christie 
Ann Ross. The father was born in Edinboro, 
Scotland, and his parents were Hugh and 
Margaret (Allen) Ross. The family came to 
the United States in 1700 and settled in He- 
bron, Washington county, New York. Mr. 
Ross had been a merchant in Edinboro, there 
became wealthy and came to the United 
States in order to purchase farms for his sons. 



182 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



With tliis idea in view lie purchased con- 
siderable land in Wa.-^hington county. New 
Vork, although he himself removed to Gal- 
way, Saratoga county, New York, where both 
he and his wife died at the age of sixty-six. 
The grandparents of our sulyect had six chil- 
dren, as follows: James, a farmer, who died 
at Covington, New York; John, father of 
our subject; William, a merchant of New 
York city, who died at that place; Charles, 
engaged in farming on the old homestead in 
Saratoga, until the last years of his life, 
when he went to Illinois and died near Spoon 
river; Euphemia. married Gilbert Mitchel 
and resided in Johnstown, Montgomery 
county. New York, until her death; and 
Margaret, who married John McMillan, a 
merchant of New York city, where she died. 
All of the above reared families of their own 
and were in comfortable circumstances. The 
father of our subj'ect was born on New Year's 
day, 1769, a few months before the family 
came to the United States. He was reared 
on a farm and like his brothers was given a 
good education, and when he grew to man- 
hood his father presented him with a good 
farm in Saratoga county. New York. He 
was married in 1806, to ("hristie Ann Mitchel, 
a daughter of James and Mary Mitchel, born 
in Albany, New York, although her parents 
were natives of Scotland and had come to the 
United Slates on the same ship as Mr. Ross. 
Mr. Mitchel was also a wealthy merchant of 
Scotland and came to the United States to 
invest in land. The father of our subject, ten 
years after marriage, sold his property in 
Saratoga county and purchased 356 acres of 
land in Yates county, where he cleared 100 
acres of heavy timber. He was a hard work- 
ing man, very economical, and as time went 
on had one of the best farms in the township. 
It is locateil five miles froni Prnii Yan,atthe 



foot of Crooked lake, and to-day is valued at 
§300 an acre. He sold his farm in 1825, 
and improved a farm in Chautauqua county, 
but ten years later removed to Livingston 
county. New York, whence, in 1845, became 
west and died at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At 
this time he was seventy-six years of age. 
The mother of our subject died in Dane 
county, October 17, 1871, aged ninety-two. 
The whole family were taken sick with ship 
fever on the journey to Wisconsin from New 
York, and it was from this disease that the 
father died in Milwaukee. The family con- 
sisted of six children, as follows: Margaret, 
married John Webb and resided in Dane 
county, but died in Minnesota; Charles, was 
a farmer of Dane county until his death; 
Daniel, became quite a traveler and finally 
died in Caliiornia; James, was a boot and 
shoe merchant in York, Livingston county. 
New York, and finally died there; our sub- 
ject; William, died young; and Elizabeth, 
died in early life, soon after the family came 
West. The parents of our subject were mem- 
bers of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. 
Our subject resided with his parents until 
he grew to manhood, and then engaged in 
the boot and shoe business with his brother 
James before coming West, and there made 
considerable money. After coming to Wis- 
consin he improved a good farm in Verona 
township. In 1858 he was married to Miss 
Catherine Martin, a daughter of Peter and 
Janette (Davidson) Martin. She was born 
in Perthshire, Scotland, November 1, 1832. 
The family came to the United States in 
1841 and settled on a fai-m in Dane county, 
where Mr. Martin purchased 240 acres of 
land and carried on farming as he had done 
in Scotland. Both Mr. and Mrs. Martin died 
in Dane county, aged seventy-six and sixty 
years, respectively. They had a family of 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



183 



three children, namely: Catherine; Jessie A., 
who died in early lite; and Patrick, who was 
a farmer of Verona township, where he died. 
In religion they were all Presliyterians. 
After marriage onr subject continued to re- 
side in Verona township until 1859, when he 
traded for the property where he now resides. 
He owns 500 acres of land and engages in 
stock-raising, also deals in live-stock, keep- 
ing up a superior grade. lie erected a 
stone residence and several good barns, and 
his beautiful erounds are tilled with orna- 
mental trees. He has made of this place no 
only an excellent stock farm, but one of the 
most attractive homes in Dane county. Mr. 
and Mrs. Ross have had seven children, as 
follows: John M., who died in chihlhood; 
AVilliam L., a traveling salesman; James, 
Henry, Emily and Cora, at home; and Ed- 
win, who is working on a farm in Minnesota. 
In religion, Mr. Ross still clings to the 
views of the Covenanter. He was reared in 
the Reformed Presbyterian Church, and on 
account of these views he has not united with 
the General Assembly Church, but as some 
members of his family are Presbyterians he is 
a liberal supporter of the church at Belleville, 
nad was the principal contributor toward the 
church edifice. Mrs. Ross is a member of the 
Presbyterian Church, and is a lady of taste and 
refinement, most highly esteemed in the 
community. Probably on her account Mr. 
Ross has taken such a prominent part in 
assisting the church at Belleville, although, as 
above stated, he cannot consistently unite 
with it. He is an honest, upright man, but 
has never been willing to accept public office, 
as he felt that he could not bear blame when 
he knew that he was doing right. For this 
reason, although his party, the Republican, 
has elected him to local office, he has never 
consented to qualify. 



fORGRIM OLSON, one' of the lea.ling 
merchants of Madison, is located at No. 
23 South Pickney street, under the firm 
name of ( )lson & Veerhusen and carries on a 
large and flourishing business. This firm 
deals in gentlemen's furnishing goo«ls, hats, 
caps and also do a general tailoring business. 
Mr. Olson has been a resident of the capital 
city since 1861 and has made his way up from 
a bench tailor to his present position. After 
his arrival in Madison Mr. Olson was engaged 
at his trade until 18(55, when at that time lie 
engaged in business for himself, un<ler the 
firm name of Jones & Olson, wliich continued 
about a year when Mr. Jones sold his interest 
to a Mr. Sauthoff", the firm being Sauthofl" & 
Olson. Tliis firm continued until about 1875 
when Mr. Olson sold his interest to his ]>art- 
ner and became the manager of the merchant 
tailor establishment of Mr. Friend, of Madi- 
son, remaining with him for eighteen months, 
when Messrs. Olson, Winden & Co. bought 
the business of Mr. Friend, and have since 
been interested together, the company being 
Veerhusen, and for seventeen years the firm 
has been one of the leading tailoring estab- 
lishments of the entire city. They have es- 
tablished a reputation for good work and their 
trade is so large that a couple of clerks and 
two cutters are needed all the time. 

Our subject was born near Christiania, 
Norway, January 9, 1838. He lost his mother 
when ten years of age and grew to manhood 
in his native place without her tender care. 
Mr. Olson was not the first of the family to 
cross the ocean, as a brother, Knudt, crossed 
the water in the early '50s. He is now a 
successful farmer in Minnesota. Mr. Olson, 
our subject, early learned the trade that was 
to prove of so much benefit to him, and wished 
to have a broader field to exercise it in, so 
when his father, brotiier and sister decided to 



184 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



join the brotlier in tiie new world, Torgrim 
came along and the family landeil on tlie St. 
Lawrence, sixty-one miles from Quebec, from 
which place they made their way to Wisconsin. 
Knudt had settled in Vermont, Dane county, 
Wisconsin, and with this son the father made 
his home for many years and then came to 
Madison, where he remained with our subject 
until his death, which occurred November, 
1892, when he was aged eighty-four. He 
bore the name of Ole Torgriinson and was a 
good and worthy pioneer of Wisconsin. He 
and his wife were life-long members of the 
Lutheran Church. The other two children, 
Ole and Mary, who came to the United States 
witii the father, are yet living and both are 
farmers of Griggs county. North Dakota. 

Our subject was married in Madison to 
Miss Karen Hendrickson, born in Norway. 
Her parents died when she was young and 
she was brought to this country with a sister 
and brother, the young people coming direct 
to Dane county, Wisconsin. The l)rutlier la- 
ter died in Mitchell county, Iowa, where the 
sister still resides, being married and sur- 
rounded by a family. Mr. and Mrs. Olson 
are among the leading people of their county 
and city. For many years they have l)een 
firm members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. 
Olson is a sound Republican in jjolitics, but 
does not lower his political intluence in seek- 
ing for office. He and his wife are the par- 
ents of two children, both now deceased, 
Henry dying when fifteen years of age, a 
bright, promising lad and Gijda was taken 
away by death when only four years of age. 



kROF. JULIUS E. OLSON. — lulius 
Emil Olson was born in Cambridge, 
Dane county, AVisconsin, November 9, 
1858. His parents are Norwegians, who 



came to Cambridge, August 12, 1852. His 
father, Hans Olson, was born on a farm in 
the parish of Norby, a few miles south of 
Christiania, Norway, on the 20th of March, 
1817. Both of the latter's parents were born 
in the same jiarish. During his youth the 
father worked on a farm and at intervals 
learned the shoemakers' trade, in which he 
perfected himself in Christiania. On the 3d 
of November, he married Karen Mikkelsdat- 
ter Fjeld, who was born February 2, 181(5, 
in the East Liniii annex of the parish land, 
near the head of the Rauds Fjord, about 100 
miles northwest of Christiania. Her father 
was a country tailor. When about eighteen 
years of age she went to Christiania to serve, 
where she found a pleasant and comfortable 
home with the widow of a university pro- 
fessor. Madam Steenersen. This lady spent 
her summers on a large estate (Orager) near 
the city, which had once belonged to the 
famous Count Wedel Jarlsberg. This estate 
was worked by Professor Olson's grandfather, 
and it was here that his parents first met. 
On this estate they lived the first two and u 
half years of their married life. After this 
they lived on various farms in the vicinity 
of Christiania, until in the spring of 1852, 
when they sold their small stock of cattle and 
household goods and prepared to emigrate to 
America, the land of promise, whither thou- 
sands of their countrymen had gone before. 
They had six children and the undertaking 
was no small one. They left Christiania 
about May 10, on a sailing vessel, landing in 
Quebec after a voyage of fifty-three days. 
From Quebec they proceeded to Milwaukee, 
where they engaged a team and wagon to 
take them to Cam bridge, at which place the 
father soon obtained work as a shoemaker. 
He was an excellent workman and in the 
course of a few months began business for 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN, 



185 



himself. He was very successful, but in 
1874 he was forced to give np his work on 
account of ill iiealth. At this time his ten 
children were all ahle to provide for them- 
selves. In 1881 his health was completely 
restored and he is now (1892) enjoying the 
fruits of his days of toil. On the 5th of Oc- 
tober Prof. Olson's parents celelirated their 
golden weddincr, on which occasion the ten 
children were present. Prof. Olson has eitrht 
sisters and one brother, whose names are as 
follows: Mina, the widow of John Hanson, 
still resides in Cambridge; Olina, the wife of 
Sever Rasmusson, of Stougiiton, Wisconsin; 
Cecilia, the wife of Rev. M. F. Wiese, of 
Utica, Wisconsin; Bertha Karina, the wife 
of Prof. Rasums B. Anderson, of Madison, 
Wisconsin; Herman V., of Rushford, Min- 
nesota; Annette, the wife of Rev. E. P. Jen- 
sen, of Spring Grove, Minnesota: Mary, tlie 
wife of Rev. Abel Anderson, of Montevideo, 
Minnesota; Clara, the wife of Ur. Albert C. 
Amundson, of Cambridge, Wisconsin; and 
Tilla Josephine, who lives at home with her 
parents. 

Before his fourteenth year Prof. Olson at- 
tended school regularly, working on a farm 
durintr the harvest season. Duriiic thesuni- 
mer of 1873 he worked in the drug store of 
Mr. Thomas C. Siagg, of Cambridge. The 
following fall and winter was spent at the 
village school, and in preparing for his con- 
firmation in the Norwegian Lutheran Church, 
which took place May 22, 1873. 

Prof. Olson's father had given him all tiie 
advantages that the public and private schools 
of Cambridge offered, but he could not afford 
to give him a college education, and so the 
young man started out to make iiis own way 
through college, having been encouraged to 
do so by his brother-in-law. Professor Ander- 
son, who was at that time an instructor in 



the University of Wisconsin. I?ut some 
fuTids were necessary, and so he left home 
in August, 1873, having obtained a situation 
in the general store of Isham & Hale, of 
Stoughton, Wisconsin, where he spent ten 
months, saving about $100 of his earnings. 
On September 7, 1874, he entered the Mad- 
ison High School, where he continued until 
Noveml)er 8, 1875, when he began teaching 
a district school near Madison. He spent 
the following spring term at the high school, 
and in the fall term of 187(3 he was admitted 
to the second year of the preparatory depart- 
ment of the (Jniversity of Wisconsin. Five 
months of this school year were spent teach- 
ing in the country, during which time he 
also kept u|) his university studies. In the 
fall of 1877 he entered the Freshman class, 
modern classical course, of the same institu- 
tion. i\fter having completed his Freshman 
year he was principal of the school of liis 
native village for three years, at the end of 
which time he returned to the University 
and graduated with honors in 1884. Durino- 
his senior year, after the resignation of Prof. 
Rasmus B. Anderson, he taught a class in 
Old Norse. The same year he studied Old 
Norse with a native Icelandic scholar. Wliile 
a student in the high school and in the 
university. Prof. Olson lived with Prof. 
Anderson, enjoying the advantages of his 
excellent Scandinavian library and the liter- 
ary atmosphere of his home. Here he iiad 
learned to love Scandinavian literature, and 
while in college he lost no op|»ortiinity to 
speak to his fellow-students on Scandinavian 
subjects. In June, 1884, upon the recom- 
mendation of President John Bascom, lie was 
appointed instructor in the Scandinavian 
lanifuages and German. In 1887 he was 
niade assistant professor, and in .lune. 1892, 
the Board of liegents elected him professor 



186 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



of Scandinavian languages and literature. 
For liis profession as a teacher Mr. Olson is 
peculiarly well equipped. lie possesses a 
thorough knowledge of his suliject and pre- 
sents it to his students with enthusiasm and 
clearness. His zeal is itispiring and he also 
has the faculty of giving all necessary atten- 
tion to details. His own devotion and in- 
dustry begets a similar spirit among his stu- 
dents. From the very outset ho took rank 
as one of the successful teachers in the uni- 
versity. 

Prof. Olson has also done a great deal of 
valuable literary work, particularly in his 
chosen field of Scandinavian literature. Be- 
sides a number of valuable original essays, 
written for the press and for literary soci- 
eties, he is known throughout the country for 
his excellent translation of Lauridsen's His- 
tory of Vitus Bering and his great geograph- 
ical expedition, a book which has already 
taken rank as the standard work on the dis- 
coverer of Bering strait. 

As a speaker and lecturer Prof. Olson is 
clear, entertaining, instructive and forcible. 
In his university extension lectures he has 
discussed early Scandinavian subjects and 
given particular attention to the question of 
the original home of the Aryan race, showing 
by an array of scientific arguments that it 
must be looked for on the shores of the 
i>altic. rather than in Asia. His lectures 
in Milwaukee during the winter of 1891-'92 
were especially successful. His orations on 
the 4th of July and 17th of May arc brilliant 
and he speaks with equal fluency in English 
and in Norse. As a teacher, writer ami 
e])eaker he has already achieved a reputation 
of which older men ought to be proud. 



^ENRY D. HANSON, editor of the 
Oregon Observer, at Oregon, Wiscon- 
sin, was born in Dunkirk township, 
Dane county, Wisconsin, April 18, I8t)2, son 
of Henry D. and Sarah (P^illinghani) Han- 
son, residents of the town of Dunkirk. Our 
subject was reared on the farm and received 
his education in the district schools and Mil- 
ton College. At the age of twenty-one he left 
the farm and engaged in clerkirj;; in a store in 
Stoughton until March, 188-i, when he came 
to Oregon and purchased an interest in the 
Oregon Observer, and learned the business 
from " devil " to editor. In July, 1885, 
he became sole proprietor of the paper, since 
conducting it as an independent paper devoted 
to the interests of Oregon and vicinity. It 
is an eight-column folio, and is now in the 
twelfth year of its existence. The office is 
well equipped with good presses and steam 
power. He is a member of the M. W. A. 
and I. O. O. F., being an active member of 
each. In politics he is a Republican, and is 
actively interested in the welfare of the 
party. He has served as clerk of the Village 
Board, and is now Treasurer of that same 
body. 

Our subject comes of a good stock, his 
father being a native of Lincolnshire, Eng- 
land, where he was born, May 21, 1830. He 
was reared a farmer, and remained at liome 
until he attained his majority, when he started 
for the United States, landing in New York 
upon the day he was twenty-one. From that 
city he proceeded to Buffalo, New York, 
where he was joined by his parents, Richard 
and Sophie Hanson, and the following 
brothers and sisters, eight in numiier: John, 
who died in Chicago; Phcebe, wife of John 
Barnum, died in New York; William, who 
resides in Wellington, Ohio; Joseph, who re- 
sides in Dane county; Eliza, wife of George 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



187 



Spike, of Dane county; Richard, who resides 
at Fort Wayne, Indiana; Edward, who re- 
sides in Cliicago, and Elizabetli, who resides 
in Chicago, having married a Mr. Sanners. 
Tlie grandfather of our subject died in Buf- 
falo, New York, of cholera. In 1852 the 
father of our subject came to Wisconsin, 
settling in Beloit, where he married Miss 
Sarah Fillingham, who was born in Cam- 
bridgeshire, England, May 11, 1834. They 
resided near Beloit until about 1856, and then 
settled in the town of Dunkirk, Dane county, 
where he is still engaged in farming, being 
reckoned as one of the old settlers. The 
parents of our subject had eight children: 
Helen, wife of Jewett Sherman, of Lyle, 
Minnesota; Eliza, married Frank Walker, 
and died in Fulton, Kock county, Wisconsin; 
Belle, married L. D. Webb, and resides near 
Stoughton; Sarah, wife of Edward Stanley, 
of Lyle, Minnesota; Emma, Edward and 
William. The parents of our subject are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
Mr. Hanson is a live business man, fully 
alive to the interests of his town, where he 
enjoys the respect and esteem of all who 
know him. He is a good editorial writer 
and local reporter, and his little sheet is 
newsy and entertaining, and its circulation 
is steadily increasing. 



|||ALPH C. VERNON, of Madison, Wis- 
consin, was born in Middleton, Dane 
county, this State, January 3(.), 1859. 
His parents were Daniel and Mary Ann 
(Goodwin) Vernon, natives, respectively, of 
Lancashire and Derbyshire, England. The 
father died before the subject of this sketch 
was twenty years of age, l>nt the devoted 
nlother still resides in Madison where she ig 



an object of tender solicitude by her surviving 
children. This worthy couple were the par- 
ents of fourteen children, ten sons and four 
daughters, two of the former being now de- 
ceased. 

Ralph C. Vernon was the eighth child, and 
received a limited education, he and his brother 
Joseph attending school only during each 
alternate vvinter. This meager foundation 
was supplemented by a term in business col- 
lege at Madison when he was seventeen vears 
of age; and further augmented by two 
terms in the high school in 1877. 

Wliile yet under twenty years of age, he en- 
gaged in buying live stock, in which business 
he has been more oi" less extensively engaged 
ever since. He was for a long time alone, 
but in March, 1879, he formed a partnership 
with Richard Green, with whom he was suc- 
cessfully and largely engaged. In 1883 Mr. 
Vernon formed a partnership with M. F. Van 
Norman, of Middleton township, with whom 
he continued until December, 1886, during 
which time he probably bought and sold moie 
live stock than any other person in his 
vicinity. 

It was then that his public career com- 
menced, being appointed Deputy Sheriff by 
Hon. John M. Estes, in 1887, which position 
he lield one term. In 1888 he was elected 
Sheriff by the Republican party, at which 
time he received a majority of 917 votes, 
that being 500 ahead of his ticket. He dis- 
charged the duties of this position for one 
term, and since that time has been engaged 
in the real-estate business; at tirst alone, but 
in 1891 he formed a partnership with Hon. 
II. C. Adams, with whom he has since con- 
tinued. Mr. Vernon was, and still is, a mem- 
ber of the Drainage Commission, having 
charge of the draining of the lakes around 
Madison. Socially he belongs to tlie An- 



188 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



dent Order of United 'Workmen, of the Red- 
men, the Woodmen, and is actively identified 
with the Freemasons. 

He was married February 5, 1880, to 
Emma E. Gordon, an estimable lady, born 
and reared in Middleton township, Dane 
county, this State, and daughter of James O. 
Gordon, a well-known citizen of Madison. 
They have one child, Jennie E., aged seven 
years. The devoted wife and mother de- 
parted this life November 16, 1890, leaving 
an aching void which time can never repair. 



t,()N. WILLAKD II. CHANDLEK.— 

The subject of the present sketch is 
one of the most prominent men in this 
part of the State of Wisconsin. He is now 
a resident of Burke township, where he has 
repeatedly served his fellow-citizens in offices 
of responsibility and trust. 

Mr. Chandler was born in Brattleboro, 
Vermont, November 1, 1830. His father, 
Kayn)ond Chandler, was born in New Eng- 
land. (See genealogy of the Chandler family.) 

The father of our subject learned the trade 
of carpenter, and followed that trade and 
also that of cabinet-maker in Brattleboro, 
where he resided until 1862. At that date 
lie came to Wisconsin, and died at the home 
of our subject. The maiden name of the 
mother of our subject was Harriet Wellman. 
She was born in Hinsdale, New Hainjishire, 
and spent her last years at the home of Mr. 
Chandler. 

Our subject was reared and educated in 
his native city, where he attended the first 
graded school started in that State. In his 
fifteenth year he entered the office of the 
Vermont PIulmux, and learned the art pre- 
eervative, where he served an apprentice.siiip 



for four years. He filled every position in 
that office from printer's -'devil " to editor, 
and remained there, with the exception of a 
short interval when he was in ill health, 
until 1854, when he came to Wisconsin. He 
stopped near Delavan for the space of one 
year, then came to Dane county, and ])ur- 
chased a tract of wild land in the town of 
Windsor, and at once began the task of im- 
proving the farm. xVt this place he resided 
until 1868, when he sold out and removed to 
Sun I'rairie, and resided there until 1880, 
when he removed to the farm where he now 
resides, in Burke township. 

The marriage of our subject took place 
February 14, 1854, to Miss Lucinda J. Well- 
man. She was born in Hinsdale, New 
Hampshire, and was the daughter of Harry 
and Betsey Wellman, and they have one 
daughter, Frances A., who is the wife of 
George E. Thomjison. 

Mr. Chandler has filled with honor, many 
offices of trust; has sei'ved as Supervisor and 
Town Superintendent of Schools, and he 
served five years as County Superintendent 
of Schools. For twenty-two years he was a 
member of the Board of Regents of the 
normal school. In 1860 he was elected a 
member of the Assembly, re-elected in 1861, 
elected to the Senate in 1862-'64, re-elected to 
tiie Senate for 1865-'66, and was President 
pro ten) of that body for the last two years 
mentioned; ami to the Assembly again in 
1870. As a member of the House he voted 
for two United States Senators, Howe and 
Doolittle. For nine years, 1882-'91, he held 
the office of Assistant State Superintendent, 
and in 1892 was the candidate of his party 
tor State Superintendent, but was defeated 
with the general ticket. 

He is a man of real force of character, and 
has the confidence of the entire people. 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



IHO 



Both he and his wife are consistent members 
of tlie Congregational Chnrch, liighly et;- 
teemed by the community. 

Mr. Chandler has not yet finished his pub- 
lic career. The people of his section cannot 
afford to part with such a useful and able 
representative. 

ALLE STEENSLAND is one of the 
foremost representatives in this coun- 
try of the Norse citizens who ha\'e 
played such a conspicuous part in the 
upbuilding of the noble commonwealth of 
Wisconsin. He has been for many years one of 
the leading business men of the capital city, 
and has contributed largely to its material 
prosperity by his energy and financial ability. 
Mr. Steensland was born June 4, 1832, his 
birthplace being Sandeid, near Stavanger, 
Norway. His father, Halle H. Steensland, 
was a farmer, and served as a non-commis- 
sioned officer in the regular army of that 
country for more than a quarter of a century. 
He died in the land of his nativity, when past 
sixty years of age. His mother's name was 
Ingeborg Knudsdatter, who came of a long- 
lived family, one of her sisters is now (1892) 
living at the age of ninety-nine years. She 
came to this country after her husband's 
death, together with lier two other and 
younger sons, Knud and Thor, and had her 
home most of the time with her son Halle, 
until her death some twenty years ago. 

The means of his parents being quite lim- 
ited, Mr. Steensland left the parental roof 
when about twelve years of age to shift for 
himself, and earned his living at first by farm 
work, but being averse to that kind of occu- 
pation and tiiere being but little promise of 
betterment, he obtained a situation as clerk 



for a tnerchant in Stavanger. Ambitious^ 
however, to make something of his life, he 
wisely thought that the great Republic across 
the sea, whose waves beat against the shores 
of his native land, offered him a wider 
field of action than his own country, and he 
determined to brave the unknown trials and 
hardships of emigration that he might find 
for himself a home in the United States of 
America. Accordingly in 1854, when a lit- 
tle past his majority, he set sail for the land 
of promise, and arrived in Chicago with less 
than ten dollars in his pocket, the remainder 
of a gift from his last employer in Norway. 

He came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1854 
and has been a resident of Madison since the 
spring of 1855. After clerking in a store 
for some years he, with a partner, engaged in 
business for himself. After five years he 
became sole owner and continued in mer- 
cantile business until 1871, when he wag 
induced to enter upon a new enterprise, the 
organization of the Hekla Fire Insurance Co. 
He was elected its first secretary and acted 
in that capacity for over ten years. He was 
also treasurer of the concern during the 
whole period of over eighteen years that he 
was connected with it, and was its president 
for the last few years. The company was 
started with a nominal paid-up capital of 
$25,000, and its affairs were so well managed 
by Mr. Steensland, and his fellow-officers 
tliEit in 1889 the con^pany's assests amounted 
to nearly half a million dollars, but on ac- 
count of sijme differences of opinion, as to its 
future management, it was transferred to 
other parties at a good jireniium. 

Immediately after this transfer of the 
"Hekla," Mr. Steensland organized the Sav- 
ings Loan and Trust Company of Mailison, 
with a paid-up capital of $100,000, and in 
less than three years the assests have increased 



1!)0 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



to over $375,000. Mr. Steensland is presi- 
dent and treasurer, liis son, E. B. Steensland, 
secretary, and X. 13. Van Slyke, pre.sident of 
tiie First National Bank, is the company's 
vice-president. 

Mr. Steensland brought to his new ])Osi- 
tion a splendid ei^uipnient as a trained busi- 
ness man of clear brain and keen foresight, 
of wide experience in finances and of marked 
executive ability, and under his guiding hand 
tlie company is doing a large and constantly 
increasing business, and occupies a high i)lace 
in monetary circles, its reputation for sta- 
bility and sound conservative business 
methods making it a potent factor in devel- 
oping the interests of the city and State 

Mr. Steensland was married in Madison 
to Miss Soj)hia Halvorsdater in 1857, and 
theirs is one of the attractive homes of the 
city, wherein are found true comfort and 
a gracious, never-failing hospitality. Mrs. 
Steensland was born in tlie central part of 
Norway an<i came to this country when eight 
years old. With her housewifely quali- 
ties she has been a worthy helpmeet to her 
husband in acquiring a competence. 

Mr. and Mrs. Steensland are the parents of 
six children, five sons and a daughter, Helen 
A. living at home. The sons are: Ilenry 
H., at home; Edward P.., above mentioned, 
married to Sophia, daughter of Hon. L. K. 
Waker, of Minnesota; Mortem M., a student 
at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at 
Philadelphia, member of the class of '93; 
Ilalbert S., student at the State University, 
class '95; and Emil A., thirteen years old; 
Edward B. and Helen are graduates of the 
State University and Mortem M. of the Luth- 
eran College, Decorah, Iowa. 

Politically, Mr. Steensland lias always been 
identified witii the Republican party, inter- 
ested himself particularly in the campaign of 



Fremont and Lincoln, and took an active 
part in the Blaine campaign of 1884. He 
has had some political aspii-ations, and has 
several times been mentioned in connec- 
tion with the nomination for one of the 
higher state offices, but has apparently been 
more successful in business than in politics, 
due perhaps to the fact that he has never be- 
come affiliated with the political managers of 
his party and has considered it incompatible 
witii good citizenship to engage in political 
manipulation. 

In 1872 Mr. Steensland was appointed to 
the ofiSce of Vice-Consul in Wisconsin for 
Sweden and Norway, and he has filled the posi- 
tion vvith tact and to the entire satisfaction of 
the governments he represents. Mr. Steens- 
land has traveled extensively in this country 
and in Europe. He has twice re visited 
his native country, the last time in 1889. 
AVHiile in Norway at that time he had a long 
and pleasant interview with King Oscar, who 
gave him a very cordial reception, and whom 
lie found to be very genial and agreeable. 
The king, as a special mark of esteem, pre- 
sented him with his picture and autograjjh. 

Mr. Steensland and family are members of 
the Lutheran Church. He takes an active 
prominent part in Church and school matters. 

From the above it will be seen that Mr. 
Steensland, notwithstanding the limited 
advantatres he had in his early life as to edii- 
cation and opportunities for advancement, 
has succeeded, not only in acquiring a com- 
petency, l>ut has built up for liimself a rep- 
utation as a business man second to none. 
As a busine.-s man his brusqueness may 
sometimes be misunderstood, but those who 
know him best and gain his confidence find 
in him a true friend and valuable coimselor. 



DA^E COLT NTT, WISCONSIN. 



191 



!REDERIC KING CONOVER, son of 
0. M. Conover and Julia (Darst) Con- 
over, was born in Madison, Wisconsin, 
Feliruary 17, 1857. The fatlier was a pro- 
fessor in the university at tliat time, and as 
was then the custom, lived with his family in 
that one of the university buildings which 
is now known as South Hall, so that the son 
had the advantage of entering the world and 
university at tlie same time. After receiving 
his preliminary training in both the public 
and private schools of the city, he again en- 
tered the university and was graduated in 
the class of 1878, with the degree of A. B. 
He won at that time the Lewis prize for the 
best commencement oration. He was ofJ'ered 
the position of instructor in Latin in the 
university, but declined it liecause he wished 
to begin at once his professional studies. He 
entered the law ofHce of Judge J. H. Carpen- 
ter, in Madison, and was employed upon the 
work of the publication of the Revised Stat- 
utes of 1878. In the autumn of that year 
he entered the law department of the uni- 
versity, from wliich he was gi'aduated in 1880 
with the degree of LL.B. He had previously, 
in November, 1879, been admitted to the bar, 
upon examination. From 1880 to 1884 Mr. 
Conover jiracticeil law in Madison. During 
the absence of his father, in Europe, begin- 
ning in September, 1882, and until the death 
of the latter in London, in 1884, he performed 
the duties of Supreme Court Reporter, edit- 
ing volumes 55 to 58, inclusive, of the Wis- 
consin Reports. 

In April, 1884, he was appointed Supreme 
Court Reporter, and has held that office ever 
since. Since his appointment volumes 59 
to 82, inclusive, have appeared, and it is 
said by competent judges, that in com- 
pleteness, accuracy and promptness of is- 
sue, the Wisconsin Reports are unexcelled. 



Since 1885 Mr. Conover has been one of tlie 
directors of the Madison free library, which 
contains 13,000 volumes and has an annual 
circulation of about 40,000. He is a life- 
meinl>er of the State Historical Society; was 
one of the incorporators, and afterward, at 
different times secretary and vice-president 
of the Madison Club, now called the Madi- 
son Business Club; has been treasurer of the 
Madison Civil Service Reform Association 
since its organization in 1882, and is a mem- 
ber of the Madison Literary Club, which has 
monthly meetings, and also of other local 
organizations. He is Counselor of the 
American Institute of Civics, and a member 
of the Holland Society of New York, which 
is composed of direct descendants in the niale 
line of Dutchmen, who were natives or resi- 
dents of the American colonies, prior to the 
year 1675. 

Mr. Conover was married, in June 1891, 
to Miss C race Clark, daughter of Darwin and 
Frances (Adams) Clark. Mrs. Coiiover grad- 
uated from the university in 1885, and from 
1885 to 1888, and again from 1890 to 1891, 
after a year of study in the College de France, 
Faris, was Instructoress of French in the 
university. Mr. and Mrs. Conover have one 
son, Frederic Lo Roy, born in July, 1892. 



^ 



^ 



f(3HN LAPPLEY, one of the leading 
farmers of Dane county, Wisconsin, was 
born in Germany in 1825, a son of Law- 
rence and Ileinreika (Shrade) Lappley, na- 
tives also of that country. The father fol- 
lowed the shoemakers' trade all his life in 
Germany, where he died A])ril 22, 188S, at 
the age of eighty-eight years. The mother 
also died there in her seventy-fourth year. 
They were the parents of fourteen children, 



192 



BWGRAPniCAL REVIEW OF 



four of whom grew to years of maturity, one 
son and three daughters. The paternal grand- 
father of our subject, Melchior Lappley. was 
also a native of Germany, a baker by trade, 
was twice married and the father of seven 
sons and five daughters. He lived to the age 
of eighty years, and at his death left a fine 
estate. 

John J^appley, the subject of this sketch, 
received a eood education in his native coun- 
try. From the age of twenty-one to twenty- 
seven years he was in the employ of the Ger- 
man service, receiving three cents per day, and 
three centsfor rations. During this six years he 
was three years at home, witiiout pay, and 
this was compulsory by the German law. In 
the spring of 1852, at the age of twenty-seven 
years, he sailed from flavre, France, on the 
St. Georire, landinsj in New York after a 
voyage of thirty-four days, and with eight 
French dollars. He soon found eni])loynient 
at his trade, for $4 per month, but failed to 
receive his wages, and afterward began work 
at $9 per month. After spending one year 
in New York, Mr. Lappley worked in the 
lumber regions of Tioga county, Pennsylva- 
nia, three months; was employed in the piner- 
ies fourteen months, at $16 per month, and 
then worked at his trade in New York city 
for A 12 per month. He was a tine workman, 
and could make one pair of boots a day, often 
working sixteen hours per day. In April, 
1855, he came to Wisconsin, where he was 
employed in the construction of a railroad in 
Madison a sliort time, farmed on the Indian 
reservation in Roxbury township ten years, 
erected a log house, which was ilestroyed by 
fire one mdiitli afterward, with all their house- 
hold effects, and no insurance. He then 
erected anotlierdwelling, and purchased eighty 
acres of land, fifty acres of which was culti- 
vated. .Mr. l.appley then had $200 in money 



and his stock, and out of this he was obliged 
to pay §100 court expenses, which was a roli- 
bing scheme. He next rented sixty acres of 
land in Berry township, one year, then pur- 
chased 100 acres, for which he paid $1,500, 
a few years later added twenty acres more, 
paying §190 for the latter, and still later 
bought forty acres more for $450, making 
him 160 acres of land. In 1881 he sold that 
place and purchased his present home of 340 
acres, paying $3,500. In 1885 he erected his 
line large barn, 40x62 feet, with twenty- 
four foot posts, and a basement of solid stone 
masonry, where he can stable forty head of 
cattle and fourteen horses. This building 
was erected at a cost of $1,200, and in which 
can be stored more than 150 tons of hay. 
Mr. Lappley is engaged in general farming 
and stock-growing. He keeps from twenty 
to forty head of horned cattle, about twelve 
horses, and a small flock of sheep, and raises 
about forty hogs. 

He was married in New York city, .lune 
15, 1854, to Miss Anna M. S. Schmidt, who 
came from Germany, her native land, to 
America the same year. They have ten liv- 
ing children, as follows: Louisa, wife of 
George W. Hall, a miiierof California; John, 
a mechanic of ^liddleton, Wisconsin; Henry, 
a jeweler and watchmaker of Mazomanie; 
aviary, wife of James H. Froggart, a farmer 
of this township, and they have one daugh- 
ter; William, at home; Charles, a eontra(!ti>r 
and builder ot South Milwaukee; Christian, 
aged twenty-five years, works on the home 
farm; Caroline, at home; Frederick at home; 
and Alice, who resides with her sister, Mrs. 
Froggart. One daughter, Annie, died May 
26, 1873, at the age of eight montiis. .Mr. 
Laj)pley is a Republican in his political 
views, and religiously the family are mem- 
bers of the Lutheran Church. 



DANE CUUNTT, W1.SGVNS1N. 



193 



ir^f- C. LUTHER. — During the past twenty- 
six years our subject has been in the 
^® employ of the Chicago & Northwestern 
Railroad, and for twenty-two years of that 
time has tilled that most responsible and too 
little appreciated position of engineer of pas- 
senger trains. In this period he has liorne 
tens and tens of thousands of people in safety 
on their journeys to and fro; scarcely one 
thinking of him or knowing his name, yet 
upon him has been the burden of them all. 
Those who do know him feel secure when on 
his train, knowing how skilled, careful and 
conscientious he is. Yet he has had some 
narrow escapes since the beginning of his 
service as fireman, that being his first position 
with the company, two of which are memor- 
able, namely: that of July 30, 1878, and the 
one of May 8, 1883, being a serious collision 
near Wales, and the former between Oregon, 
Wisconsin, and Brooklyn, Wisconsin. These 
were among the most serious accidents of the 
system; yet in neither of these was Mr. Lu- 
ther censured, nor has he ever been repri- 
manded for any cause by the company. On 
the contrary, he enjoys their fullest confidence 
and is generally selected to draw prominent 
otiicials and distinguished men over the road, 
among those who have been under his care 
being ex- President Hayes, President Cleve- 
land and many others, including the late 
Commodore Vanderbilt, who once presented 
him with a ^'10 bill as a testimonial to his 
skill, accompanied witli words of confidence. 
The esteem and confidence of the company is 
shown in the manner named. He is an iion- 
ored member of the Brotherhood of Railroad 
Engineers, Division No. 176, of Baraboo, 
Wisconsin, and has served upon a number of 
its important committees. 

Mr. Luther was born in Franklin county, 
New York, June 30, 1843, grew up there. 



where he received a common school educa- 
tion, and from which he enlisted in 18G2, 
when but eighteen years old; l)ut his lather 
refused to assent, and he was compelled to 
wait until August 27, 1863, when he joined 
Company I, Sixteenth New York Volunteer 
Infantry, Colonel Seaver commanding, the 
reginiLMit forming part of the Army of the 
Potomac; remained with it until the expira- 
tion of the two years' term of enlistment of 
the regiment; then later, Mr. Luther with 
many others, was transferred to Company I, 
Twenty-first New York Volunteer Infantry, 
Captain Kidder in comntand of the company. 
Mr. Luther remained with this company and 
regiment until the close of the war, when he 
was honorably discharged. He took part in 
the battle of Gettysburg, as a detached mem- 
ber of the regiment, and also participated in 
the terrible battle of the Wilderness and in 
the many conflicts around Petersburg, yet he 
was never taken prisoner and was wounded 
but once, and then but slightly. Our subject 
meets his old comrades frequently and re- 
vives those days of peril, in the Grand Army 
meetings, he being a member of Cadwallader 
C. Washburn Post, No. 11. He is a mem- 
ber of the lodge of Master Masons and of 
the chapter of Royal Arch Masons, both at 
Madison. 

Our subject was married at Kenosha, Wis- 
consin, to Miss Jessie Nelson, a native of 
Philadelphia, who came to that place when 
quite young with her parents; was educated 
at Kenosha, and afterward was a teacher in 
its public schools for eight years. She is of 
Scotch parentage, being the daughter of 
Thomas and Rosaline (Cook) Nelson, who 
were married in Scotland, and after their 
emigration to this country, Mr. Nelson 
worked at his trade of designer and engraver 
for calico prints at Philadelphia. Mr. Nel- 



194 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



8011 came West with his family in 1856, set- 
tlinu; at the work of gold and silver engraving 
at Kenosiia; also, being a skilled machinist, 
did clock and watch work. He was a just 
and upright man, being a devout member of 
the Presbyterian Church, and lived at peace 
with the whole world, respected by all who 
knew him. Death came to him at Racine, 
at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Margaret 
Ralyea, November 21, 1882, at the age of 
eighty-two, he having been born in 1800. 
His wife died at Kenosha, March 17, 1878, 
at the age of seventy-five. She was a most 
estimable Christian woman, descended from 
worthy Scottish stock. Her brother, George 
Cook was for many years a leading merchant 
of Glasgow, and her father, Captain Robert 
Cook, was the captain of a merchant vessel. 
During the war between France and Great 
Britain he was captured on the high seas and 
held a prisoner of war in France for many 
years; but was finally restored to his family, 
who supposed him dead. Mrs. Luther, the 
wife of our subject, is one of ten children, 
eight of whom are living and all of them 
married. 

The parents of our subject were Charles S. 
and Betsy J. (Ellis) Luther, both born in 
1811, natives of North Adams, Franklin 
county, New York; were married there, spent 
their days and finally died there, the father 
May 28, 1886, and the mother December 4, 
1884. Charles S. Luther was a man of ster- 
ling character, well-read and well-informed, 
who had many warm friends, including a 
number of distinguished men, among whom 
was the late Vice-Fresident William A. 
Wheeler, a close and intimate friend. He 
was a devoted Christian, liberal toward 
others, considerate and unselfish. The Bap- 
tist Church best reflected his views, and he 
lived and died in that faith. His wife, the 



mother of our subject, was a member of the 
Methodist Church, whose gentle nature un- 
selfishly and uncomplainingly took on the 
pain of lingering consumption; no words of 
complaint or repining fell from her lips in all 
the long days of her illness; and from her bed 
of sickness was the light of a redeemed saint, 
whose rays still point others to the loving 
Christ. 

Mr. and Mrs. Luther have no children; but 
they have adopted Florence E. Wellaud, a 
bright, sweet miss of fourteen, now attending 
school. They are consistent members of the 
Congregational Church, and prominent in the 
social life of that church as well, as in Madi- 
son generally. 



->^v^->>i^^i:^:7^^ 




r'f ILLIAM WALLACE CROCKER 
1 of section 30, Montrose township 
'~^S'^~~*- is a member of one of the pioneer 
families who settled in Dane county, Decem- 
ber 1(5, 1842, at which date the family settled 
on a claim of 820 acres of land in section 30. 
Josiah Crocker was born in liarnstable, Mas- 
sachusetts and married Sarah Toby who was 
also i)orn in Barnstable, of English ancestry. 
The Crocker famil}- originated in America 
from three brothers, who came from England 
in 1630 and settled in Massachusetts and 
the descendants still live at Barnstable. The 
grandfather of our subject was a farmer and 
also a shoemoker by trade. He w*8 an indus- 
trious man and he worked on the farm by 
day and at his trade at night. He cleared up 
a large farm. He removed to Pawlet, Ver- 
mont, in 1789 and while passing through New 
York city witnessed the inauguration of Wash- 
ington. The family settled at Fawlet in Rut- 
land county, Vermont, and there the grand- 
father passed his remaining years. Five of his 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



195 



children crrew to maturity: Jjenjainiii, the 
fathei'of our .subject; James liecame a lawyer 
in Buffalo, New York, where he died, a 
trustee of the city; Ezra moved to Ohio at 
an early day and the family lost sight of him ; 
Sarah married Robert Wilson and settled at 
New Ripon, in Wisconsin; and Thomas is a 
resident at the old home in Vermont. 

The father of our subject, Benjamin Crock- 
er, was born in Pawlet, Vermont, July 5, 
1789, was reared on the farm and like his 
father learned the trade of shoemaker, lie was 
first married in Rutland county and after 
the death of his tirst wife be removed to Sa- 
lem, Washington county. New York, where 
May 12, 1819, he married Rebecca Estee, a 
daughter of Stephen and Altigail Estee. She 
was of English descent, her progenitor, Asa 
Estee, coming to America in the Mayflower. 
The parents of our subject resided at Salem, 
New York, until 1842, then started to find a 
home in the far West. The journey was made 
over the Erie canal to Buffalo, thence by the 
great steamer, the Great Western, to Mil- 
waukee, which steamer on its return trip was 
burned on Lake Erie. The family hired teams 
to bring them to Dane county, where they 
took up a claim. They lived in Green 
county, until a log cabin could be built on 
their claim, where they lived and the parents 
died, the father January 30, 1848, and the 
mother October 30, 1845. They had had a 
family of live children, three of whom grew 
to maturity: these were: Russell, born 
October 3, 1820, married Jane Lister and 
resided in Montrose township after 1842, his 
death takingplace at Alexandria, Minnesota, 
June 28, 1892, while visiting a daughter; 
HoUis was the next and our snl)ject the 
third. 

The latter was born in Salem, Washington 
county. New I'ork, June 6, 1831. lie was 



only eleven years of age when the family 
caine to Wisconsin. On account of the 
accumulation of farm work at this time he 
had only tifteen days of schooling after 
coming to this State. After the death of his 
father he engaged to work as a farm hand, 
receiving from six to eleven dollars per 
month, excepting the two months of harvest 
in one year, when he received thirteen dollars. 
He was married, July 20, 1854, to Miss 
Mary Ann Sharman, daughter of Richard 
and Ann (Limb) Sharman. She was born in 
Derbyshire, England, October 26, 1884. The 
family came to the United States in 1849, 
settling in the town of Albion, Dane county. 
The Sharman family lived on an estate in 
England, which had been in the family for 
431 years. They settled on a farm in Dane 
county and there the parents of Mrs. Shar- 
man passed their declining years, the father, 
who was born April 2, 1808, died December 
13, 1867) his death resulting from an accident 
from a runaway team. The mother was born 
November 28, 1812, and died May 7, 1857. 
They had a family of five children, these 
being as follows: William, a farmer who died 
in Crawford county, near Seneca; Mary Ann, 
wife of subject; Amy, married James Jall- 
ings and resides in Fillmore county, Minne- 
sota; Isaac, resides in Montrose township; and 
Eliza, married William W. Morse and resides 
in Gage county, Nebraska. After marriage 
our subject settled on the farm, wliere he now 
resides, having previously purchased eighty 
acres and built a home on the same. He has 
made many im])rovements on the farm, where 
he now owns 150 acres. Li all these years 
tlie country has changed very much and it 
seems dilBcult to believe that at the time of 
the settlement of the family here our subject's 
brother, Ilollis, had to drive 117 miles in 
(irder to obtain flour for family use. Mr. and 



196 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



Mrs. Crocker have liad nine children, as 
follows: Amy, born November 28, 1856, 
died January 26, 1856; Eliza, born Decem- 
ber 6, 1856, married Andrew Elder and 
resides in Montrose township; Isaac, born 
September 19, 1858, died Jnne 0, 1875; 
Abraham, born July 16, 1860, died July 3, 
186d; Abraham, the second, born August 17, 
1863, resides at homo; Richard, born July 
29, 1865, died May 28, 1875; Wallace, born 
May 5, 1868; Benjamin, born April 3, 1870, 
died July 5, 1872 and Minnie, born October 
26, 1873. Mr. and Mrs Crocker and their 
children are prominent member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a 
Prohibitionist although formerly he was a 
Republican, but since 1884, he has been 
identified with the former party. He is a 
stockholder in the Montrose cheese factory 
No. 1, which was the first factory of its kind 
in the township. Mr. Crocker has interested 
himself in everything that has tended toward 
the improvement and growth of his section 
of country and is a man much esteemed by all. 



ilLLIAM J. SMITH, one of the lead- 
ing citizens of Westport township, 
[*-^?T5 was born in Canada in 1832. His 
father was Hugh iSmith, of Onondaga county. 
New York, a mechanic, carpenter and joiner 
by trade, which he followed to the age of 
thirty-two years. He married Margaret 
Johnson, of the same county, and they 
moved to Smith Falls, Canada, on the liideau 
canal, about thirty-two miles west from Otta- 
wa. At this place he bought a farm, and 
lived and died there. He was the father of 
eight children, four sons and four daughters, 
of whom two daughters, Mary and Nancy, 
and one son, James, are now dead. .Fames, 




the third child, died at the age of twenty- 
four years, and Mary, the second child, at the 
age of twelve. Nancy, the fifth child, died 
at the age of twenty-seven. Our subject is 
the fourth child and third son of his parents. 
The mother died in 1872, at the age of sixty- 
seven, and the father survived her some 
eight years, and died in his eighty-seventh 
year, and he was strong, both mentally and 
physically, up to near his end. 

Our subject was reared on a farm and to 
farm labor, and received a good common - 
' school education for ihose times. lie left 
his home at the age of twenty-one yetjrs, and 
went to Baldwinsville, Onondaga county. 
New York, where he remained for three 
years. He worked on a farm for two years, 
by the month, at from §14 to 818 per month, 
and at the carpenters' trade for §14 a month. 
In the spring of 1857 he came to Uurand, 
Winnebago county, Illinois, and there worked 
at his trade, and at this place he met his fate 
in the person of Miss Louisa Huff, to whom 
he was joined in wedlock. She was the 
dauifhtcr of James R. Huff and his wife, 
Lydia Austin, both of whom were natives of 
Lyons, Wayne county. New York. They 
were early settlers of Rierpont, Ashtabula 
county, Ohio, where Mrs. Smith was born in 
1840. She has two brothers and six sisters. 
The brothers were named Moses A. and Ly- 
sander (i. Huff, and the former was a resi- 
dent of Lyons, where he was Postmaster and 
a well-known and liberal man. The latter is 
a resident of Union county, Ohio, and served 
three years in the late Union army and was 
severely wounded at Gettysburg. The mother 
of this family of nine children died in Ohio, 
at the age of thirty-seven, but the father 
lived to a ripe old age, dying at the age of 
seventy-four years, in 1875. 

Mr. and Mrs. Smith came from Durango, 



DANE C0UNT7, WISGONSli',. 



197 



Illinois, in 1859, and in the spring to Wis- 
consin, to the hospital there, whicli was in 
course of construction, and he worked upon 
this grand structure some thirty-two years, 
until September, 1891. They lived in a 
house near the Mendota depot. They have a 
farm of 130 acres, four miles north of Madi- 
son, which they bought in 1880. They have 
never lived upon the place, but have rented 
it. Mr. Smith has been the Postmaster of 
Mendota for seventeen years, receiving his 
first commission from President Grant, July 
20, 1875. He has been Notary Public for 
si.xteen years. 

Mr. and Mrs. Smith buried one little son, 
John Moffatt Smith, at the age of sixteen 
months, and they have live children: Jerome 
W. Smith; Emma M., who became the wife 
of Oliver Hale, of Oraig, Nebraska; James 
R. ; Clara L., married Joseph Speckner, and 
now resides at Brooklyn, Wisconsin, who 
have one daughter, Muriel E. ; and Isabel, a 
young lady, at home. Jerome W. married 
Amanda Gran, and they reside at St. Paul, 
Minnesota. He is the traveling auditor of 
the Great Northern Railroad, a position 
which he has held for the past three years on 
this road, and for three years prior on the 
Omaha Railroad. He has one son, Ray- 
mond R. The other son holds a like position 
with the same railroad. The latter married 
Rasha Walters, of Eyota, Minnesota, and 
they live at Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Mr. 
and Mrs. Smith have given their children 
good educational advantages at Madison. 
Their daughter Em ma. now Mrs. Hale, has been 
a teacher for the past twelve years, and is now 
principal of a graded school at Craig, Ne- 
braska, at a salary of |60 per month. Isabel 
is a young lady, who has developed musical 
taste and talent, and has a class in music. 
For twenty years Mr. Smith has been a 



Knight Templar and a loyal Republican. 
They belong to no church, i)nt their leaning 
is toward the Methodist Episcopal denomi- 
nation. 



HAIR G. LAMONT, a resident farmer 
of Vienna township for twenty-three 
years, is a resident of section 7. He 
was born in Schoharie county. New York, 
in 1827, and his father was Benjamin La- 
ment, born in the same county in 1797, and 
in turn his father was William Lamont of 
the same section. He was a life- long farmer, 
who died in Chautauqua county, New York, 
an octogenarian, and has been the father of 
some ten children, two daughters and eight 
sons, all of whom came to mature years and 
became heads of families. 

Benjamin Lamont married Sallie Howe, of 
New York, whose father had died before she 
was born, and she had one brother who died 
young. Our subject is the sixth child of 
eleven children, and the fourth son. The 
parents were farmers, and l)rought their chil- 
dren up to hal)its of industry and economy. 
The fatlier died in Livingston county, New 
York, September, 1847, in the prime of life, 
leaving his widow and this large family with 
no property. 

Our subject was married in Livingston 
county at the age of twenty-nine years to 
Miss Julia Ann Cook, of that county. They 
came west in September, 1865, coming to 
Dane county where they remained one year, 
and then went to I^odi for one year, at which 
time they settled upon their place of nearly 
300 acres for which he paid $40 per acre, 
paying one-half down, and iiad time on the 
balance. After fourteen years he sold this 
and bought 140 acres, his present farm for 



198 



BIOORAPHIOAL REVIEW OF 



$30 per acre. Tliis farm had been cleared 
and tilled, but was in very poor repair, hav- 
ing; neither biiildiiiijs nor fences. He soon 
built and settled upon it, and now lias a line 
well-tilled farm, being a neat agriculturalist, 
growing the ordinary crops of this section, 
e.xcept tobacco, although he lias the best of 
land for this crop. Our subject has forty 
acres of timlier, 100 acres of land under the 
plow. 

Mr. Lamont has taken a prominent posi- 
tion in the township, having served as Super- 
visor for two terms. In his politics he is a 
Democrat. 

Mr. Laniont buried his first wife in March, 
186f), at the age of twenty-tive years. She 
left him two sons and one daughter as fol- 
lows: Byron, a resident of Aberdeen, Dakota, 
where he is a lawyer, has a wife and son; 
AVilliam is a farmer upon a place adjoining 
his father; Liiella, is the wife of (ieorge 
Ayer, of Verona, Wisconsin, and has one son 
and one liaughter. Mr. Lamont was married 
a second time, his choice being Miss Susie, 
the daughter of Silas and Adeline (Boynton) 
Bunker, of the State of Maine, who settled 
in Lodi, Wisconsin, in 1850. By this niar- 
riase two children have been born: lluch T. 
now in his twenty-second year, a school 
teacher, and Lillian, a young lady of nine- 
teen years, bright and pleasing. All of the 
chiMren of our subject have received good 
educations, and all have proven good teachers, 
and are highly esteemed. 

Mr. Lamont has taken a great interest in 
school matters, having been a member of the 
School Board for twenty-two years, and to 
liis duties on the Board, he has given much 
attention, so that the school of his district 
has the reputation of being one of the best 
in the State. The mother of Mr. Lamont is 
residing in Lodi with her son Alfred. She is 



ninety-one years of age and is still active for 
one of her years, and has her mental facul- 
ties. She was married at the age of four- 
teen years, bore eleven children, toiled liard 
all of her life, and still lives to see her great, 
great-grandchildren beloved and cared for by 
all. Of her children there are six still liv- 
ing: Louisa is the wife of John Wilkins, of 
Lodi, Wisconsin; Albert, resides in Lodi, 
where he is a retired farmer; our subject; 
Benjamin, resides at Ogden, Utah, where he 
is a farmer; Harriet is Mrs. Linford Nar- 
regang, of South Dakota. 

Mrs. Lamont lost her father when she was 
but three years old, in 1852, at the age of 
twenty-eight years, leaving two children and 
a comfortable home. His wife married again 
and is still living at Lodi, Mrs. Adaline Dow- 
den, the widow of T. J. Dowden, who died in 
the civil war. 



fOllN C. LCJl'LU, a farmer of Dane 
county, Wisconsin, was born in Mecklen- 
burg, Germany, in 1840, a son of Fred 
Loper, a native of the same place, and a weaver 
by trade. He came with his wife and three 
sons to America in 1852, and, on account of 
a severe storm, was shxty days on the ocean, 
having been in great danger of being lost. 
They located in Rochester, New York, where 
the father found employment at $13 per 
month during the summer months, and en- 
gaged in cutting cord wood for thirt^'-six 
cents per cord during the winters. In 1855 
the family came to Dane county, Wisconsin, 
and their cash capital then consisted of $10. 
ilr. Loper worked by the day for the first 
year, and then bought sixty-eight acres of 
wild land, for which he paid SllO, having 
borrowed the money. Their dug-out, covered 



DANE COUNTY, WISGOl^SIN 



199 



with king grass from the marsh, was burned 
one year later, with no insurance, and in which 
they lost good clotliing brought from Ger- 
many. In the winter of 1857, with the assist- 
ance of his neighbors, Mr. Loper erected a 
log cabin, 14 x 18 feet. John C, our sub- 
ject, was then eleven years of age, and was 
working at farm labor for $3 per month, and 
his father was receiving fifty cents per day. 
The latter added to his original purchase 
until at the time of his death, which occurred 
in 1862, at the age of sixty-tive years, he 
owned 160 acres. lie left four sons and four 
daughters, seven of whom still survive: 
Charles, our subject; Fred, a farmer of Lodi; 
William, a farmer of West Point; Carrie, 
wife of Frank Thompson, a farmer of Rox- 
bury township, Dane county; Louise, wife of 
Fred Lorch, a cigar manufacturer of Madison; 
August, a farmer on the old homestead in 
Roxbury township, who is also ruiming a large 
creamery; and Minnie, wife of Hamilton 
Padley, a farmer of West Point; Amelia, 
deceased, was formerly the wife of Hamilton 
Padley, and they had one son and a daugliter. 
John C. Loper received but few educational 
advantages, and at tlie age of fifteen years 
enlisted in the Second Wisconsin Infantry. 
He received a gunshot wound in the arm at 
Gainesville, in August, 1862, which cut 
the nerve passing through the arm, from 
which he was disabled about nine months. 
He was also again accidentally wounded in 
the left hand. After marriage Mr. Loper 
purchased eighty acres of land from his father 
in Roxbury township, where they remained 
ten years, and during this time he erected a 
good log house and cleared about fifty-six 
acres. He sold this land to his mother for 
$1,200, then bought 106 acres of his present 
farm, and four years afterward 120 acres 
more, making his present farm of 226 acres. 



and for which he paid .$6,000. lie has 173 
acres of his place under a fine state of cultiva- 
tion, is engaged in general farming and stock- 
raising, and makes a specialty in the raising 
of hogs, of which he keeps from forty to sixty 
head. Mr. Loper has always taken an active 
interest in the growth of his county, and has 
served as school clerk. 

He was married at the age of twenty-four 
years, to Catherine Loetfler, a daughter of 
Henry and Catherine (Lumbartey) LoetHer, 
tiie former a native of Heilbronn, (Tcrmany, 
and the latter of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. 
The father was a weaver of laces in Germany, 
and came with his brother to this country 
when a young man, with no capital. Mr. 
and Mrs. Loetfler came to AVisconsin in a very 
early day, where they v;ere afterward married. 
The father is still living in this State, in his 
eightieth year, and the mother died in Wau- 
kesha, Wisconsin, September 24, 1848, in the 
prime of life. She left seven children : Charles, 
a farmer of Montana; Henry, an engineer of 
Nevada; Harriet, deceased ; Louisa, deceased; 
Catherine, wife of our subject; Mary, deceased ; 
and Clara, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Loper 
have buried one son, Irvin H., aged five years. 
They have seven living children, namely: 
Orren E., aged twenty years; Abbey, who 
was educated at the State Normal, will soon 
teach the district school near her home; Ernest 
R., aged seventeen, is engaged in farming on 
the home place; Viola, aged fifteen years; 
Earl, twelve years; Walter, six years; and 
Amy, two years. Mr. Loper is a Republican 
in his political views; and religiously the 
family are members of the Methodist Church. 



300 



BIorrfiAI'iriCAL REVIEW OF 



tTTO C. H. AND CARL L. SCHELER 
of the firm of Sclieler JJrothers, dealers 
and packers of all kinds of fresh and 
salt meats, are located at No. 24 Jenisen street, 
the place in which they began business, Jan 
uary 1, 1891, and have developed a good 
trade. They both grew up to the business 
in their father's market, located at No. 621, 
University avenue, where he still carries on 
the business that was established by him more 
than twenty-five years ago. 

The two brothers of this notice were born 
in Madison, and here reared and educated. 
Otto C. 11. was born August 6, 1868, and 
Carl L., was born January 30, 1871. They 
are practical workmen, and after doing busi- 
ness with their father until January 1, 1891, 
they succeeded the business of J. L. Miller, 
now deceased. The parents of these brothers 
were old inhabitants of Madison, having 
lived here for many years. The father, Henry, 
was born in the province of Saxony, Germany, 
and came to the United States when a youn;^ 
man. After spending some years in differ- 
ent places he made his way to Madison, and 
established himself as a meat dealer in 
this city. He has been very successful in 
all his enterprises, and is yet carrying on an 
active business. He is now about iifty- seven 
years of age, and has always been an upright, 
enterprising citizen ail his life. Mr. Scheler 
came of good old German stock, and all his 
life has adhered to the German Methodist 
Church. lie has been twice n)arried. the 
first time to Miss Sofia Schmidt, born in 
Germany, and came to the United States, lo- 
cating in Wisconsin when a young woman. 
She died at her home when in middle life, 
leaving four sons and a daughter, namely: 
Otto C. H., of this notice; Carl L., of this 
notice; George F., now attending the public 
school; Rose E., at home, after having 



learned the trade of seamstress; and Amead 
A., at home, attending private school. Mr. 
Scheler was married a second time, to Mrs. 
Rolof}', nee Schmideman. She also was born 
in Germany, but her first marriage occurred 
in this country. Uer first husband is now 
deceased. By this last marriage Mr. Scheler 
has no issue. 

The two brothers of this notice are still 
single young men, and are among the enter- 
prising merchants of the city. Their pleasant, 
genial manners have made them many 
friends. They are connected in a social way 
with the local orders of the German faith. 
Both the boys and their father are Democrats 
in their political opinions. 



J.ARK B. WlLLSEY,of Windsor, Dane 
county, Wisconsin, was born in Royal- 
ton township, Niagara county. New 
York, October 16, 1828, a son of Jacob Will- 
sey, a native of Cattaraugus county, that State. 
He was there married to Martha Crandall, 
also a native of New York, and in 1833, 
with their eleven children, they moved to 
De.xter, Washtenaw county, Michigan, pur- 
chased 160 acres of Government land, and 
erected a log cabin as a temporary dwelling. 
They went by canal and the lakes to Detroit, 
Michigan, and then by teams to Dexter, a 
distance of fifty-five miles. The father added 
to his original purchase until at the time of 
death he owned 220 acres, with good frame 
buildings, and other improvements. There 
the parents spent the remainder of their days, 
the mother dvingr first, at about the age of 
sixty years, leaving nine children. 

Clark B. Willsey was reared to farm life, 
and received but few educational advantages. 
At the age of seventeen years he left iiome 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



201 



for Indiana, where he worked in a sawmill 
one year, for $20 per moiitli. In tlie fall of 
1846, and in company witli his employer, he 
came with teams to Baraboo, Wisconsin, and 
was engrag'ed at work in a sawmill the first 
winter. After serving as an apprentice at 
the blacksmiths'' trade in that city three 
years, he opened a shc>p of his own. In De- 
cember, 1861, Mr. Willsey left the shop and 
anvil for the battle-field, joining the Tliird 
Wisconsin Cavalry, Company F, under Cap- 
tain D. S. Vittnm, was first sent to St. Louis, 
and then to Kansas, wliere he was under 
General Blount. In the spring of 18G2, he 
was appointed Second Lieutenant of his 
company, and the following fall was pro- 
moted to First Lieutenant. After two years 
and nine months of service he was taken sick 
with camp dysentery, and returned home. 
On account of exposure in the army, Mr. 
Willsey has suffered with rheumatism for 
more than twenty years. After the close of 
the strucrgle in 1869, he again opened his 
shop in Baraboo, where he remained until 
the spring of 186'J. In that year he opened 
a shop at Hudson, Dane county, Wisconsin, 
two years later opened the first blacksmith 
shop in Windsor, also purchased a lot on 
which he erected liis comfortable home, and 
in 1884 rented his shop and retired from 
business, his health having become impaired. 
In 1884, by Grover Cleveland, he was ap- 
pointed Postmaster of Windsor, which posi- 
tion he still fills. Ml-. Willsey's first presi- 
dential vote was cast for S. A. Douglas, the 
next for Lincoln, and since that time has al- 
ways voted the Republican ticket. 

He was married in June, 1851, to II. J. 
Haines, a native of New York, ami who had 
also lived in Michigan, l)ut they met for the 
first time in Baraboo, Wisconsin, where they 
were married. They buried two sons in in- 



fancy, and also William, who was killed in 
the pinery of Chippewa, by a falling tree, 
lie left a widow and two children. Mr. and 
Mrs. Willsey have five living children: Dan- 
iel, Jolui, Clara, Blanche, and Clark. All 
are at home except Blanche, the wife of Ben- 
ton F. Woodford, a merchant of Morrison- 
ville, and they have one son and a daughter. 
Clara is the widow of Verdine Dorinan, and 
is engaged in teaching in this county. She 
was educated at the State Normal and high 
school of Madison, and lias one son. Mr. 
Willsey is a member of no cluirch or organ- 
ization. 

fll () MAS G. TAYLOR, a fanner of 
Dane county, Wisconsin, was burn in 
Chautauqua county. New York, May 
20, 1830, a son of Israel and Eliza M. (Webb) 
Taylor, the former a native of Massachusetts, 
and the latter of Connecticut. They were 
the parents of three children, the eldest of 
whom is the subject of our sketch, and he 
has one brother in Kansas. In 1842 they 
removed to Porter, Rock county, Wiscunsin, 
and in 1847 purchased 160 acres in section 
32, Dunkirk township, Dane county, Wiscon- 
sin. Both the father and mother are now 
deceased. 

Thomas G. Taylor attended school daring 
the winter months, and after reaching a sui- 
table age purchased the <ild homestead. In 
1868 he sold that place ami purchased 150 
acres on section 20, which had been improved 
by C. Stoughton. lie is engaged in general 
farming and stock raising. Mr. Taylor is a 
Prohibitionist in his political views, and re- 
ligiously, is a member of the Universalist 
Church. 

He was united in marriage, in Dunkirk 



202 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



township, to Miss Lucy D. Upton, who was 
horn and educated in New Salem, Franklin 
county, Massachusetts. They have had seven 
chiidi-en, five now living: J. Everett, Will- 
iam G., Edward A., Carrie L., and Nellie E. 
Taylor Ilawley. The daughters are all mar- 
ried. 



fOHN M. HIBBARD, Postmaster of 
Stoughton, Dane county, was born in 
La Fayette, Walworth county, Wiscon 
sin, January I'J, 18-49, a son of Kichard M. 
and Mary (iMason) Ilibbard, the former a na- 
tive of Uadley, Massachusetts, and the latter 
of Porupey, Onondaga county, New York. 
The paternal grandfather came to Wisconsin 
when it was remarkably new, and was in 
Milwaukee when that city had only two or 
three houses. His eon, now deceased, the 
father of our subject, accompanied him, and 
was ever afterward identified witii Walworth 
county. In i^arly life he followed farming, 
but later was engaged as a merchant at Troy, 
Wisconsin. The maternal grandfatlier of 
our subject now resides in Waukesha county, 
tills state, a<red ninety-five years. 

John M. Ilibbard, the second of five chil- 
dren, one son and four daughters, received 
his education in the country schools, and at 
the age of si.\teen years graduated at the 
Stou<fhton Hijrh School. He was then em- 
ployed as a grocery clerk in Milwaukee three 
years, and later as a bookkee|)er in the same 
establishment. In September, 1869, he was 
appointed Assistant Postmaster, under A. C. 
Croft, of Stoughton, five and a half years 
later was appointed Postmaster, under Post- 
master General, Marshall Jewell, and has 
held this position under Grant, Hayes, Gar- 
field, Arthur, Cleveland, and Harrison. 



Mr. Hibbard was married November 16, 
1870, to Jennie E. Warren, a native of New 
York, l)ut who came to this State in child- 
hood, where she was educated in the Stough- 
ton High School. She is a daughter of E. 
E. Warren, a carpenter by occupation. Our 
subject and wife have four children: viz.; 
Fleta B., wife of W. C. Hegelmeyer, a sten- 
ographer at the Stoughton Wagon Works; 
Waldo W., clerk of the Stoughton post-office; 
Loretta D., and Walter E. Mr. Ilibbard 
affiliates with the Republican party; socially, 
is a member of the Odd Fellows order; and 
religiously favors the Universalist Church. 

Five generations are now living and the 
five recently held a reunion at tlie home of 
our subject, a most rare and remarkable oc- 
curance. 



-®®' 



-^ 



li^OLLIS CROCKER, a prominent farmer 

t residing on section 30, in Montrose 
township, in Dane county, Wisconsin, 
dates his residence here from 18-12. His pa- 
ternal ancestors were from England, and set- 
tled in Massachusetts colony soon after the 
settlement at Plymouth, but no dates are at 
hand with which to authenticate the history. 
Josiah Crocker, the grandfather of our sub- 
ject, was born in Barnstable, Massachusetts, 
in 1759, and married Sarah Tobey, who was 
also a native of Barnstable, born there in 
1761. He was a farmer by occupation, and 
resided in Massachusetts colony during the 
Revolutioiuiry war. About this date he de- 
cided to go west, accordingly he embarked 
on a coasting vessel for New York, and while 
there witnessed the inaugaration of Wash- 
ington as President. The date of this was 
April 30, 1789, and after this event our sub- 
ject's grandfather proceeded up the Hudson 



VANE COONTY, WIsaONl^lN. 



203 



and settled in Rutland county, Vermont, near 
the New York line, wiiere he rL'are<l a fiunily 
of no less than six children, ami passed his 
remaining years. 

The oldest of the children of Josiah and 
Sarah (Tobey) Crocker was Benjamin, and ho 
was horn in the town of Pawlet, Rutland 
county, Vermont, July 5, 1789, and passed 
his early life on a farm, later leaniint^ the 
trade of shoemaker. He married Iiel)ecca 
Wilcox, who bore him two children, one dy- 
ing in infancy, and a dauc^hter at the age of 
nineteen years. His wife died in Vermont, 
and he then removed to Salem, Washington 
county, New York, where in ISl'J \w. married 
Rebecca Estee. She was born in tliis phice 
July 29, 1798, being a daughter of Stephen 
Estee, a native of Brooktield, Massachusetts, 
born about 1707, and Abigail (Thompson) 
Estee, born in Brooktield November 20, 
1769. 

In 1842 Benjamin ('rocker emigrated to 
Wisconsin, making the journey via the Erie 
canal to Buffalo, New York, thonco by 
steamer Great Western to Milwaukee, 
where he hired teams to take his family and 
bousehold goods to Exeter, Green county, 
where his brothor-in law was living. He 
Soon Settled in Montrose township, Dane 
county, where his son, iiussell (-rocker, had 
a short time previously made a claim. The 
family built a log cabin and commenced 
pioneer life. Neighbors were few, only throe 
or four families lieing within a radius of 
three or four miles. At that time pork was 
11.25 per cwt. (5ows were $9 per head, and 
a good yoke of four-year-old oxen were worth 
$30. It was necessary to haul grain to Mil- 
waukee market, a very long and tedious trip. 

Mrs. Grocker died October 30, 184:5, and 
January 30, 1848, Mr. Cmcker passed away. 
Tliey had been parents of five children, three 



of whom grew to maturity, and these were: 
Russell, who died in Alexamlria, Minnesota, 
June 28, 1S92, having been born October 23, 
1820. Our subject was the second; and 
William, born duno 6, 1831, resides in Mon- 
ti'ose township. 

Our subject was born in the town of Salem, 
Washington county, New York, November 
13. 1827. He attended 8(diool in the Em- 
pire State until 1842, when he accompanied 
the other members of the family to Wiscon- 
sin. He assisted in making the home in the 
frontier. In early maidiood lit! worked eiiriit, 
months for a farmer in (Treen county, being 
com|)ensated with $^75, and he used .'>'50 to 
])ay for a forty acre tract (jf laml which he 
entered. In 1849 he purchased a land war- 
rant from a soldier of the Mexican war, and 
thus became the owner of 160 acres of land. 
For one year he worked as a farm hand in 
order to earn money with which to l)ny a 
team. 

In 1850 our subject marricMJ Miss Caro- 
line Easterday, born at (iratiot, Wisconsin, 
being the first white child born in La Fay- 
ette county, the date of her birth being duly 
16, 1828. H(!r parents came from Swil/.er- 
land, and were Dr. Lewis and Barbara (Rin- 
derbacker) Easterday. Tiiey came to Amer- 
ica with the Manitoba colony, nuiking their 
way to the Red river country by way of 
Hudson's Bay, and resided tliere until the 
great flood in 1827, when they went to Ga- 
lena, Illinois, near the lead region, whvve they 
resided until 1832, when they removed to 
St. Louis, where Dr. Easterday died tliat year. 
His wife, the mother of Mrs. Crocker, mar- 
rierl again, and iIIcmI in Wisconsin. 

()nr subject and wife were v(!ry poor in 
this world's goods at the time of marriao-e. 
They lived in a log cabin, and for two years 
they had not even a chair, but their liajipiuess 



204 



BIOORAPHIGAL REVIEW OP 



did not consist in these things. They worked 
with willing hands, determined to conquer cir- 
cumstances, and they did. Mr. Crocker has 
now 200 acres of land, and is a man of means 
and in ver}- comfortable circumstances. They 
have liad eleven children, nine of wliom are 
living, as follows: Margaret, who resides at 
liome; Charles, who resides in Modena 
county, Minnesota; Rebecca, deceased, who 
married James Fritz, and died in Ilolton, 
Jackson county, Kansas; Mary, married 
Samuel Sharman, and resides in Green 
county; Matilda, married William Sharman 
of Belleville; Sarah, married Charles Cronn 
of Green county; Emma, who is at home; 
Peter, born February 14, 1867, who resides 
at home; Thomas, who died young; Barbara, 
who is at home, and John Fremont Crocker, 
named after the great pathfinder, was born 
October 21, 1850, also at home. 

At an early da}' Mr. Crocker was a mem- 
ber of tlie Freewill Baptist Clmrch, but that 
organization did not flourish in tliis neigh- 
borhood, and he tlien joined tlie Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and of this he is still a 
member. Since 1804 he has been a Class 
Leader, and always a liberal supporter of the 
cliurch, and also a worker in the Sabbath 
school. In politics iiis first vote was given to 
AVinfielil Scott, and voted tlic Ivepublican 
ticket until 1881, since which time he has 
been a Prohibitionist, but has never desired 
an office. As may be inferred, he is a 
stanch temperance man, and mucli of his 
success in life may be attri!)uted to iiis tem- 
perance principles. 

The sketch of our subject lias been neces- 
sarily brief, but tiie history of Green county, 
AVisconsiii, as well as the history of Dane 
county, Wisconsin, will give much interest- 
ing matter concernin<i; the Crocker family. 
In the liistory of the Manitoba colony there 



are many facts concerning ancestors of the 
family. Our subject is a very intelligent 
gentleman, an able representative of the 
pioneer family of his name. 



iETER SENDT. an old. well-known and 
prosperous passenger engineer of the 
Chicago, Milwaukee ife St. Paul Rail- 
road is the subject of this sketch. His loca- 
tion is on the western end aiul is known as 
the Madison & Prairie Du Chien division and 
he has been so connected for the past eleven 
years, having been an engineer on this road 
since 1864, and is now able to assert that he 
has never, in all that time, had an accident 
that proved either serious to hiniself or to 
the company. Mr. Sendt is a tnember of 
the Madison Division of the Brotherhood, 
No. 73, having been so connected since 1803, 
and is now treasui-er of tliat order, and is a 
charter member of this division. The confi- 
dence of the order in our subject has been 
shown by his election as a delegate to two 
Tiational conventions, one in Louisville, Ken- 
tucky, and the other in San Francisco. For 
four years he acted as engineer on the Illi- 
nois Central railroad, from Ciiicago to 
Champaign, Illinois, and it was on this rail- 
road that he bei^an work as a fireman when 
but ninteen years of age, becoming an en- 
gineer when but twenty-one. 

Our subject was born in Lutzenburg, Ger- 
many, May 27, 1837. lie was but ten years 
of age when he accompanied his parents to 
America, sailing from Antwerp to Boston in 
1847, in a sailing ship, thence to Washing- 
ton county, Wisconsin, where the father en- 
tered 100 acres of Government land near 
Hartford, where the family were among the 
first settlers of the place. Henry Sendt im- 



BANE COUNTY, WLSOONSIN. 



205 



proved a good farm and later sold the old 
home and retired to the village of Hartford, 
and died there in 1884. He had been born 
in 1800, vpas a hardworkino; and successful 
farmer and a substantial citizen. He was a 
u'ember of the llonian Catholic Church and 
had always been a consistent Christian 
and a good neighbor. In liis political life he 
had been a Democrat. 

The mother of our subject had died on the 
old farm, in 1856. She had been born in 
1797, was fifty-nine years of age when she 
died, a good wife, a kind mother, neighbor 
and friend, and was a member of the same 
religious denomination as her husband. Her 
maiden name was Susan Wilhelm, and she 
had been the mother of three children, who 
grew to maturity and are still living. A 
l»rother of our subject, Quiren, is a black- 
smith foreman in the shops of the Chicago, 
Alton & St. Louis Railroad, at Chicago. He 
is married and pleasantly located. The sis- 
ter of Mr. Sendt is Mrs. Lena Schmidt, the 
widow of Mr. Rinewold, who was killed by 
the premature explosion of a cannon on July 
4, 1854 or '55, and also of Jacob Schmidt, 
who died twenty years ago. She now lives 
in Kenosha, Wisconsin. 

The marriage of our subject took place in 
Chicago, Hlinois, December 9, 1859, to Miss 
Mary Hoffman, born in Bavaria, Germany, 
March 29, 1837, a daughter of William and 
Lena (Engel) Hoffman, natives of Bavaria, 
who came to America after the bii-tli of all 
their children. Mrs. Sendt had come to Chi- 
cago all alone in 1859, and the parents joined 
her in Madison, in 1868. Until her mar- 
riage she had lived in Chicago, and her aged 
parents are now living in comfort in Middle- 
ton, the father aged eighty-seven and the 
mother eightv-tive, the father beino; a mem- 
ber of the Congregational Church and the 

16 



mother of the Catholic. Mrs. Sendt is one 
of tlii-ee sisters, the others being, IJarbara, 
the widow of Peter Hedler, who died after 
his return from the war, from some army 
trouble. The younger sister, Catherine, is 
now the wife of William Hoffman, a miller 
of Middleton, Dane county, Wisconsin. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sendt are the parents of two 
children: Lena, who is at home; and Anna, 
who is the wife of James Cavenaugh, a rail- 
road passenger conductor on the St. Paul, 
who resides in Madison, and she has two 
chililren, Leslie P. and .James. 



1^^-' 



yl^EOBGE THEIN, Postmaster and gen- 
'uW '"■''■^ merciiant of East Bristol, Dane 
^S^ county, was born in this township, June, 
1848, a son of George Thein, a native of I5a- 
varia, Germany. The latter was a son of 
Andrew and Elizabeth Thein, who lived and 
died iii that country. George Thein, Sr., 
came to this country in 1847, having been 
the first of his family to make the journey. 
Lie was then unmarried, but brought his in- 
teniled bride with him. After a voyage of 
several weeks they landed in Quebec, Canada, 
but soon afterward went to Milwaukee, Wis- 
consin, and thence to Dane county, where 
they were married. The father took np Gov- 
ernment land on section 13, Bristol township, 
where he remained until his death, in 1875, 
at the age of sixty-throe years. Politically 
he was identified with the Democratic party, 
and religiously was a member of the Catho 
lie Church. The mother is still living, and 
makes her home with her son, our suiject, 
aged eighty-three years. They were the par- 
ents of two sons and two daughters, of whom 
George was the eldest child. The daughters 
died when young, and the son, John, is a farm- 



20(i 



BIOORAPUICAL REVIEW OF 



er of section 36, Bristol township, Dane 
county. 

George Thein, the subject of tliis sketch, 
was eiif^agcd in farming after reacliing his 
majority until 18S8. In tliat year he em- 
barked in tiic general mercantile trade in tliis 
town with liif brother, John, with whom he 
continued three years. Since November 1, 
1886, he has conducted the business alone, 
lie affiliates with the Democratic party, and 
is a member of tlie Catholic Church. 

iNDREW TUSCHEN, deceased, was 
born in Germany, in 1825, a son of 
John Tuschen, whose death occurred in 
this country. Andrew Tuschen received a 
fair education in Germany, where lie also 
learned and worked at tiie masons' trade. At 
the age of sixteen years lie came by sail ves- 
sel to America, landing in New York after a 
voyage of forty-two days, and was then a poor 
boy. He worked at his trade in that city for 
a time, and then settled in Bristol towii.sliip, 
Columbia county, Wisconsin, where he was 
among the pioneer settlers. After renting 
land there four years he bought the farm ol 
123 acres his family still own of John Nel- 
son, for which he paid $3,000. The place 
then contained a log liouse, and forty acres 
under cultivation. Mr. Tuschen afterward 
improved the place, and his death occurred 
there March 5, 1882. 

In 1802 he married Josephine Frifjch, a 
native of Germany, who came with her 
parents to tliis country at the age of fifteen 
years, settling in Bristol township, Dane 
county, Wisconsin. Her mother died in 1870, 
and the father in 1877, both having been 
members of the Catholic Church. Mr. and 
Mrs. Tuschen had eleven children, viz.: John, 



who died at the age of eight years and eight 
months, was buried in the Catholic cemetery 
in North Bristol; Annie, wife of John Kes- 
sler, of North Bristol; Joseph, deceased in 
infancy; Mary now Mrs. Michael Schroud; 
Andrew, and Frank; Henry and Barbara 
(twins); Carolina; Catherine and William at 
home. With the assistance other sons .Urs. 
Tuschen has continued the management of 
the farm since her husband's death, has erected 
a good frame residence, fine barns, and many 
other necessary improvements. Mr. Tuschen 
was a man of strong convictions, but was kind 
of heart, and greatly beloved. 



fA M E S F>. S T O N E, one of Fitchburg 
township's most influential citizens, was 
born on the Isle of Wight, March 27, 
1826. His father, Jonathan Stone, was a 
native of the same place, where he was reared, 
married and resided until 1851, when he em- 
igrated to the States, remaining in New 
York for a short time, but finally emigrating to 
Wisconsin, where he located in Fitchburg 
township. Here the good man spent the re- 
mainder of his days in jjcace and comfort. 
The maiden i\ame of his wife was Harriet 
Dore, also a native of the Isle of AVight. She 
died in Fitchburg township, after rearing a 
family of eight children, namely: Maria, Ja- 
cob, Charlotte, Eliza, James, Ann, John and 
George. 

Our subject was reared on a farm and re- 
mained with his parents until his sixteenth 
year, when he resolved to leave the land of 
his birth and .<(ek wider fields, accordingly 
in February, 18-12, he set sail from Ports- 
mouth on a sailing vessel and landed in New 
York after a voyiige of six weeks and live 
days. It was a lonely time for the boy, alone 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



207 



ill a strange land. He made iifs way to On- 
tario county, and there hired out on a farm 
for $20 for six moiitlis, but his employer 
cheated him out of the most of his wages. 
Pie remained in Ontario county, nearly a year, 
and then went to Seneca, where he was ein- 
ployed in a soap and candle factory in the 
village of Waterloo. He remained there un- 
til 1846 and then went to Wisconsin, going 
via railroad to Rochester, via lakes to Racine 
and then engaged on a farm for the summer 
and chopped wood in winter, remaining in 
Racine until 1852, when he removed to Dane 
county. He had made preparations for loca- 
ting there by buying forty acres of land and 
remained there until February, 1853, when he 
went to Fitchburg township, where he bought 
si.xty acres of land, which is included in his 
present farm. This was university land and 
he paid §7 an acre for it. He immediately 
began iinproving it, built a house, has since 
bought other land, and now has 237 acres, 
twelve of which is in timber. 

In 1859 he was married to Miss Einina 
Dore, a native of New Haven, Connecticut, 
a daughter of David Dore, a native of the Isle 
of Wight. To this union two children have 
been born, Homer A. and James D. Mr. 
Stone is independent in politics. 

^DWARD FARRELL RILEY, a well- 
known and popular citizen of Madison, 
Wisconsin, was born at Livonia, Living- 
ston county, New York, (October 3, 1847. 
His father. Rev. B. G. Riley (Presbyterian), 
was born in Otsego county. New York, in 
1810, and graduated at Williams College in 
183-4, and at Union Theological Seminary in 
1837. He married Anna Farrell, born in De- 
troit, Michigan, and they had five children: 
Laura E., Mary F., Ellen G., Edward F. and 



Charles P. In 1857 the parents removed 
to Wisconsin, then on the frontier of civil- 
ization, and settled in Lodi, Columbia county. 

E. F. Riley passed his boyhood until the 
age of sixteen in Lodi, at which age he en- 
listed in Company C, Forty-second Regi- 
ment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry (Cap- 
tain, George M. Humphrey, Colonel, Ezra T. 
Sprague), being a Corporal in that company. 
He served until the close of the war and was 
mustered out in the spring of 1865, at the 
age of about seventeen and a half years. He 
returned to Lodi, pursuing studies in the 
academy there for some time, after which he 
entered a store in the village as clerk. 
March 1, 1869, he removed to Sun Prairie, 
Dane county, where he acted as clerk and 
bookkeeper for Henry Gilman and Dexter 
Curtis. 

Mr. Riley was married at Sun Prairie April 
29, 1873, to Miss Eliza C. LaBore, born at 
Sun Praire, July 4, 1850. Three sons have 
been born to them, viz.: George C, Charles 
G., and Frank M. 

In 1874 Mr. Riley removed to Madison, 
Wisconsin, at which place he has resided 
since, being engaged in the mercantile busi- 
ness, for some years associated with E. F. 
Riley & Company, (L. P.IIinde8),and Riley & 
Bowen (W. H. Bowen), and for some time 
proprietor of the Hickory Hill dairy farm. 
In 1881 Mr. Riley entered the employ of Mr. 
AYayne Ramsay, cashier First National Bank, 
as secretary in his private business and in the 
care of the estate of Dr. J. B. Bowen, de- 
ceased, and in looking after lands in which 
Mr. Ramsay had interests. Mr. Riley re- 
mained in the enipk)y of these land associa- 
tions until January 1, 1888, at which time 
he was elected secretary of the Board of Re-. 
gents of the University of Wisconsin, which 
position he still holds, January 1, 1893. 



208 



BIOGRAPniCAL REVIEW OF 



Mr. Itiley joined the Masonic fraternity 
soen after his majority and united with the 
First Presbyterian Churcli of Madison, upon 
profession of faith, May 3, 1875. 

iENRY SCHELER, of Madison, Wis- 
consin, the successful proprietor of the 
University Meat Marivet, located at 
621 University avenue, established his busi- 
ness there in 1866. Ever since he started in 
tliis locality Mr. Scheler has been very suc- 
cessful and his market has become one of the 
best kept and arranged markets, as well as 
one of the best known in tlic entire city. 
Ever since coming to Madison, in 1858, Mr. 
Scheler has been engaged in his life work, 
that of butchering, lie can)e to this city di- 
rect from New York, where lie had settled 
upon coming to America from Germany, in 
1852. Wiiile in New York he pursued 
farming in Montgomery county. 

Our subject was born in Saxony, Germany, 
September 7, 1836. lie comes of a good old 
German family, of healtiiy rugged ancestors, 
who were long-lived. His father, Paul Sche- 
ler, was a native of Saxony, where the father 
of subject grew to manhood and spent his ac- 
tive life engaged in following his trade of 
butcher, until his death, which occurred 
when he was seventy-eiglit years of age, hav- 
ing lived all his life in the province that gave 
him birth. lie married a Saxon woman, 
Elizabeth Meyer, who died at about the same 
ace as her husband. In religion the family 
were old Protestants. 

Mr. Scheler. our subject, was the youngest 
of thirteen ciiihlren and grew to manhood un- 
der his father's instruction, where lie learned 
his useful trade of butcher. He was the 
third one of the family to leave the <,i!<l world 



for the new. Another followed him and all 
four are yet living and all are married and 
are surrounded with families. While yet a 
boy, only seventeen, our sul)ject set out to 
seek his fortune in America, sailing from 
Bremen on a sailing vessel and landed in 
New York after some se\ en or eight weeks' 
voyage on the briny sea. After landing he 
found employment as a farm laliorcr in Mont- 
gomery county. New York. He was still a 
a single man when he came to Madison, but 
was tnarried in that city to Miss Sophia 
Schmidt, who was born in Westphalia, Prus- 
sia, Germany. She camo of (rerman par- 
ents, who died in their native land. Prior 
to their death the daughter, Sophia, had 
come to America, about 1866 and some few 
years afterward was married to Mr. Scheler, 
in Madison. She died in this city, in 1882, 
when but a little past middle life. She was 
a good Christian woman and kind wife and 
motlier. She bore her husband six children, 
namely: Ellen, died after her marriage to 
Lepold Rush and left no issue; Otto A., 
bookkeeper for his father; Carl, with his 
father; George, a student in the business col- 
lege; Rose, at home; Emil, at home and in 
school. The second marriage of our subject 
occurred in this city to Mrs. Fredrica Rolotf, 
nee Schmideman, born in Mecklenburg, Ger- 
many, and came to the United States with 
her parents when quite young. Her first 
marriage occurred in Pheasant Branch, Wis- 
consin, to August Roloflf, who also came from 
Mecklenburg, Germany, to America, when a 
young man and settled in Pheasant Branch, 
Dane county, where he operated a public ho- 
tel until his death, which occurred when ho 
was forty- two years of age. He left twp 
children, namely: Albert, now assisting Mr. 
Scheler in his busines, is married to Dora 
Zimmerschiet and resides in Madison; Ed- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



209 



as- 
II e 



ward L. is the other son, and he is also 
sisting his stepfather in his market. 
married Amelia Zo])her, of Middletown. 

Mr. and Mrs. Schelcr have no children by 
their marriage. They, with all their children, 
are members of the Uerinan Lutheran Ciiurch. 
Although our suliject and his sons are now 
strong Democrats they were formerly strong 
Republicans. Mr. Sclieler is a member of 
the C. C. Wa8hl)nni Post, CI. A. R., No. 11. 
When the war broke out our subject became 
interested in the cause of his adopted coun- 
try and enlisted, August 14, 1862, in Com- 
pany D, Twenty-third Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry and served in his company as a 
private until the close of the war, being dis- 
charged July 4, 1865. During his term of 
service he saw some iuird fighting, without 
being in many engagements with his regi- 
ment. He participated in the battle of 
Arkansas Rost, Greenville, Mississippi, at 
Vicksburg and Champion Hills and Black 
river. He also went through the Red River 
campaign, where he was captured, but suc- 
ceeded in making his escape and joined his 
regiment, after which he participated in the 
battles of I'ort Morgan, Fort Spanish and 
Fort Blakely. In all these engagements he 
passed without receivinga wound, although his 
comrades fell all around him. He was, also, 
detailed as regimental baker when in camp, 
and did much good service for his regiment 
in this department. He was a favorite with 
all his comrades and officers. His popularity 
then acquired has justly continued, and he 
now enjoys the favorable regard of all who 
know him. 

— •"•"^ SuS ' S " " " 

PILLIAM F. riERSTORFF, engaged 
in the luinlier business in Middleton, 
Dane county, was born in Fenewitt 
township, Germany, June 30, 1848, a son of 




Carl and Catherine (Bramer) Pierstorff. The 
father was born in Bridenbuck, Germany, 
August 36, 1810, was a blacksmith and 
farmer l)y trade, and came to the United 
States in 1857, on the sailing vessel Hum- 
boldt. He remained in New York about two 
weeks, where he lost a son, and then purchased 
forty acres of improved laiul in Dane county, 
Wisconsin. Five years later he sold that 
place, bought forty acres in Spring Dale, 
this county, five years after sold that land 
and purchased 150 acres in Verona township, 
but two years ago retired from active labor 
and ^settled where our suliject now lives, and 
where he died October 0, 1889. He was a 
prominent politician, and voted tiie Repub- 
lican ticket since Lincoln's nomination. His 
father, Carl Pierstorff, was engaged in black- 
smithing all his life, and his death occurred 
at the age of seventy-seven years. The mother 
of our subject was born in the same place as 
her husband, in October, 1810, and died in 
Spring Dale, Dane county, Fel)ruary 3, 1857. 
Her parents were born in tiie same locality 
in Germany, and the father was a miller by 
occupation. The mother died at about the age 
ot fifty-two years, and the father in the same 
year. Mr. and Mrs. Pierstorff reared a family 
of fourteen children, eight of whom still 
survive, three sous and five daughters, and 
the former are nearly all engaged in mercan- 
tile pursuits. One son, August, was a soldier 
in the late war, a memlier of Company B, 
Eleventh Wisconsin Regiment, for which he 
now draws a pension. 

William F., the subject of this sketch, was 
reared to farm life, and educated in the dis- 
trict schools, and also six weeks in a select 
school. At the age of twenty-two years he 
went to Montana, where, September 10, 
1871, he engaged in a gristmill with his 
brother. One and a half years later he fol- 



210 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



lowed raining one season; went to Salt Lake 
on horseback, a distance of 800 miles, in 
company with six others; from there went to 
Toelle city, enf);aged in mining; and in 1874 
returned as far as Nebraska, where he clerked 
for his brother-in-law in Kiverton, and also 
worked in the hay fields during the summer. 
In 1875 Mr. fierstorff returned to Paoli, 
Dane county, Wisconsin, where he found 
employment in a gristmill, and the follow- 
ini' year rented his father's farm. He next 
purchased a hotel and saloon in Verona, 
which ho conducted five years, and while 
there served as Town Clerk and Justice of 
the I'eace, also conducted a general store. 
In the spring of 1884 he sold all his property; 
the following fall was elected to the position 
of Sheriff, in the spring of 1887 bought 200 
acres of fine land in Middleton, and also 
bought the lumber business of Kuptke 
Brothers, which he has since conducted. 
Since his residence in this city Mr. Pierstorff 
has been chosen Chairman of the Township 
Eoard, Justice of the Peace, treasurer of the 
School Board, and as treasurer of the Mid- 
dleton Fire & Lightning Insurance Company. 
In his social relations, he is Senior Warden 
of the Masonic order. No. 80, and Treasurer 
of the I. O. O. F., LodgeNo. 158. 

September 29, 1876, our subject was 
united in marriage with Miss ]\[ary Prien, a 
native of this county, and a daughter of John 
Prien. To this union has been born the 
following children: William H., born in 
Verona, December 22, 1877; George B., 
March 30, 1880; and Frank L., June 20, 
1888. Mr. and Mrs. Pierstorff are active 
members of the Lutheran Church. 



TT-rT.MlREN GAMMONS, a farmer of 
\\ \l' '*ane county, Wisconsin, was born 
'■^^"j in Middleborough, Massachusetts, 
October 27, 1822, a son of Jairus and Mary 
(Tillotson) Gammons, natives also of that 
county. The grandfather of our subject, 
Ebenezer Gammons, was an old Revolutionary 
soldier, and his death occurred in Middlebor- 
ough, Massachusetts. The maternal grand- 
father was also an old Revolutionary soldier. 
Jairus Gammons was a forgeman and farmer 
by occupation, and he died at his okl home 
March 13, 1840. Ilis wife, the mother of 
our subject, died when the latter was an in- 
fant. The parents had a family of fourteen 
children, twelve of whom lived to be over 
fifty years of age, and three still survive. 

Warren Gammons, the subject of our 
sketch, remained at home until twenty-one 
years of age, engaged as a sailor and farmer, 
then followed the puddlers' trade five years. 
In 1849 he came with his wife and one 
child to Wisconsin, going by railroad to 
Fall River, Massachusetts, by boat to New 
York, up the river to Albany, by lakes to 
Milwaukee, and were then i)rought by a 
farmer to within one and one-half miles of 
where they now reside. Mr. (jammons pur- 
chased 160 acres of wild land, erected a frame 
house in the western part of Dane county, 
18 x20 feet, and twelve years later built their 
present fine dwelling. He has always voted 
the Democratic ticket, his first presidential 
vote havinfj been cast for James K. Polk. 
He has served as Chairman of the Town 
Board eight years. Township Clerk a numl)er 
of years, as Town Superintendent of Schools, 
and as Justice of the Peace several years. In 
his social relations tie is a member of the 
Masonic order, A. F. & A. M. 

Mr. Gammons was married September 15, 
1846, to Miss Sarah (Turney, who was born 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



311 



at Rochester, Massachnsetts, June 5, 1824, a 
daugliter of Samuel and Sarah (Shurtlelf) 
Gurney, also natives of that State. The 
father followed the sea many years, and also 
owned a very large farm. His death occurred 
in his native State, February 23, 1862, at the 
age of seventy-seven years. Mr. and Mi's. 
Gammons had live children, namely: Emily, 
born May 20, 1848, is the wife of E. A. 
Mann, of Michigan; Lucinda, born Octolier 
23, 1850, married Dr. James Coolidf^e, of 
Charles City, Iowa; Leonard W., an attorney 
of Minneapolis, married Miss F. M. Barr, 
and has two children; Albert E., a farmer of 
Bridgewater, South Dakota, married Minnie 
Scott, and has one daughter; and Frank A. 
The wife and mother died in Middleton, 
Dane county, Wisconsin. May 23, 1877. 
September 15, 1878, Mr. Gammons married 
Mrs. Ellen S. (Keene) Allen, who was born 
in Plymouth county, Massachusetts, Decem- 
ber 14, 1837, a daughter of George H. 
and Mahala (Cahoon) Keene. The father 
was also born in Massachusetts, March 15, 
1812, a son of Abraham Keene, who was re- 
lated to the first Governor of Plymouth Col- 
ony. George II., the father of Mrs. Gam- 
mons, followed the sea from early boyhood 
until his sixteenth year, and rose from the 
position of cabin boy to captain of merchant 
and passenger steamers. He died in Middle- 
borough, Massachusetts, August 30, 1874. 
His wife was born March 24, 181G, a daugh- 
ter of Stephen A. and Phoebe (Kendrick) 
Cahoon, natives also of Massachusetts. The 
father was born October 17, 1779, and died 
December 26, 1842; and the mother, born 
August 8, 1775, died October 11, 1848. The 
great-grandparents of Mrs. Gammons were 
Moses and Cynthia (Swift) Keene. Mrs. 
Gammons was tirst married to Peleg P. 
Allen, who was born in the town of Marion, 



then called Sepikan, Massachusetts, a son of 
Joseph and Polly (Briggs) Allen, albO natives 
of that State. They spent their entire lives 
there, dying at a very old age. P. P. Allen 
was engaged as superintendent of tiie At- 
lantic Guano Company, and was drowned at 
Atwood's Key, Bahama Islands, at the age of 
thirty-two years. Mrs. Gammons' eldest 
brother, George M., was a member of that 
company, and he died in Cuba, at the age of 
twenty-live years and nine days. Mrs. Gam- 
mons is a member of the Congregational 
Church. 

IHROF. RICHARD T. ELY, prominent 
in educational an<l literary circles, now 
director of the School of Economics, 
Political Science and History, in the Wiscon- 
sin University, was born in Ripley, New 
York, in 1854. His parents, Ezra S. and 
Harriet G. (Mason) Ely, were natives of 
Pennsylvania and New York, respectively. 
They still reside in the Empire State, where 
the father has followed civil engineering for 
many years. Prof. Ely's ancestors on his 
father's side, settled in Lyme, Connecticut, in 
1060, whence the paternal grandfather of the 
subject of this sketch removed to Buffalo, New 
York. The Professor's parents have three 
children, two sons and one daughter. 

Prof. Ely of this biography was early 
made acquainted with the practical side of 
life. He resided on a farm until he was 
eighteen years of age, having at ane time 
entire control of the place. He was also 
employed for a while as one of his father's 
engineering corps in laying out a railroad. 
In the meantime he completed the course of 
studies at the State Normal School at Fredonia. 
He then entered Dartmouth College, where 



212 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



lie passed his freshman year. Thence, he 
went to Columbia College, at which lie 
graduated in 1876, and then, as holder of 
the Fellowship of Letters of that institution, 
he continued his studies in the German uni- 
versities, receiving the degree of Doctor of 
Philosophy from Heidelberg, in 1879. While 
a student in Berlin he prepared for United 
States Department of State a paper on Ger- 
man railroads, which was widely noticed in 
this country. 

On his return to America lie delivered 
courses of lectures at Cornell and other in- 
stitutions, but was soon called to the Johns 
Hopkins University, wdiere he occupied the 
ciiair of Political Economy until 1892, when 
he accepted a call to the University of Wis- 
consin. In June, 1892, the degree of LL.D. 
was conferred on him by Hobart College. 

His life has been that of the man of affairs, 
as well as that of the scholar, and in all 
things he is eminently practical. lie was a 
member of the City Tax Commission of Balti- 
more for a year, and for two years served as 
a member of the Maryland State Tax Com- 
mission, in which manner he came into con- 
tact with practical politics. The experience 
gained in those capacities caused him to form- 
ulate ideas, which have crystallized into his 
present views. He enjoys, to an unusual 
degree, the confidence of the laboring classes. 
On the other hand, he has many relatives and 
intimate friends who are connected with 
great corporations, and the numerous invita- 
tions lui has to aildress various organizations, 
is stifBcient evidence of the esteem in which 
he is held by business men throughout the 
country. His address before tlie Boston 
Merchants' Association has especially been 
favorably commented on. 

As secretary of the American Economic As- 
sociation lie had the management of its 



affairs, from its foundation in 1885 until 
1892, and although its business is not large, 
yet lie has succeeded where many would have 
failed. He has lectured at Chautauqua for 
several years, and is the director of its School 
of Political Economy. He is also secretary 
of the Christian Social Union. 

He has contributed largely to leading 
periodicals and written many books on social 
and economic science, nearly all of his works 
having gone through several large editions: 
" French and German Socialism," " Past and 
Present of Political Economy," " Labor 
Movement in America," '• Taxation in Ameri- 
can States and Cities," " Problems of To- 
day," " Political Economy" (of which over 
30,000 copies have i)een sold), and " Social 
As])ects of Christianity." There is a Japan- 
ese translation of " The Past and Present of 
Political Economy," and the " Political 
Economy." 



f GEORGE SOFLCH.— Among the suc- 
cessful business ventures of the city of 
" Madison, and one which has been ap- 
preciated by the citizens, is that of the 
meat market conducted by the gentleman, 
whose well-known name opens this sketch. 
This place of business was opened in 1853, 
and it was for years known by the name of 
the Old City Meat Market. Mr. Soelch took 
possession of it in I860, and is now the oldest 
dealer of the kind in the city who has been 
continually in the business. 

The birth of our subject took place in Ba- 
varia, Germany, March, 26, 1836, and there 
he grew up and was educated in the same 
place and was the first of his family to come 
to the United States. He took passage in 
the spring of 1853, from Bremer Havre, on 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONtilN. 



213 



a sailer called the Ocean, and finally landed 
in New York city, after a passage of thirty- 
four days. He came thence to Chicago. The 
father of our subject was a most worthy mer- 
chant in the meat line in Bavaria, and there 
he died in 1889, at the age of eighty-six 
years. At the same time he conducted a 
hotel in his nacive place, and when he died 
he was mourned by all, as he had been a good 
and consistent member of the Lutheran 
Church. The motlier of our subject is yet 
living in Bavaria. Iler maiden name was 
Miss Barbara Keaste. 

Our subject has a brother, Philip, and a 
sister, Mrs. Caroline iiaithel, who are yet 
living in their native country of Germany, 
the former the owner and conductor of his 
father's business. Another brother, Charles, 
is living in Madison and is in the employ of 
his brother, our subject. 

Mr. Soelcli was joined in matrimoy, to 
Miss Henrietta Keastner, who was born near 
her husband's birthplace in Germany, and 
came to this country in 1871, and settled in 
Madison. She is the only one of the family 
living in this country. Three l)rothers who 
came are now deceased. Her i)arents lived 
and died in Germany, and were good and 
worthy members of the Lutheran Church. 

Mr. and Mrs. Soelch of this notice are the 
parents of no children of their own. but that 
has not prevented their kind hearts from go- 
ing out to a nephew, whom they have made 
their own. This is the son of a brother of the 
wife of our suliject, and his name is John F., 
a bright and promising young man, who is 
engaged with Mr. Soelch in the business. 
They are members of the German Lutheran 
Church, to which Mr. Soelch has been a 
liberal supporter, and both he and his nephew 
are sound in Democratic principles. 

Mr. Soelch deals in live stock to some ex- 



tent also. He came t6 this city in 1857, and 
has been a resident here ever since. He learned 
the trade in Chicago, where he spent the four 
years after coming to the United States. He 
is a n)an who has won many friends by his 
honest business methods. 



-^ 



^(S)' 



^ 



tOUlSA M. (BRAYTON) SAWIN, the 
first teacher in Madison, now residing 
with her son-in-law, G. W. Bird, of 
Madison, was born in the town of Wilna, 
Jefferson county, New York, May 3, 1816. 
Her father, Jeremiah Brayton, was born in 
Otsego county, New York, and his father was 
Thomas Brayton, who settled in Wilna, 
bought land, engaged in farming, kept a 
puidic house and filled various ofticial posi- 
tions. He spent his last years in Wilna. 
The maiden name of his wife was Kuby 
Johnson. The father of Mrs. Sawin was reared 
on a farm, in Wilna, remained there until 
1835, then with his wife and four children, 
he removed to Ohio, traveling with a team to 
Sackett's Harbor and then, via lakes and 
Welland canal to Cleveland, and lived there 
until 1837, when became to the Territory of 
AViscousin, via lakes to Milwaukee, and then 
with ox teams to Aztalan, Jetierson county. 
At that time Wisconsin was very sparsely 
settled, and the greater part of the land was 
owned by the Go\-ernnient. Mr. Brayton 
claimed one quarter section of the Govern- 
ment land, on Crawfish river and erected a log 
honseon the banks. This was really a log house, 
as no sawed lumber entered into its construc- 
tion. The boards to cover the roof were rived 
by hand and the boards for the doors and 
fioor were hewn out. For years there was 
no road through that section, and Milwaukee 
was the principal market for grain and stock. 



214 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



Mr. Brayton resided oti this farm until liis 
deatli, April 19, 18G9, aged seventy-five years. 
The maiden name of the mother of our sub- 
ject was Maria Manville, born in New York 
State, and died at the home of Mrs. Sawin, in 
Jefferson county, June 20, 1882, aged eighty- 
three years. 

Mrs. Sawin received a good education in 
her eastern home, and her services were 
sought as a teaclier, and in 1839 she was em- 
ployed by Mr. A. A. Bird to come to Madison, 
and in the spring of 1839 slie commenced 
the first school ever taught here. It was held 
in a log building, which had been erected]for 
a dwelling, and the furniture was of tiie most 
primitive kind. The seats were made of 
slabs, with underpins for legs. Holes were 
bored in the logs and pins inserted and a 
slab laid in served as a desk for the larger 
pupils to write on. Mrs. Sawin did not be- 
come a millionaire from her salary, as it was 
only 82 a week, and she paid $1 of it for 
board. Later she taught at^ Jefferson. There 
her sclioolhouse was one side and her board- 
ing place on the otlier side of the river, and 
she journeyed back and forth in a canoe. 

She was married .lanuary 25, 1843, to 
George Sawin, a native of New York State, 
a builder by trade, and at the time of his mar- 
riage he was engaged in business in Laporte, 
where he continued until 1847, when he 
moved to Watertown, and continued his busi- 
ness there until his death, in 1852. After 
his death Mrs. Sawin returned to her father's 
home and resumed teaching. This laily was 
engaged in the occupation of teaching until 
fifty years of age, but now resides with her 
daughter, Mrs. J5ird. Mrs. Sawin has two 
children, namely: Albert and Maria. The 
former died in the late war in Company l'\ 
Twenty-ninth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. 
Maria is the wife of (Jeorge W. Bird. 




^^ANLEY S. ROWLEY, prominent 



V 
Huiong the real-estate brokers and a 

"^.*iv=" man who has been closely associated 
witii the interests of Madison is the subject of 
this biographical sketch. In March, 1890, he 
became interested in his present business. 
His early associations of Madison date back 
to 1870. at which date he established a gen- 
tlemen's furnisliing house, including hats, 
caps and ready made clothing, and was thus 
engaged continously for twelve years, when 
he sold out and engaged as a commercial 
traveler with the well-known hatters, Clark 
Brothers of New York city, continuing with 
them until 1890. Most of his life has been 
spent as an active business man. Just pre- 
vious to his coining to Madison he spent 
five years as a clothing merchant in Ossian, 
Winneshiek county, Iowa. This was imme- 
diately after the close of the war, and 
he had come to Iowa from Niles, Berrien 
county, Michigan, that being the scene of his 
early life and boyhood days, although t)<)rii 
in the State of Vermont in 1842. He came 
West with his parents at the early age |of 
twelve. At the breaking out of the war he 
enlisted at the first call for three-year men, 
entering the Eleventh Michigan Infantry as 
Sergeant- Major of his regitnent and was thus 
connected until 1863, when he was transferred 
to the Twelfth Michigan Cavalry regiment, 
being made Adjutant of his regiment. He 
continued in active service for a period of 
abiitit thirty months from the date of his 
enlistment, participating in numerous engage- 
ments, incliidinjT the battle of Shiloh and 
the attack on Morgan during the latter's raid 
through Kentucky, besides other less impor- 
tant ones. Although escaping without a 
scratch the hardships of army life told upon 
his physical strength, and after several 
attempts at recuperating his impaired healtii 



DANE COUNTY WISCONSIN. 



215 



without leaving tlie field he was liiially coin- 
pelleil to resign, and receiving iiis honoral.)le 
disciiarge came back to Michigan. 

After liis retnrn home he engaged in Lis 
old occupation in JN'iies for some time before 
he decided to try his fortune in the far West. 
Since he came to Madison he lias been inden- 
tified to some extent with the local politics 
of the city, having held the office of City 
Treasurer. He is a decided Republican and 
looks after the best interests of his party in 
the city. Mr. Rowley is a member of the C. 
C. Washburn Rost, G. A. R., No. 17; is a 
Master Mason and affiliates with the Knights 
Templars in Iowa. 

At the bride's home, in the capital city, he 
was married to Julia M. Brooks, one of the 
worthy daughters of this city, who was born, 
reared and educated within its borders, and 
the daughter of one of the well-respected and 
old citizens of this place, Abiel E. Brooks, 
who had lived here for over forty years, and 
whose death occurred July, 1891, at the 
advanced age of ninety-one years. He was 
prominently known here as the pro|3rietor of 
the Brook's Addition to the city of Madison, 
a valuable piece of property. Mr. Brooks had 
been active in local matters, having held the 
office of City Alderman, being a stanch 
Republican in politics. He was born in the 
little State of Rhode Island in 1800, 
whence he removed to New Yoi-k, when that 
State was in its early development, figuring 
conspicuously in the building of different 
Government works there, finally being the 
contractor in the construction of the canal in 
Canada. Later he removed toMichigan, being 
one of the early and prominent citizens of 
Niles, which he aided in developing. In 
1847 he removed to Madison and two years 
later, in 1849, helped organize a company, of 
which he was made captain, to n\ake an 



overland trip to California. After searching 
for the glittering dust for about three years, 
with some success, he made the trip back to 
Madison, via the Isthmus of Panama, across 
the gulf, up the Mississippi river and thence 
to Madison. Here he invested the money he 
had gathered from Mother Earth in valuable 
real estate tliat in due time brough him rich 



returns. 



■^^/^'^4:^?/^/^^ 



^OIIN NADER, architect and civil engi- 
"i;j neer, is one of the oldest and most profi- 
•^Txi cient of his profession in the city of 
Madison. He came to Wisconsin in 1869, 
locating in Milwaukee, while engaged on 
United States lighthouse duty on Lake Michi- 
gan and Green bay for one year; he was then 
employed by the city to take the charge of the 
sewerage department, which he conducted un- 
til, in 1871, he was appointed Assistant United 
States Engineer in charge of the Wisconsin 
river improvement, with headquarters at Por- 
tage, where he established a shipyard, built 
his outfit and conducted the improvement 
with success until 1876, when the funds gave 
out. [n 1873 he moved headquarters to 
Madison in order to expedite his work. He 
then established an office in the city and was 
elected City Engineer by the Common Coun- 
cil, which office he held until 1883. During 
this time Mr. Nader pursued the calling of 
architect in addition to that of engineer. He 
now has a considerable practice in all kinds 
of architectural work in the city and about 
the State 

In 1885 he was again elected City Engineer 
and designed and superintended the building 
of the present system of sewerage of the city 
of Madison, which when completed according 
to his plans, will be ecjual to any in the coun- 
try. 



216 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



Prior to coming to Wisconsin, Mr. Xader 
occupied positions o( prominence in the Uni- 
ted States Corps of Engineers as superinten- 
dent of Forts Hamilton, Tompkins, Wads- 
wortli and fort at Sandy Hook, under Gen- 
erals Delatield and Xewton. Colonels Prime 
and Roberts of the Engineer Corps. It was 
our subject who made the preliminary surveys 
of a portion of flellgate. New York city, in 
lS(3t3. from which the subsequent improve- 
ments were planned by General Newton. Lat- 
er he built an actual section of sea coast 
battery at West Point for the instruction of 
the cjidets. While engaged in New York 
harbor fortitications Mr. Nader made some 
submarine borings around Fort Lafayette and 
establisheil the theory of subsidence of Mr. 
Lewis, geologist of the Long Island Histori- 
cal Society, by finding an ancient meadow 
tifty-three feet below the bed of the bay. In 
all Mr. Nader spent over ten years in most 
useful work, and while young in years when 
he came to Wisconsin, he was old in e.xperi- 
ence of a useful nature. Owintr to the failure 
of his health, Mr. Nader spent from 18S7 to 
1S92 in the State of Virginia, there planning 
and laying out the towns of Big Stone Gap 
and Damascus, and a large addition to Bris- 
tol. Virginia, on the Tennessee line. AVhile 
there he made many local improvements in 
streets, bridges and buildings. He designed 
and superintended a fine opera house and 
many fine stores and private residences. 

While in Madison Mr. Nader designed the 
Dane county and Sauk county asylums, Bav- 
tield courlhouse, St. Patrick's Church, M.^di- 
son, and churches at Oregon, Muscoda and 
Roxbury and many other tine public and pri- 
vate buildings. The past season he designed 
a fine county house for St. Joseph's county. 
Michigan. Our subject was born December 
31, 1S3S, in Westchester county. State of 



New York. He received his education in the 
common schools of his native county and his 
academic course at Brooklyn, New York. He 
adopted his profession early in life, in fact, 
while he was yet a student and before he was 
eigliteen years of age he occupied the position 
of master mechanic at Fort Delaware, and 
from that time on he became proficient in 
his profession until he held the hijihest civil 
assistant position under the United States 
Engineer Corps. He had special charge of 
erecting the first fifteen-inch gun at Fort 
Tompkins in 1S()2. and the first twenty-inch 
gun at Fort Hamilton in 1865, and on account 
of proficiency has reached a position almost at 
the head of his callinor. 

Mr. Nader is a member of the Wisconsin 
Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters, and 
has been vice-president of the department of 
Arts for several terms. He has been an ac- 
tive contributor to this institution at their 
semi-annual meetings. 

In 1876 he contributed a paper on the 
ocean tides, the work of several years, and 
with it produced a new co-tidal chart, possess- 
ing some entirely new and interesting features. 
He has always been in favor of all measures 
tending to the development and improvement 
of both city and county and has always en- 
deavored to contribute to the progress of the 
gooii and the useful. 

In religion he is an active member of the 
Catholic Church and expects to preserve his 
standing for the remainder of his days. In 
]>olitics he is a Democrat and loyally sup- 
ports all reasonable measures of tliat organi- 
zation. He has twice in his life held office; 
once as School Commissioner of Kings county, 
New York, and once as Supervisor of the 
Fourth Ward of Madison. 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



217 



fOIlN THOMAS KLUBEKTANZ. de- 
ceased, was horn in HaiDpden, Columbia 
county, Wisconsin, March 17, 1847, a 
son of John S. Kluliertanz. The latter came 
by sailing vessel from Bayern to America, 
and after landing in New Yor]<, went im?nedi- 
ately to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, tiience on 
foot to Hampden, Columbia county, where 
he took up Government land, paying ten 
shillings per acre. John S. Kliibertanz had 
eleven children. 

John T. Klubertanz received a limited 
education, and remained at home until 
twenty-one years of age. lie then worked 
at dilferont places for a time, spent thirteen 
years on a farm at East liristol, and then 
bought and improved the place of 160 acres, 
liis wid(jw still owns. His death occurred 
on this farm April 18, 1892, and he was bur- 
ied in the Catholic cemetery. 

John T. Klubertanz was married on Octo- 
ber 12, 1875, to (Jatharina Wolfert, who was 
born in Kewaunee, Kewaunee county, Wis- 
consin, September 30, 1854. Her parents 
came from Wurtemburg, Germany, to 
America, in 1848, settling in Brown county, 
Wisconsin. Her father died December 2, 
1885, aged seventy years, eleven months, and 
seventeen days. Her mother, born May 
15, 1816, is still livinrr. Mr. and Mrs. 
Wolfert were the parents of three chihJren: 
Margareth, born June 13, 1851, wife of 
Joseph Metzler, of Brown county; Catharina, 
wife of our subject; and Andrew Wolfert, 
born November 28, 1858, married and living 
at Iron Mountain, Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. 
John T. Klubertanz had nine children: 
Henry, born June 17, 1876, who died July 
26, 1876, aged five weeks; John Albert, born 
June 29, 1877; Joseph Martin, born March 
10, 1879; Anna Apollonia, born January 3, 
1881, at home; Anna Margareth, born Feb- 



ruary 8, 1883, deceased June 13, 1886; 
Frank Clemens, born April 1, 1885; Antoni 
Joseph, born March 18, 1887; Anna Catha- 
rina, born September 14, 1889; and Mary 
Florentina, born March 21. 1892. 

With the assistance of her sons Mrs. 
Klubertanz has continued the manaa-ement 
of tjie farm since her husband's death. He 
was an industrious, hard-working man. and 
was respected by all who knew him. 



^ICIKJLAS ANDERSON, a farmer of 
J™ Dane county, Wisconsin, was born on 
■^eyi section 4, Albion township, this county, 
October 22, 1856. a son of (Jle O. and Jufia 
(Beterson) Anderson, natives of Soo-en, Nor- 
way. They came to America at the atJ-e of 
twenty-three and twelve years, respectively, 
and were married in Albion township, Dane 
county, Wisconsin, October 31, 1851. Thev 
were the parents of twelve children, seven 
sons and five daughters, all of whom are now 
living, and the sons and two daughters are 
still nn married. The father, a farmer l)y 
occupation, died January 31, 1888, and tliu 
mother still resides on the old homestead, 
aged sixty years. 

Nicholas Anderson, the sulijert of this 
sketch, was educated in the district schools of 
his township, and also in the Albion Acad- 
emy. He was first employed as salesman in 
the Grange store, at Stoughton, and followed 
the same occupation with W. H. H. Coon, 
at Utica, nearly one year. He then engaged 
in general farming three years, after which 
he was employed by K. Mikelson, in the sale 
of groceries and clothing, and keeping books. 
He ne.xt formed a partnership with O. G. and 
C. H. Hansen, in the tobacco business. In 
1887 Mr. Anderson purchased his partner's 



218 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



interest, and conducted the business alone two 
years. After his father's death he and his 
brother Henry l)OUght out the heirs of the 
old homestead, consisting of 160 acres, where 
he has since been engaged in fanning. Po- 
litically he affiliates with the Kepublican 
party, and has been twice elected Supervisor 
of Albion township, lie is a member of 
the Lutheran Church, and during the litiga- 
tion, which divided the congregation, he was 
one of the few to take a leadinjr part. He 
succeeded in saving for his party the church 
property, and winning a victory in the Su- 
preme Court of Wisconsin. 



^. 



irgpjBILLIAM M. FORESMAN, general 

■ \/\;' fig*^'"^ f*"' the passenger and freight 
i '^^ji^'^j ',)usiness of the Chicago it North 
Western Railroad, at Madison, Wisconsin, is 
the subject of this sketch, lie was born in 
Circleville, Pickaway county, Ohio. March 
28, 1849, a son of C. M. and Susan M. 
(Nash) Foresman, the latter born in Roches- 
ter, New York, in June, 1828, and married 
in Granville, Ohio. The father was born in 
Circleville, and later moved to Lafayette, In- 
diana, where he remained for a period of five 
years. When our subject was ten years of age 
the family removed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 
tlien went on to Madison, reaching there in 
1801. Notwithstanding these changes the 
education of the family of seven children 
had not been neglected, our subject attending 
school steadily, wherever the family happened 
to be. 

At ^Lvlison William entered first the 
high school, later the university, but did not 
entirely finish the course at the latter institu- 
tion. After leaving school he gratitied his 
love of variety by traveling, visiting relatives 



much scattered, making trips to Utah and 
Colorado, and also to the South. After his 
return he went into business with the Mad- 
ison Fire Insurance Company, at Madison, 
and spent two years at that business. In 
1872 he entered the employ of the Chicago 
ct Northwestern Railroad, starting in the 
freight house, and since that time has been 
working his way steadily upward until he 
now is the general agent, an office of high 
responsibility. This position was given him 
March, 1882, and he has tilled it to the satis- 
faction of his employers. 

The marriage of Mr. F^iresman took place 
December 21, 1880, to Miss Ella Crane, of 
Portland, Michigan. She was born at Great 
Barrington, Massachusetts. The mother of 
our subject was removed by death at Madison, 
in IST-t. Both himself and wife are nn'in- 
bers of Grace Episcopal Church of this city. 
Socially he is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity, and also belongs to other orders 
in the city. In his political feelings he is a 
Republican, voting always with that party. 
He is well and favorably known through 
this city and vicinity. 



SRED W. DUFRENNE, of Dane county 
was born in Madison, Wisconsin, May 
It), 1864, a son of Fred W. and Adelaide 
(Nelles) Dufrenne. The father was born in 
Sotommelen, Germany, February 28, 1835, 
a son of Remme and Anna Dufrenne. Remme 
was a native of France, a soldier of the 
French war, and his death occurred at a very 
old age. The father of our subject was em- 
ployed as a mail carrier in Germany, when a 
young man, and at the age of eighteen years 
he began to learn the shoemakers' trade with 
John Bushman, with whom ho remaineti 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONHIN. 



319 



tliree years. In 1856 he caine to the United 
States, on tlie steainei' Biirussia, and after 
landing in New York, went iminediately to 
Chicago, where he followed his trade two 
months; followed the same occupation at Ija 
Crosse, Wisconsin, about seven months; was 
with F. A. Stoltz, of Madison, Wisconsin, 
for a time; was clerk and manager of a gen- 
eral store at Black Earth, from 1867 to 1869, 
and in the latter year opened a store in Mid- 
dleton, with S. Shuringer. Four years later 
Mr. Dufrenne bought the entire store, later 
sold a half interest to D. Lyle, and they con- 
tinued for many years under the firm name 
of Dufrenne & J^ylfe- Durinjj the late war 
he served in Company I, Battery D, for 
eleven months, and was a Democrat in ids 
political views, although his first presidential 
vote was cast for A. Lincoln. Religiously, 
he was a member of the Catholic Church. 
The mother of our subject was born in the 
same place as her husband, April 8, 1835, a 
daughter of Henry and Anna (Pesoh) Nelles, 
also natives of Germany. The mother died 
in her native place at the age of forty-two 
years. The father was born in 1807, was a 
market gardener and farmer by occupation, 
and came to the United States in 1857, in 
company with his seven children. After a 
voyage of sixteen days he landed in New 
York and then came to La Crosse, Wisconsin. 
A short time afterward he purchased 120 
acres of partly improverl land in Cross Plains 
township, r)ane county, where he remained 
until about 1872, and in that year went to 
Chicago and retired from active labor. He 
died at the home of his son, Winnand, in 
that city, at the age of sixty-nine years. Mr. 
and Mrs. F. W. Dufrenne were married in 
Madison, Wisconsin, July 23, 1858, and 
reared a family of nine children, five now liv- 
ing, namely: Anna, born June 28, 1859, 



married Philip Snyder, and they have one 
child, Willie; Fred W., onr subject; Martin, 
boiMi October 4, 1866; Lizzie, born January 
2, 1869; and Lena, born February 14, 1876, 
is at home. 

Fred W. Dufrenne, the subject of this 
sketch, is now at the head of iiis deceased fa- 
ther's store, with Mr. Lyle. He is a Demo- 
crat in his political views and hie first vote 
was cast for Cleveland. In 1889 he was 
united in marriage with Emma Schroeder, 
who was born in Yerona, Wisconsin, April 
17, 1870, a daughter of Jacob and Salome 
(Minch) Schroeder. The father was born in 
Germany, September 29, 1841, and died Oc- 
tober 31, 1875. He was a son of Casper and 
Margaret Schroeder. Casper was engaged 
in a paper mill until 1851, when he came to 
America, with a wife and five children, and 
first rented land in Verona, Dane county, 
Wisconsin. He then pui'chased 160 acres of 
unimproved land, erected a small lious_e and 
other necessary improvements, and later 
bought and moved to another home of forty 
acres. There the father spent the remain- 
der of his life, dying at about the age of 
sixty- two years. His widow then moved to 
Madison, Wisconsin, whert she died at the 
home of her daughter, also at about sixty-five 
years of age. Jacob, the father of Mrs Du- 
frenne, remained at home until twenty-one 
years of age, and then enlisted in the Twenty- 
thii'd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Com- 
pany I, but after two years of service, on 
account of sickness, was discharged from the 
Marine Hospital, at New Orleans. He then 
remained on his father's farm until Novem- 
ber 12, 1868, when he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Salome Minch, who was 
born in Rliine province, Germany, December 
7, 1842 a daughter of Bernard and Frances 
(Fisher) Minch, who were born in that pro- 



220 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



vince in 1815. The mother was a daughter 
of John and Lizzie Fifilier, both of whom 
died ill Germany. Bernard Mineli was em- 
ployed in a vineyard in his native country 
until in May, 1853, when he and liis wife 
sailed from Uavre, landing in New York af- 
ter a voyage of tifty-fonr days. Then they 
came by canal and lakes to Milwaukee, pur- 
chased 200 acres of wild land in Montrose, 
Dane county, and erected a log house, 16 x 20 
feet. Previous to this, four families lived 
in one log house covered with straw. Soon 
afterward Mr. Minch built a stone house, 
then considered a very fine dwelling, and in 
which the parents of Mrs. Dufrenne and also 
one married daughter still reside. 

After marriage, Jacob Schroeder purchased 
a hotel in Verona, which he conducted three 
years, and then, in company with a l)rother- 
in-law, bought a general store and hotel in 
I'aoli. After his death Mrs. Schroeder con- 
ducted the hotel and store about three years, 
then sold her interest in the store and moved 
to Madison for the purpose of educating her 
children. In 1884 she removed to Middle- 
ton, AVisconsin, where, in 1888, she was ap- 
jHiinted Postmistress, also opened a confec- 
tionery store, and has been engaged in both 
occupations since that time. She had two 
children, cmly one now living, the wile of 
our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Dufrenne had 
one son, Willie, born in this county. May 24, 
1890, and died September 17, 181)2. 

Tp.AUUV W. LOVEJOY. -Among the 
names of those old settlers who have 
lieen prominently connected with the 

early history of Madison occurs the name of 

the subject of this brief biographical sketch. 

For many years he was the efficient mes- 



senger and waiting clerk of the State Execu- 
tive officer, serving nearly twenty-six years 
in all, during which time he became well 
known as a good and capable servant of the 
people, as well as a loyal and public-spirited 
citizen. lie was born in Hudson, New 
York, February 18, 1827, but was chiefly 
reared and educated near Sandusky, Ohio. 

When the trouble with Mexico arose our 
subject was one of the flrst to engage in ser- 
vice with the Fourth Ohio Volunteer Kegi- 
ment, under Colonel Charles Brougli, engag- 
ing at the battle of Atlixco del Rio or 
Broken Bridge, where the United States 
troops crossed the river by wading after the 
Mexicans had blown up the bridge. In this 
way the American soldiers were enabled to 
surprise the Mexicans, capture many of them, 
besides sixteen pieces of artillery. Later he 
was in the battle of Pueblo, under General 
Ilurlbert commanding. Tlie Fourth Ohio 
Regiment did not do any more service, but 
was discharged after two years of service. 
During the entire time Mr. Lovejoy only 
suffered one slight wound, in the left leg. So 
brave a soldier could not remain quietly at 
home while so mighty a struggle was con- 
vulsing the nation, in 1861, so he enlisted 
in Company K, Thirty-second Wisconsin 
Volunteer Infantry, Captain John E. Grout, 
and Colonel James II. Howe commanding at 
the tinie of his entering the service. After 
a short time spent in the State the regiment 
went South, joining the Army of the Tennes- 
see under General Sherman, and marched 
with him through Georgia, participating in 
the many engagements of that memorable 
campaign. While before Atlanta, after night 
had come on, it was found necessary to 
strengthen the fortifications. Mr. Lovejoy, 
with others volunteered to set up pickets of 
chevavx defrise, the command being given 




9G ^//. "^r^rJ/ou/. 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



2-21 



to our subject by General Howard. After 
conducting the work with skill and energy, 
during which time he never flinched, although 
it was a task wliich required a great amount 
of bravery to accomplish, Mr. Lovejoy was 
about to retire, when he was struck by a 
sharpshooter's ball, which entered his head 
a little back and below the eyes and passed 
entirely through! The great marvel was 
that he escaped with his lite, as he was 
shot so many times, in the bright moon- 
light, by sharpshooters. So bailly was he 
wounded, on this 19tli of August, 1864, that 
he was thrown for dead in the dead house; 
but upon further examination it was found 
that life was not quite extinct; so he 'was 
taken to a hospital and carefully nursed back 
to health, in the city of Madison. After his 
recovery he was discharged from the hospital 
and the service May 27, 1865, with the 
rank of brevet Captain and was given a com- 
mission. 

After the war was over, in 1866, he came 
to Madison, Wisconsin, where he has since 
continued to reside. The Captain was mar- 
ried in Madison, Lake county, Ohio, in 1852, 
to Miss Helen M. Fox, l)orn, reared and edu- 
cated in that county and State, dying at her 
home in Madison, Wisconsin, August D, 
1871, at the age of forty. She was the mother 
of four children, — all dead but Frank H; 
Jennie, married Frank B. Salmon, and died in 
California, without issue. Frank H. is a yard- 
master at Stevens Point for the Wisconsin 
Central Ivailroad, and married Miss Mattie 
Martin, of Peoria, Illitiois. Our subject was 
married a second time, in Madison, to Miss 
Lucy Miles, born, reared and partly educated 
in Chautauqua county, New Yoi-k, but has re- 
sided ill Madison and Dane county for forty 
years. She is the mother of no children. 
Mr. and Mrs. Lovejoy are members of the 
it> 



ConKreeational Church, of which the former 
is janitor. During his sixty-five years of 
life our subject has ])assed through som« 
stirring events, and entjagcd in some very 
severe battles, yet notwithstanding his age 
he is still very active and possesses more 
bodily strength than many a younger man. 
He is a stanch Republican and is a member 
of C. C. Washburn Post, G. A. R., No. 11. 
By his genial, pleasant manner he lias made 
many friends wlierever he has been, both iq 
private and public capacity. 

tOBERT McKEE BASHFORD, the son 
of Samuel Morris and Mary Ann Bash- 
ford, was born at Fayette, La Fayette 
county, Wisconsin, December 31, 1845. 
Samuel Morris Bashford was born in New 
York city, and at twelve years of age his 
father, who was there engafjed in commercial 
pursuits, having die<l suddenly, leaving his 
affairs unsettled, went to live with Dr. Mor- 
ris, a near relative, by whom he was educated 
and with whom he studied .-^nd practiced 
medicine for a time. The practice of medi^ 
cine being distasteful to him, soon after 
reaching his majority he removed to the West 
and settled in Grant county, Wisconsin, in 
July, 1835. Having there buried his first 
wife, he was on June 27, 1843, united in 
marriage to Mrs. Mary Ann Parkinson, wliose 
first husband, William Carroll Parkinson, 
had died a few years before. After remov- 
ing to the West he never practiced medicine 
as a profession, l)ut in the new and sparsely 
settled country, when no otiier physician cdulil 
be had, he was frequently called upon to at- 
tend the sick, which he did cheerfully and 
free of charge. He had also become identi- 
fled with the Methodist Church as a regularly 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



ordained Deacon and Local Preacher, which, 
togetlier with iiis pursuits as a fanner, made 
him a most useful citizen in the community. 
While holding religious services in Willow 
Springs, a few miles from his home, on June 
16, 1850, he was stricken with apoplexy and 
died, aii;ed thirty-six years. 

The mother of our subject was a native of 
Kentucky, the daughter of llobort McKee, 
and in childhood removed with her parents 
to Edwardsville, Illinois. There she was 
first married, when but eighteen years old, 
and soon after with her husband, who was not 
much older, removed to the Territory of 
Wisconsin, traveling overland with teams, 
and settled in Fayette, then known as Par- 
kinson's settlement, in the sj)ring of 1839, 
upon the same tract of land where she has 
ever since continued to live. After the death 
of her second husband she married, in 1852, 
William P. Trousdale, with whom she lived 
until his death in 1890. She bore nine chil- 
dren, seven of whom reached majority and 
six of whom still survive. She has done her 
part with other noble pioneer women toward 
the upbuilding of a great State in the wilder- 
ness of the Northwest. 

Robert M. l>asliford spent his boyhood on 
the farm, attending public and private schools 
portions of each year, until the fall of 18G3, 
when he entered the preparatory department 
of the State University, and graduated in the 
course of ancient classics in June, 1870. 
During his college course he was obliged to 
teach to supply the means of his own educa- 
tion, as two other brothers were attending 
tlie university during parts of the same pe- 
riod. Before his graduation he had taught 
as principal of the schools at Linden, Poy- 
nette and Darlington in iiis native State, and 
had received Haltering offers to continue in 
that work. 



He had, however, decided to practice law, 

and in the fall of 1870 entered the law school 
of the State University, and at the same time 
tiie law office of Smith & Lamb, then one of 
the leading firms in the State, located at 
Madison. He graduated in the law course 
in 1871, and was then prevailed upon to enter 
into copartnership with Messrs. John V>. and 
A. C. Parkinson and George liaynier. for 
the purchase of the Madison Daily and 
Weekly Democrat. He continued as one of 
the editors and proprietors of the paper from 
April, 1871, to April, 1876, during which 
time new presses anil material were purchased ; 
the paper was enlarged and the daily edition 
changed from an evening to a morning p:iper, 
and it was placed upon a solid foundation as 
the leading Democratic newspaper in the 
State. Mr. Rashford was always liberal and 
progressive in his views upon political sub- 
jects and courageous in the expression of his 
convictions. For this reason lie frequently 
encountered the opposition of the Bourbon 
element of his party. In 1871 he favored 
the nomination of Hon. James R. Doolittle 
for Governor by the Democratic State Con- 
vention, although Mr. Doolittle had but 
recently separated from his Republicaii asso- 
ciations in the United States Senate. The 
nomination was made, though bitterly op- 
posed by the old-line Democrats, and Mr. 
Bashford served as Secretary of the Demo- 
cratic State Central Committee. He here 
received his first lessons in practical politics, 
and from a leader of large experience, who 
was thoroughly skilled in all the honorable 
methods of party warfare. Mr. Doolittle had 
served twelve years in the United States Sen- 
ate during the period of the war and recon- 
struction, and as the confidential friend of 
Abraham Lincoln during his presidency. He 
had a knowledge of pul)lic men and a fa- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



223 



miliarity with public affairs during this pe- 
riod tliat gave his words the weight of liistory. 
He was tiien in the full maturity of powers, 
a man of fine presence and great pifts as an 
orator, and he made the canvass of Wisconsin 
in 1871 with the expectation, if successful, of 
beitig the standard-bearer of the J democracy 
and liberal Republicans for President in 1872. 
He was defeated, and was content to preside 
over the National Convention at I5altimore, 
which indorsed Horace Greeley as such can- 
didate. 

The nomination of Horace Greeley by the 
Liberal Republicans at Cincinnati, in 1872, 
was a disappointment to the friends of the 
movement, but Mr. Bashford considered it to 
be the true course for the Democracy to in- 
dorse his candidacy. His associates on the 
paper were absent at the time, but he took 
the responsibility of hoisting the names of 
the candidates and committing the paper to 
their support. This was in advance of the 
Democratic National Convention which as- 
sembled in .July, and many of tlie leading 
Democrats of the State were outspoken in 
their opposition to the indorsement of the 
Liberal candidates. The delegates chosen 
from Wisconsin, however, were unanimously 
in favor of indorsement, as were the dele<rates 
from most of the States, thus vindicating the 
wisdom of the political course of the Demo- 
crat. 

Mr. Bashford was especially active in the 
campaign of 1873 in Wisconsin, and was in- 
fluential in bringing about a union between 
the granger or reform elemetit in politics 
and the Democratic party, which resulted in 
the nomination and election of the ticket 
headed by Hon. William R. Taylor, of Dane 
county, for Governor. The " granger" legis- 
lation followed, which was more radical than 
either party honestly desired, then a contest 



in the courts to test the validity of these 
enactments, and the ultimate triumph of the 
State establishing the right of the Legisla- 
ture to control railway corporations of its own 
creation, or carrying un business by its au- 
thority. The State campaign of 1875 was a 
memorable one for its bitterness and personali- 
ties, but the Democratic Reform State ticket 
was re-elected, with the exception of Governor 
Taylor, who was defeated by a few hundred 
votes through the special efforts of the rail- 
way coi-porations and the treachery of party 
associates in one part of the State. During 
the period of the supremacy of his party in 
the State, Mr. Bashford, as editor of its lead- 
ing newspaper, exerted his influence to secure 
the fulfillment of every pledge made to the 
people and to enforce efticiency and economy 
in every department of the Government. 

While connected with the Democrat, in 
addition to his other duties, Mr. Bashford 
reported one house of the legislature. Hp 
also compiled the Legislative Manual for 
1875, 1876, 1877 and 1878, by appointment 
of Hon. Peter Doyle, Secretary of State, and 
made the Blue Book a standard for works of 
this character. Li this manner he acqnii'ed 
great familiarity with legislative proceedings 
and with the details of public affairs in con- 
nection with the State dejiartments and State 
institutions. Mr. Bashford was also con- 
nected with the publication of the Tievised 
Statutes of Wisconsin for 1878. 

In 1876 Mr. Bashford disposed of his in- 
terest in the Madison Democrat to engage in 
the practice of law, and Ijecame a member of 
the law firm of Gill, Bashford & Spilde. He 
has since applied himself diligently to the 
practice of his profession. In 1882 he be- 
came a member of the firm of Tenney, Bash- 
ford & Tenney, which for the ensuing three 
years did an extensive business in commercial 



224 



jnOGRAPHWAL REVIEW OF 



law throughout Wisconsin and adjoining 
States. In 1885 Mr. Bashford opened an 
office with Mr. Tenney, under the same firm 
name, in the city of Chicago, where lie was 
especially engaged in commercial law and 
corporation cases. This firm enjoyed a large 
practice, but Mr. Bashford did not feel physi- 
cally able to endure the continual pressure 
and daily drudgery of the court room, and in 
1889 severed his connection with the firm in 
Chicago and returned to Madison to resume 
the practice of his profession among his old 
friends and clients. He then formed a co- 
partnership with Hon. James L. O'Connor, 
the present Attorney-General, which still 
continues under the firm name of Bashford, 
O'Connor & PoUeys, the latter having more 
recently become a member of the firm. 
Mr. Baahfbrd's professional engagements have 
called him before the different courts of Wis- 
consin and Illinois, and occasionally before 
the courts of Iowa, TS'ebraska, Michigan atid 
Minnesota, and he has thereby become widely 
known as a lawyer throughout the North- 
west. He has the reputation of being a 
thorough, all-round lawyer, of understanding 
legal remedies and how to apply tliem prompt- 
ly and efficiently in any given case, To him 
the la>v as a science, when applied to human 
affairs, commands right motives, proper 
methods and just ends. He has been con- 
nected with many leading cases in the courts 
of Illinois and Wisconsin during the last ten 
years, but has won his widest distinction as a 
lawyc^r in the prosecution of the suits against 
the former State Treasurers of Wisconsin to 
recover interest paid by the banks upon the 
deposit of pulilic funds. He was employed 
as special counsel in those suits by Governor 
Peck, and. in connection with Attorney Gen- 
eral O'Connor and Senator Vilas, prosecuted 
them to a successful conclusion in the ('ircuit 



and Supreme Courts of the State. By reason 
of the large amounts involved and the promi- 
nence of the ex-treasurers and their bonds- 
men, and their party affiliations, these eases 
attracted great attention throughout the 
country. The ground to be covered by the 
suits to recover the interest money was, in a 
measure, untrodden, and the details of their 
management required accurate legal knowl- 
edge and great skill and diligence in the 
apj)lication of summary methods to accom- 
plish the highest results; and it is much to 
the credit of the counsel for the State that 
they never lost a single point in any proceed- 
ing from the beginnin<j to the end of the 
protracted and difficult litigation. 

Mr. Bashford has always taken a lively 
interest in city affairs, and has rendered valu- 
able services to the people in official station. 
1881 he was elected City Attorney of Madison, 
and was enabled by a carefully written opin- 
ion to defeat a proposition before the Com- 
mon Council to give a franchise to a private 
corporation to construct water-works for the 
city. The Council, acting upon his advice, 
refused to grant the franchise, and adopted a 
resolution prepared by him, creating a com- 
mittee to secure the necessary legislation to 
enable the city to build, own and control its 
own water-works. Mr. Bashford served on 
the committee and prepared the amendment 
to the charter that was adopted. In the en- 
suing year a committee was apjiointed by the 
Ooran^on Council to provide means and 
plans to proceed with the construction of a 
complete system of water- works and to carry 
such plans into execution. As city attorney 
he was a member of this committee, prepared 
all the contracts and aided in directing their 
enforcement. Tiie construction of water- 
works necessitated the buihling of sewers, 
and Mr. Bashford, as City Attorney, servpd on 



DANE COUNTY, WISUONSIN. 



225 



like committees to secure legislation and to 
award contracts and supervise the construc- 
tion of the works. He served as City Attor- 
ney from 1881 to 1886, when he resigned, 
having seen, during the period for which he 
served, the water-works and sewers con- 
structed and put into successful operation. 
He also served as a member of the Board of 
Water Commissioners and as a member of 
the Board of Education for a period, until 
he resigned from each place. 

In the spring of 1890 Mr. Bashford was 
elected Mayor of the city, and was called 
upon to administer affairs under rather em 
barrassing conditions. Tiie finances were 
not sufficient to defray current expenses for 
the ensuing year; and at the first meeting of 
the Common Council a resolution was adop- 
ted appointing a committee, of which the 
Mayor was named as chairman, to investigate 
charges of corruption upon the part of two 
of the aldermen and the chief of the fire de- 
partment, in connection with the purchase of 
hose for the city, during the preceding term. 
The investigation resulted in the expulsion of 
the two aldermen and the removal of the 
chief of the tire department. This was a 
most unpleasant task for the new Mayor, as 
the delinquent officers had for a long time 
enjoyed the confidence of the people, and two 
of them had been his personal and political 
friends, and every influence was brought to 
bear to prevent rigorous punishment. But 
Mayor Bashford took the ground in his re- 
port that " in dealing with malfeasance in 
office there can be no compromise; no half- 
way measures can remove the evil and root 
out corruption entrenched in high places." 
The Common Council stood as a unit in his 
support, as did also the press and people of 
the city, regardless of party. The Wisconsin 



State Journal of May 27, 1890, in referring 
to the subject, said: " It is unfortunate that 
the necessity arose for the expulsion from 
office of two Madison aldermen and the re- 
moval from his position of the chief of tlie 
fire departmant, but all good citizens will 
unite in commending the Mayorand Common 
Council for the vigor with which they have 
performed their work and for their unwaver- 
ing labors along the line of public dnty. 
While deep regret must be felt that those 
clothed with official trust have l)etrayed the 
confidence reposed in them by the public, no 
one can be justified for any reason in winking 
at corruption on the part of our public of- 
ficials, no matter how well or how long they 
have served the municipality. Boodling has 
become far too common a crime. * * * 
It cannot be dealt with too severely, and, as 
Mayor Bashford has said, ' there can be no 
compromise' with it. Boodling is a double 
crime, for, with the criminal act of taking 
monev in payment for a corrupt <leed, goes 
the gross abuse of trust confided to the faith- 
less official by a pulilic which only sought to 
honor him." The Madison Democrat of May 
28, 1890, said: >'The Mayor and Common 
Council had a most difficult, unpleasant and 
thankless duty thrust upon them in the in- 
vestigation of the ' boodle cases.' They have 
performed that duty faithfully in excellent 
spirit and temper. Despite some exasper- 
ating incidents, they have fully, patiently and 
impartially heard the cases and come to their 
conclusion; and they have acted fearlessly 
and according to their honest judgment. 
They deserve the thanks of all our citizens. 
They have set an example which should en- 
courage all friends of clean, honest, pure ad- 
ministration. They have made odious that 
sort of treachery to public duty that sells out 
the public interest for private gain. They 



220 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



have given a bright example for other muni- 
cipalities to t'ollow." 

i^otwithstaniling the condition of the 
finances of the city, Mayor Bashtbrd was ena- 
bled, by disposing of certain city lots, to pur- 
chase a stone (juai-ry for the city and a steam 
road roller, and thus provide the means for the 
anccessfiil prosecution of street work. The 
necessary legislation was secured to enable 
the city to issue bonds for building street 
crossings, when the remainder of the work 
was paid for by special assessments and a 
thorough system of street improvements was 
then inaugurated. Work for the ensuing 
year was laid out and ordered, and adequate 
funds were provided an<l left in the treasury 
for its successful prosecution. The fact that 
Mr. Bashford was, in a measure at least, in- 
strumental in [he building of the water-works 
and sewers, and in providing a stone quarry 
and steam road roller, and in inaugurating a 
proper system for street improvement, indi- 
cates the character and purpose of his service 
for the pul>lic. He has always aimed at per- 
manent results, and has not sought to attain 
temporary advantages by the sacrifice of 
higher but more remote ends. 

While devoting his attention assiduously 
to the practice of law, Mr. Basiiford could 
not avoid participating more or less in pui)- 
lic alfairs of a political character. He has 
always had decided convictions and was ever 
ready to labor for the success of his party. 
He has served on the city, county and State 
central committees from time to tinu>; has 
been a delegate to the city, county and State 
Conventions, and in 1884 was chosen a dele- 
gate to the National Democratic Convention 
at Chicago. It was a singular fact that ho 
and his colleagues and their alternates in that 
convention were all natives of the district 
which they represented. 



Mr. Bashford, in 1892, was elected to the 
State Senate from the district embracing the 
city of Madison and the larger portion of 
Dane county, for a term of four years. He 
entered upon the discharge of the duties of 
the office January 11, 1893, and was imme- 
diately appointed upon important commit- 
tees of that body. He has introduced and 
advocated measures for the advancement of 
the educational and material interests of the 
State. In his first messaije to the Common 
Council, Mr. Bashford stated the rule which 
he always aitns to follow, — that '• the public 
welfare is the only safe guide for official con- 
duct." 

Mr. Bashford was first married on Novem- 
ber 27, 187H, to Miss Florence E. Taylor, the 
daughter of Hon. William II. Taylor, of 
Cottage Grove, Dane county, Wisconsin, then 
Governor-elect. She was born in that town 
and was then in her nineteenth year, and a 
member of the senior class of the State Uni- 
versity, with which she graduated in June, 
1874. She departed this life August 16, 
1880, having boon for some years jjrior to 
her death a confirmed invalid. A daughter, 
Florence, survives. On February 7, 1889, 
Mr. 13ashford was united in marriage to Miss 
Sarah Amelia F'uUer. of Madison, the young- 
est (laughter of Morris E. F'uUer, Esq.. one of 
the loading business men and best known 
citizens of Wisconsin. Their home, celebrated 
for its hospitality, is the center of a large 
circle of friends who here always find a cor- 
dial welcome and congenial associations. 

^^KHIAEL O'DWVER, a merchant of 
I )ane, Wisconsin, was born in Toma- 
line, county Limerick, Ireland, in 
1838, a son of Thomas ()T)wyer, a native of 



D^IHE WUNTY, WI,SV0NS1N. 



227 



the same place, and a farmer and miller by 
occupation. The latter married Ellen Eutlei', 
also a native of county Limerick, and a 
daughter of George and Mary (Kilbride) 
Butler, of the same county. They were 
well-to-do farmers, and reared six sons and 
live daughters. One of the sons, Georj^e 
Butler, became a Bishop of Limerick, and a 
leading Nationalist. P^our of the sons, 
Daniel, Dennis, Patrick and William, came 
to America in 1848, and three located in 
Vienna township, Dane county, Wisconsin. 
William remained in this country about live 
years, and then returned to Ireland. Of the 
remaining three, Dennis is the only one now 
living, and who is engaged as a miner in 
Idaho. Mr. and Mrs. Butler departed this 
life in 1880. Thomas O'Dwyer was twice 
married, and l)y the first union, with the 
mother of our subject, reared five children, 
viz.: Mary Ann, who resides with our sub- 
ject; Michael, whose name heads this sketch; 
Catherine, employed in the store with her 
brother; John, a di-uggist of Omaha; and 
George, deceased in Ireland, at the age of 
twenty-five years. The father died at the 
age of forty-four years, and the mother at 
thirty-six years. 

Michael O'Dwyer, in company with his 
two sisters, Mary Ann and Catherine, left 
Limerick, Ireland, August 22, 1853, for 
America, and arrived in Vienna township, 
Dane county, Wisconsin, November 10, of 
the same year. They sailed on the American 
craft Indus, and were sixty-three days on the 
ocean. After landing they came by rail to 
Dunkirk, by boat to Detroit, Michigan, 
thence to Chicago, by the lake to Milwau- 
kee, and then by team to Hundred-Mile 
Grove, Dane county. Our subject was then 
fifteen years of age, and his cash capital con- 
sisted of $300. He was engaged at farm 



labor with his uncles, the Butler Bros., until 
ISCil. Ill 1858 he purchased eighty acres of 
the capital laud, paying $2.25 per acre, and 
three years afterward sold the same for $15 
per acre. He next bought a quarter section 
of land of his uncle for $20 per acre, going 
in debt for the entire tract, and he still owns 
this land, which is now worth aljout $60 an 
acre. In 1874 Mr. O'Dwyer began the mer- 
cantile business with his brother John, who 
came to Wisconsin from Australia in 1870. 
The latter had been engaged in teaching in 
that country for eight years. This partner- 
ship continued one year, when John married 
and began the drug luisiness in Elroy, this 
State. His wife soon afterward died, and he 
then sold out and began the same business in 
Omaha. Our subject has served as Town 
Clerk for live years, and as Postmaster since 
the administration of Hayes, with the ex- 
ception of two years during Cleveland's 
reign. He is a Republican in his political 
views, and the family are members of the 
Catholic Church. 

May 18, 1865, by Rev. Etchmond, Mr. 
O'Dwyer was united in marriage with Ellen 
Dillon, a native of county Kildare, Ireland, 
but who came to America with her parents 
in 1848. She is a daughter of William and 
Maria (Lalor) Dillon. The father was a 
brewer in Athy, Ireland, came to America 
with ample means, and lived a retired life in 
Madison, Wisconsin, until his death, which 
occurred in 1863, at the age of seventy-five 
years. His wife died in 1862. Mrs. O'Dwyer 
has one brother, George Dillon, in California, 
and two, Joseph and Jerome, in Tennessee. 
Oiir subject and wife have had eight chil- 
dren, namely: Maria, who died at the age of 
eight years; Ellen, wife of M. J. Roland, of 
Milwaukee; George, in the pharmacy class 
at the State University; Thomas, telegraph 



228 



BIOGRAPHIGAL REVIEW OF 



operator for the Chicago & Western Railroad; 
Josepli, stiulying telegraphj ; Michael, Will- 
iam and Charles. 

fAMES BONNER,' a farmer of Dane 
county, Wiscopsin, was born in Leices- 
tershire, England, September 11, 1831, 
a son of James and Catherine (Hastings) 
Bonner, natives of the same place. When a 
young man the father was engaged in the 
hosiery trade, and later was a tavern and toll- 
gate kee])er for many years. His death 
occurred in his native country at the age of 
forty-tive years, and the mother died in the 
same place at the age of fifty-three years. 
They were the parents of seven children, 
three of whom still survive. 

James Bonner, our subject, remained at 
home until his father's death, after which he 
worked by the month for several years. In 
1848 be came to America, on the Tuscora, 
having been seven weeks in the voyage from 
Liverpool to I'hiladelphia. lie remained in 
the latter city and Rhode Island for three or 
four years, engaged as a carriage driver dur- 
ing the summer months, after which he pur- 
chased 100 acres of land in Cross Plains 
township, Dane county, Wisconsin. Mr. 
Bonner has added to this purchase until he 
now owns 347 acres. 

He was married in February 5, 1857, to 
Miss Sarah Tatlow, a native of Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania. Her parents came to this 
country from England, and the father died in 
Philadelphia at the age of about seventy 
years. The mother still resides in that city. 
Mr. and Mrs. Bonner have had twelve chil- 
dren, six of whom still survive: Robert, mar- 
ried, and has one child; Henry, married, and 
has three children; James, also married; 



Emma, the mother of two children; and 
David and Anna, at home. Our subject 
votes with the Republican party, and served 
as Supervisor thirty-five years and Assessor 
fifteen years ago. Both he and his wife take 
an active interest in church work. 

^-sr.,miCHAEL F. VAN NORMAN, one 
l I'lt ^^ ^^^^ representative business men of 
'^^^T^ Dane county, Wisconsin, was born in 
Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, September 19, 
1835, a son of Jacob and Mary (Parks) Van 
Norman. The father was born near Phila- 
delphia, Pennsylvania, on the Mohawk river, 
in 1802, a son of Samuel and Phrebe Van 
Norman, natives of Holland. They came to 
the United States with their parents when 
very small children, settling in Pennsylvania, 
and they died near Scranton, that State, the 
father aged ninety-five years, and the mother, 
ninety years. Samuel was a farmer and 
miner by occupation. The father of our sub- 
ject, Jacob Van Norman, was engaged in the 
lumber business until forty-five years of age, 
and then purchased 220 acres of partly im- 
proved land in Chemung county, New York, 
where he remained until 1854. In that year 
he sold his land and houirht 320 acres in Iowa 
county, Wisconsin, and there remained imtil 
his death, at tlie age of seventy-eight years. 
In his political relations, he was a Democrat 
up to the late war, when he voted for Lincoln's 
second term. He was a prominent man, and 
held many local otfices. The mother of our 
subject was born in Pennsylvania, a daughter 
of Joseph and Rebecca Parks, who came from 
Newfoundland to the United States. They 
located first in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, 
where the father died at about the age of 100 
years, and the mother twenty seven years 



DAIfE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



239 



younger. The grandfather Parks was a sol- 
dier in the war of 1812, for which he after- 
ward drew a pension. The family were noted 
for their longevity. The mother of our sub- 
ject (lied near Sioux City, Iowa, at the home 
of her son, Jacob, aged eighty-four years. 
Mr. and Mrs. Van Norman were members of 
the Methodist Church for many years, of 
which the former served as Class Leader, and 
also took an active part in the Sunday-school. 
They were the parents of nine children, seven 
now living, of whom two are engaged in 
farming, one in the ministry, and the re- 
mainder in the stock business. Two of the 
sons, beside our subject, were soldiers in the 
late war. Peter served in the Eighteenth 
Wisconsin Infantry, Company P), remained 
from the outbreak until its close, and came 
out without a scratch. G. B., a member of 
Company H, Eighth Wisconsin Regiment, 
also served until the close, and was slightly 
wounded. 

. Michael F., the subject of this sketch, re- 
mained at home until twenty-one years of 
age, attending the district school in the win- 
ter, and working on his father's farm during 
the summer, also studying at home to gratify 
hs8 ambition for learning. He was then 
employed in teaching in the winters, and 
attended the Evans ville College one term. 
In his twenty-third year he left home, on 
account of his health, went to Kansas, and 
engaged in teaming for Pike's Peak Express 
Company. While there he drove four mules 
that hauled a coach containing Horace Gree- 
ley, from Manhattan to Fort Riley, on that 
gentleman's overland trip to California. In 
1860 Mr. Van Norman returned to Iowa 
county, Wisconsin, rented a farm, and was 
obliged to go in debt for everything he 
bought, on account of the failure of the State 
Banks with the money saved up for his occa- 



sion more than being worth from 10 to 40 

cents on the dollar. 

lie remained there until the outbreak of 
liie late war, when, in July, 1862, he joined 
Company E, Thirty-first Wisconsin Volun- 
teer Infantry, under Captain -I. B. Mason, 
who died a short time afterward at Nashville, 
Tennessee. He served until the close of 
hostilities, was mustered out at Louisville, 
Kentucky, and discharged at Madison, Wis- 
consin. At Atlanta, July 24, 1864, he was 
wounded, and remained in the hospital four 
days, when he secured transportation home 
and returned to his regiment in thirty days. 
He was in the Division Commissary Depart- 
ment and on detached service at Smoky 
Swamp, South Carolina, and marched through 
to Washington by way of Richmond with the 
Twentieth Army Corps. 

After the close of the war Mr. Van Norman 
returned home, rented a farm of 330 acres for 
six years, then bought 100 acres of land in 
Dane county, and five years later rented his 
place and moved to the village of Middleton, 
where he has since been engaged in shipping 
horses, cattle, etc. He is a lireeder of fine 
horses, and has as tine a standard l>red stallion 
as can be found in Wisconsin. Mr. Van 
Norman is doing much to improve the stock 
of this section, is breeding both draft and 
speed horses, and has offsprings from his 
stallion, which is exciting the comment and 
admiration of horsemen throughout the coun- 
try. In addition to his stock and town prop- 
erty, he also owns 216 acres of land in Dane 
county, and property in Dakota. In his 
political relations he has been a Republican 
since Lincoln's second term, but usually votes 
for the best man. Socially he has been a 
member of the G. A. R.. L. T. Park Post, at 
Black Earth, for three years, and has also 



230 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



been a member of the I. O. O. F., of Middle- 
ton, for many years. 

In 1860, in Iowa county, Wisconsin, Mr. 
Van Norman was united in marriage with 
Catherine Dean, who was born in Bradford 
county, Pennsylvania, July 31, 1837, a daui^h- 
ter of Henry II. and Elizabeth (Ettlenian) 
Dean, also natives of that State. The father 
died at the old home in Iowa county, Wis- 
consin, aifed forty fnur years, and the mother 
departed this life at Piano, Illinois, at the age 
of sixty. Both families were of German 
descent. Our subject and wife have four liv- 
ing children: Etta M.. born in February, 
1869, married Henry H. Whaleii, engaged 
with his father-in-law in the stock business; 
and they have one <laughter, May Bernice; 
William E., born October 20, 1874, is attend- 
ing school at Madison, Wisconsin; George 
W., born December 19, 1878, and Paul, born 
June 1, 1881, are at home. 



fUANK M. DOUN, one of the most 
popular members of the County Board 
of Supervisors, was born in Ephratah, 
Fulton county. New York, October 16, 1837, 
and his father, Michael M. Dorn, was born in 
the same county, January 3, 1819, and his 
fatiier, grandfather of the subject, was also a 
native of the same county, having been born 
there when it was a part of Montgomery 
county. Ilis father, great-grandfather of 
subject, was one of eleven brothers, and «as 
a soldier in the Revolutionary war, but his 
brothers were stanch Tories, and went to 
Canada, and only two of them, as far as is 
known, returned to the States. The great- 
grandfather and one of tiie brothers inherited 
their father's farm, and lived close together 
and drew water from the siuiie well, •)ut 



never became reconciled, as the great-grand- 
father of our subject never forgave his brother 
for his disloyalty to his native country. He 
died at the age of ninetv-seven years. The 
grandfather of our subject was a farmer, and 
sjient his entire life in his native county. 
The maiden name of his wife was Maria 
Miller, also a native of the same county, who 
spent her entire life in the place of her birth. 

The father of our subject was reared on 
the farm, and continued agricultural pursuits 
in Fulton county, when he sold his farm in 
1850, and bought a hotel in Cedarville, 
Herkimer county, which he ran for live years, 
and then kept hotel in IJtica for one year. 
In 1856 he came to Wisconsin and engaged 
in the livery business in Madison, where he 
continued ' until his death, in 1887. The 
maiden name of his wife was Lucinda Sharer, 
born at Palatine, Montgomery county. New 
York. Mrs. Dorn died in Madison, June 
25, 1889. Mr. Dorn, Sr., was a Democrat 
in politics. 

Our subject was in his nineteenth j'ear 
when he came to Wisconsin with his parents. 
In 1860 he became interested with his father 
in business, and has continued in the same 
calling ever since. 

In 1859 he married Jane Dudley, born in 
La Porte, Lorain county, Ohio, daughter of 
Joseph and Mary Dudley. Mr. and Mrs. 
Dorn have had one daughter, (ylara L., who 
married Allen W. Peck, of Chicago. Mr. 
and Mrs. Peck have one child, Frank W. 

Mr. Dorn is a Democrat in politics, and 
served three years as a member of the City 
Council, and one year as Chief of Police. 
He is now serving his tenth year as a mem- 
ber of the County Board of Supervisors. 
He is a member of Monona Lodge, No. 12, 
K. of P., and is the Keeper of Records and 
Seals. For twenty-six years he was a mem- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



231 



ber of the Capital City Hook and Ladder 
Company, the first company ever organized 
in Madison. 



ifilOMAS REGAN, a citizen of Madi- 
son, Wisconsin, was born in county 
W^ Sligo, Ireland, February 15, 1840, son 
of Patrick and Catherine (Dyer) Regan, both 
born and reared in county Sligo, where the 
father was occupied as a farmer and civil 
engineer. Patrick Regan, the lather, had 
been well educated at Limerick, Irelanil. 
He has one living brother, John, a farmer, 
residing in Adams county, Nebraska. Both 
of the parents of our subject died in Ireland. 

Thomas was reared in his native country, 
receiving a primary education at the parish 
schools, but at the age of eleven years he 
emigrated to America. Sevei'al years were 
passed at Boston, Massachusetts, but about 
1855 he came to Madison, Wisconsin. At 
Madison he entered tlie business of plumb- 
ing and gastitting, later went to Chicago, 
where he completed his education in that 
line. For the three following years he re- 
mained in Cliicago, successfully engaged in 
his trade. He then returned to Madison, 
and went into business for himself, in 1864. 
Mr. Regan conducted his business alone, 
never having a partner. Later he sold out, 
but after two years he bought it back again, 
and continued in it until Jatuiary 1, 1891, at 
which time he sold it again. 

At present Mr. Regan is not engaged in 
his trade, as he is fully occupied in looking 
alter his farmincj interests. He has been a 
successful business man, and is much re- 
spected throughout the city. 

The marriage of our subject took place 
September 24, 1866, in Madison, Wisconsin, 



to Miss Susie Pierce, a lady who was reared 
at Pierceville, Wisconsin, at which place her 
parents were early settlers. Mr. and Mrs. 
Regan have five living children, as follows: 
Kate M., who married Albert G. Schraede- 
man, of Madison; Alice S., Susie P., Annie 
II. and Arthur T. Miss Susie is attending 
the university; Miss Annie the high school, 
and Arthur the ward school. The death of 
Mrs. Regan occurred Novemljer 7, 1888, at 
the age of forty-eight years. Mr. Regan iias 
never desired nor held othce, being too ab- 
sorbed with lousiness cares. 



fENS J. NASET, a contractor and;builder 
of Dane county, Wisconsin, was born in 
Bergen, Norway, April 13, 1828, a son 
of Johannes and Alan (Bardal) Naset, natives 
also of the same place. The father was a 
farmer and mechanic by occupation. 

J. J. Naset, the subject of this sketch, 
came with his parents to America, at the age 
of seventeen years, in 1845, locating in 
Christiana township, Dane county, Wisconsin. 
For five years he worke<l on his father's 
farm, then, March 19, 1850, he married Ger- 
trude Ingebrechtson, of Christiana township, 
and purcliased his father's farm, which lie 
thereafter kept for about twenty years. Be- 
sides farming, he was working at his trade. 
In 1868 he moved to Cambridge, Dane 
county, where he engaged in the hardware 
business, which he in 1873 moved to Stough- 
ton, and for six years continued in company 
with II. Venos. 

In Stoughton he built his brick building, 
and also erected for G. T. Mandt the wagon 
factory and other buildings. He remained 
employed by G. T. Mandt for seven years. 
Mandt then failed, financially, and Mr. Naset 



232 



BIOGRAPniGAL REVIEW OF 



had then, as he still has, an interest in the 
wagon factory. In 1882 a stock company 
was formed, Mr. Naset was electeil vice-presi- 
dent and superintendent, which position he 
kept for two years. 

Thereafter Mr. Naset engaged in contract- 
ing and building. Among the buildings 
erected by him are the Norwegian Lutheran 
Seminary, in Minneapolis; the East Church 
and parsonage, on Koshkonoiig; the Lutheran 
Seminary, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and 
many other church buildings. He superin- 
tended the construction of the Norwegian 
Lutheran College imilding in Decorah, Iowa, 
which cost SIOO.OOO. 

Mr. Naset is a Democrat in his political 
views. He has served as Supervisor of 
Christiana township for six years. In Stough- 
ton he has served on the School Board, and for 
six years has been City Treasurer. 

Religiously, Mr. Naset is a l^utheran, and 
a member of the Norwegian Lutheran 
Synod of America, having for more than the 
last tliirty years Ijeen a member of its general 
council, and for more than nine years one of 
its Trustees. 

Mr. Naset, after liaving lived eighteen 
years in America, made a trip to Europe, 
where he visited his mother country, as well 
as Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and other 
parts of the old world. 

Mr. and Mrs. Naset have no children of 
their own, but they liave adopted two daugh- 
ters, one of whom, Ingebjorg, is the wife of 
Mr. O. O. Melafas, druggist in Stoughtoii; 
and the other, Karen, is married to Mr. Ole 
Frederikson, a farmer in Minnesota. 



n ARLES M. FORESMAN, our subject, 
was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, 
September 17, 1822, and was a son of 
William and Mary (CruU) Foresman. The 
father was born in 1770, in Northampton 
county, Pennsylvania, and the mother in Lit- 
tle York, Pennsylvania. Py occupation his 
father was a miller, and his father had been 
the same. He was the parent of live chil- 
dren, three of whom grew to maturity. The 
father emigrated from Ohio to Pennsylvania 
in 1812, and there erected a mill, where our 
subject learned the trade of a miller. He 
had very poor school advantages. 

Charles Foresman worked at the trade of 
milling until 1854, when he removed to In- 
diana and located near Lafayette. At that 
place he purchased a mill, but in 1859 he 
sold it and came to Madison, "Wisconsin, but 
one year later went to Milwaukee, again re- 
turning to the city of Madison, where he en- 
tered the land office, and remained there un- 
til March, 1891. 

The marriage of our subject took place 
December 14, 1847, to Miss Susan M. Nash, 
of Newark, Ohio, and he has a family of five 
children, as follows: William M., Harry A., 
Addie B., Mary E. and George N. He was 
bereft of his wife in November, 1874. He is 
a well-known man in this city, and much 
respected. 

fAMES CONKLIN, an enterprising busi- 
ness man of Madison, was born in Bur- 
lington, Vermont, June 12, 1831. His 
father, John Conklin, was born in county 
Tipperary, Ireland, and his father, Mathew 
Conklin, was also born there and spent his en- 
tire life in his native country, but two of his 
sons, John and M;\thew, came to the United 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



233 



States and lioth settled iti Vermont. John 
Conklin was reared in liis native country and 
learned the trade of blacksmith from his 
father and came to America in 1829, accom- 
panied by his wife and one child. Tliey set- 
tled in Burlington, Vermont, and very soon 
Mr. Conklin was appointed janitor of the 
Vermont State University. In 1849 became 
to Madison and secured the position of janitor 
in the Wisconsin State University, where he 
remained until his death, which occurred in 
1867. The maiden name of his second wife, 
mother of our subject, was Catherine O'Don- 
nell, of the same county as her husband. Her 
death occurred in 1880, after she reared four 
children, namely: James, Edward, Margaret 
and John. 

Our subject received his education in the 
public schools of his native town, and re- 
moved to Wisconsin with his parents in 1849. 
There were no railroads in Wisconsin at that 
time, and they catne via Lake Champlain to 
White Hall, on Champlain canal to Troy, 
from there on the Erie canal to Buffalo, 
thence by lake to Detroit, where he took the 
train for New Buffalo. From there he went 
by lake to Milwaukee, whence he proceeded 
by team to Madison. For two years he car- 
ried the mail from Madison to Prairie du 
Sac, and from Madison to Monroe. He was 
then employed in teaming for one year. In 
1854, as he had been very industrious and 
saved his earnings, he was able to purchase a 
team and begin active business for himself. 
In that same year he began to buy wheat and 
sell coal. In 1864 Neeley Gray took him as 
a partner and they continued the business 
until the death of Mr. Gray, in 1867, when 
Mr. Gray'a sons succeeded to their father's 
interest in the business, which was continued 
until 1881, when Mr. Conklin and his son 



assumed charge, and have continued to run 
the establishment ever since. 

In addition to his above mentioned luisi- 
ness Mr. Conklin is interested in other enter- 
prises. In 1873 he bought and retained for 
two years an interest in the ice business. In 
1882 he purchased the plant. The ice-houses 
on Lake Mendota have a capacity of 5,000 
tons, and another house on Monona lake has 
a capacity of 1,000 tons. 

Ml-, (lonklin married in 1S54, Miss Mary 
Egan, liorn in Canada, dauo;liter of Jolm Ea- 
gan, a native of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Conk- 
lin have five children, namely: James IC., 
Mathew H., Margaret E., Mary B. and John 
W. The family are all members of St. 
Hapliael's Church. 

In politics our subject is a prominent 
Democrat, and has served six years as a mem- 
ber of the City Council, representing the 
First Ward. He also served several years as 
a member of the Board of Education, four 
terms as Mayor, and in 1884 was elected to 
the State Senate, where he served on several 
important committees, one of which was the 
Committee on Claims. During his term of 
service as Mayor the present fine system of 
water-works was introduced, and much credit 
is due him for his able manner in which he 
superintended the enterprise. 



4^ 



^ 



ANIEL W. TOMPKINS, one of the 

early settlers of the county, residing in 
Blooming Grove township, was born in 
New Bedford, Massachusetts, January 14, 
1832. His father, Joseph Tompkins, was 
l)orn on the line between the States of Massa- 
chusetts and Rhode Island and his father, 
Gideon Tompkins was, as far as is known, a 
native of the same locality, where he owned 



234 



BIOORAPniCAL REVIEW OF 



a farm on l)oth sides of the State line and 
liere it was that he spent his last years. The 
father of our sul)ject learned the trade of 
painter and in 1834 he removed tolSew York 
State, where he followed his trade some 
years. lie then removed to Newport, Rhode 
Ii-huid, and there spent his last years. The 
maiden name of the mother of our subject 
was .\nn F. lii'own, born in Massachusetts, 
died iti New York. 

Oui- subject attended tiie public school of 
his section, remaining with his parents until 
1848, when lie started for Wisconsin, via 
railroad to Ijullak), lakes to Milwaukee, from 
which city Madison was reached by stage. 
The •• capital city '' was but a small place at 
that time and the surrounding country was 
but little improved and deer and other kinds 
of wild game roamed unrestrained. Mr. 
Tompkins soon found employment as a farm 
lal)orer and alter a few years of working for 
Others, he settled on the farm he still owns 
and occupies. This is a fine tract of hind, 
170 acres in extent, well improved. 

Mr. Tompkins married, November 17, 
1S54. I'jiuline Kegina Kohn. born in Witten- 
burg. Germany. Her father, John Kohn, 
was born in the same locality and by profes- 
sion was a physician, having early turned his 
attention to the study of medicine, and grad- 
uatif.g as a physician and surgeon. lie 
])rii(:ti('ed his calling in Wittenburg until 
1851, when lie set sail from Havre, May 18, 
1851, on the " William Tell," for America. 
This vessel held 730 passengers and landed 
tliein in New York, June 13, 1851. Dr. 
Kohn located in Sauk City, Wisconsin, 
wluMH! he bought six lots. Here he practiced 
until his death. The maiden name of his 
wife, mother of Mrs. Tompkins was Christi- 
ana C. Ijaumaan, born in the same locality as 
her husband. After his death Mrs. Kohn 



went to Kansas and spent the remainder of 
her life in that State with a daughter. 

Mr. and Mrs. Tompkins have eight chil- 
dren, namely: Jo.seph B., Emily B., Char- 
lotte C. C, Ann F.. Julius E., Robert F., 
Marian O. and Lucy E. Mr. and Mrs. 
Tomj)kins are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church and Mr. Tompkins is a 
Republican in politics. Our subject and his 
good wife are leading members of the local 
society and are highly respected by all who 
know them. 



t^ 



^^ 



f.T^ILLIAM MINCII, a prominent mer- 
X*lWk\J| chant of J*aoli, dates his residence in 
[■"SIstS Dane county, Wisconsin, from 1854. 
He was born in Rlieiii Pfalz, l!a\aria, June 
22, 1845. being a son of Hernani and Fran- 
ciska Minch, who were born respectively, 
January 23, and October 24, 1815. The 
father of our subject was a farmer and car- 
ried on an agricultural life in his native land 
until 1854, when he came to the United 
States. The family landed in New York 
city in April, and at once started for Wis- 
consin. They wore able to come as far as 
Stoughton, Wisconsin by rail, and then took 
wagons to Madison. At once Mr. Minch 
])iin'liast'(l eighty acres of land in Montrose 
township. \\ this time the laixl here was 
all a wilderness, the land entirely unimproved 
and covereii with timber. As quickly as 
possible a log cabin was erected for the pro- 
tection of the family and Mr. Mincli began 
the improvement of his farm. He hail 
about $S00 in money and his family did not 
endure as many hardships as did those who 
came entirely without means. He continued 
tilling the soil until 1876, when he retired 
from active labor, but still resides on the 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



335 



farm, which now consists of 180 acres of well 
improved land. He is an adherent of the 
Democratic party, but only takes enough in- 
terest in it to vote. Both parents were mem- 
bers of the Roman Catholic Church. They 
reared a family of five girls and one boy, as 
follows: Catherine, married to Frank Meng, 
and resides in Mazomanie, Wisconsin; Sa- 
lome, married Jacob Schroeder and resides 
in Middleton, where she is Postmistress; Bar- 
bara married Jacol) Strieker and resides in 
Middleton; Elizabeth married Fred Saner 
and resides on the old home.stcad, and Ger- 
trude married Anthony Schillinger and re- 
sides in Mazomanie. 

Our subject was the only son of the family 
and third in order of birth. He was only 
nine nears of age when the family came to 
the United States, was reai'ed on tlie farm 
and was taught in the district school. At 
the age of twenty-three years he married Bar- 
bara Fischer, a daughter of John and Cathe- 
rine Fischer. She was also born in Bavaria, 
in the same town as her husband and came 
with her parents to America on the same ves- 
sel with theMinch family. They also settled 
in Montrose township, where they have 
passed their remaining years. After mar- 
riage resided nearly two years on the farm 
with his parents, and then established a gen- 
eral mercantile business. In this he was 
associated with Jacob Schroeder, as partner, 
and the firm name was Mincli & Schroeder. 
The business was carried on until the death 
of Mr. Schroeder in 1875, but Mrs. Schroeder 
retained an interest in the business until 
1879, at which time our subject became sole 
proprietor and is now one of the successful 
merchants of the county, carrying a general 
and excellent stock of 2oods. Mr. and Mrs. 
Minch have three sons and two daughters 
living, one daughter, Lena, having died at 



the age of thirteen years. Tlie names of the 
living children are: Carl, Jacob, Salome, 
Lizzie and William. In politics Mr. Minch 
is a Democi-at, Imt would not willingly ac- 
cept public office. All his life he has been 
actively occupied in business, for five years 
conducting a hotel at Faoli. lie received 
from his father §1,000, and by good judg- 
ment increased this by successful investment. 
Being upright and industrious he has suc- 
ceeded in whatever he has undertaken. 






^ 



HrREDERICK STICKNEY. P( stmas.er of 
1^1 Mazomanie, was born in Lancaster, 
"3^ New Hampshire, January 8, 1836, a 
son of Jacob E. and Martha (Goss) Stickney. 
The Stickney family trace their ancestry by 
direct descent from the family of Normans 
who crossed the British ciuinnel with Will- 
iam the Conqueror, when he subjugated the 
British Isles. The Normans spelled the 
name De Stickney, but of late generations 
the prefix has been dropped. The city of 
Stickney in England is named in honor of 
the early members of this family. They first 
came to the United States in 1(520, locating 
in Rowley, Massachusetts. The faujily have 
always l)een patriotic, and one member, John 
Stickney, was with General Warren in the 
famous battle of Blinker Hill. They have 
also taken part in all other wars of our coun- 
try. The father of our subject, the late Dr. 
Stickney, was born in Brownsfield, Massa- 
chusetts, April 5, 1797, was one of twelve 
children, and was educated at Bowdoin Col- 
lege, at Brunswick, Maine. 

Frederick Stickney, the subject of this 
sketch, came to Wisconsin in 1853, and en- 
trained with his brother in the mercantile 
business at Fall River. One year later he 



236 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



found employment with Iloton's Express 
Company, afterward merged into the Ameri- 
can Express Company, in Milwaukee, and 
the following year began work in the railroad 
oftice in Mazomaiiie, under his brother, J. 
B., also engaged in buying wheat. In Au- 
gust, 1862, Mr. Stickney enlisted in the late 
war, in Company F, Twenty-fourth Wiscon- 
sin Infantry, and served with the Army of 
the Cumberland until the close of the strug- 
gle, and took part in all the engagements and 
marches in which that great army figured. 
He was mustered out of service in June, 
1865. In 1868 he was appointed postal 
clerk on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul 
railroad, serving in this capacity for eigliteen 
consecutive years. In 1889 he was appointed 
Postmaster of Mazomanie, under Harrison, 
and still holds this position. Mr. Stickney 
also owns a small farm in the vicinity of 
Mazomanie, which is cultivated by his eld- 
est 80D. 

December 25, 1866, our subject was united 
in marriage witii Sarah Campbell, a native of 
Hellevue, Ohio, and who came to Wisconsin 
wlien 3'oung. They have live children, 
namely: Percy, born in 1870; Mal)e] W., in 
1871; Martiia G., in 1872; and Lucile, in 
1885. Mr. Stickney affiliates with the Re- 
publican party, has taken an active part in 
many campaigns, hut has never sought public 
office. 

[EORGE BUNKER, one of the oldest 
settlers of the Territory of Wisconsin, 
secretary of the Kreuz Curtis Shoe 
Company, was born in the town of De liuy- 
ter, Madison county, New York. His father, 
Gorliam Hunker, was, it is thought, born in 
Colaml)ia county, New York. Tiie grand- 1 



father of our subject was a sea captain, in the 
whaling business, and served many years. 
He and his wife were Quakers, and reared 
their children in the same faith. The father 
of our subject learned the trade of black- 
smith and molder. In the spring of 1837 
he came to the Territory of Wisconsin to 
search out a location. He claimed a tract of 
Government land, in what is now the town 
of East Troy, Walworth county, and there 
erected a log building. Then he went to 
Chicago and followed his trade until the fall, 
at which time he went back to New York for 
his family, returning to Chicago tiiat same 
fall, making the removal by the most con- 
venient and expeditious way, which was via 
the canal to Biiffallo, thence by lake to Tole- 
do, and by team to Chicago. The latter was 
then but a small place and here the family 
remained until the spring of 1838, and then 
started by team to their future home, follow- 
ing an Indian trail up Fox river. The family 
moved into the log cabin that the father had 
built and this served as their first home in 
Wisconsin. It was from necessity that the 
father followed his trade of blacksmith, and 
the people came from niany miles away to 
get work done. In later years he devoted 
his entire time to his farm and resided there 
until his death. The maiden name of the 
mother of our subject was Rachel Russell, 
born in New York of Quaker parents. Siie 
spent her last years in Walworth county, on 
the old home place, where she reared seven 
children, as follows: ^lary, George, Henry, 
Harriet, Jane, William and Clarissa. 

Our sul)ject was thirteen years old when 
he came AYest with his parents. At that 
time the Territory of Wisconsin was jiracti- 
cally unsettled, save by the Indians, and tiie 
land was all owned by tlie Government. 
Deer and other kinds of wild animals were 



l)A^E GOUNTF, WISCONSIN. 



237 



plentiful, and roved at will. Our suliject at- 
tended the pioneer school, and the first of 
these were taught in the log schoolhouse. 
He assisted on the farm and resided with his 
parents until twentj-one jears of age, when 
he went to Milwaukee and was engaged in a 
lumber yard for about one year. The follow- 
ing tliree years he was engaged in farming in 
Walworth county, except in the winter sea- 
sons, whicli lie spent in the lumber regions of 
Michigan. Following that he went to 
Chicago and eni^aired in the wholesale lumber 
trade one year, then to White Water, Wiscon- 
sin, where he engaged in the lumber busi- 
ness until 18G8; then came to Madison and 
■conducted a business here for about twenty- 
•five years, when he sold out and has since 
lived practically retired. 

October 11, 1819, he married Miss Fannie 
Hulbert, a native of New \^ork, and a daugh- 
ter of Levi Uulljert. Mr. and Mrs. Bunker 
have three children, namely: Charles H 
Mary and Laura. Mr. Bunker is a promi- 
nent Democrat of the county and several 
terms has served as a member of the City 
Council from the Fourth Ward. 

H M. TUFtNER, president of the Dane 
County Bank, was born in Chautau- 
■® qua county. New York, January 4, 
1838, a son of (Tcorge H. and Mary (Wat- 
son) Turner, both Itorn and reared in Massa- 
chusetts. Tiie father was a physician by 
profession, and he and his \yife had only one 
son, our snbject. When the latter was only 
eighteen months old the mother died, after 
which the i'ather renuirrieil, and l)y the last 
union there were three childi-en. 

O. M. Turner came to Wisconsin at tiie 
age of nine years, where he remained on a 

17 



farm in Dunkirk township until sixteen years 
old. He was given a good common school 
education, also attending the Albion and Mil- 
ton Academies about three years. In April, 
1861, he enlisted for the late war, in Com- 
pany K, First Wisconsin Infantry, under 
Captain L. Fairchild, of Madison, and served 
with Patterson. After the battle of Falling 
Water Mr. Turner was mustered out of 
service, and returned to Wisconsin. For 
twenty-nine years he was einployed as agent 
fur the St. Paul company at McGregor, Mil- 
waukee and Stoughton, and was also engaged 
in the tobacco and lumber trade in Stough- 
ton. In 1871 he embarked in the real-estate 
business in this city, later in Minnesota and 
California; in 1877 organized the Stoughton 
State Bank, where he remained until 1881, 
and in that year organized the Dane County 
Bank. He was elected its first president, 
and the bank now has a capital of $60,000. 
Mr. Turner is also president of the Stough- 
ton Milling Company. He votes with the 
Prohibition party. 

Our subject was married May 16, 1865, to 
Sarah E. Stoughton, a daughter of Luke S. 
and Eliza (Paige) Stoughton. The father 
was the founder of the city of Stoughton, 
Mr. and Mrs. Turner have had five children: 
Mary Ada; Luke Lynn, deceased at the age 
of nine years; Giles McClure, Roy S. and 
Paul Boynton. Giles is a student in the 
University of Wisconsin. 



fUDSON FRANCIS, a well-known resi- 
dent of Blooming Grove, was born in 
Royalton, (.'uyahoga county, Ohio, June 
8, 1855. His father, Daniel, was born in 
the same place, and his grandfather, Thomas 
Francis, was a native of Massachusetts, mar- 



3:i-S 



BIOGHAPUWAL HEVIEW OF 



rieil Hetsey Davis and removed to Oliio with 
an ox team, becoming one of tlie first settlers 
of lioyalton. Their daughter Rhoda was the 
first white child born there. He bought a 
tract of Government land, all timber, built a 
log house in the wilderness, and commenced 
at once to improve his farm. There were 
neither railroads nor canals for many years, 
and Cleveland, then a small place, was the 
market for supplies. Deer and other kinds 
of game were plentiful. He cleared a farm 
and resided there until his death. The father 
of our subject was reared nn a farm, which 
lie cultivated, and also raised stock. He 
nsed to buy in Michigan, and market in 
Ohio. His home for his entire life was in 
his native county, where he died in 1889, in 
his si.Kty-ninth year. The maiden name of 
the mother of our subject was Maria Bur- 
rington, born in the same town as her hus- 
band, daughter of Jonathan Burrington, and 
died in 18G3. Nine of her children grew 
to maturity. 

Our subject was reared in his native town, 
residing on the home farm until his twenty- 
third year, when he entered the employ of 
the Standard Oil Company. In 1S82 he 
came to Dane county, where he has been a 
resident ever since, locating in 1889 on his 
father-in-law's farm, where he now resides. 

Ho was married in 1885, to Miss Helen 
Vanlioesen, born in Fitchburg, Dane county, 
"Wisconsin. Her father, Daniel L., was born 
in Augusta, Oneida county. New York, .1 uly 
11, 1818, and his father and grandfather 
were born in Kinderhook, New York, of 
early Holland ancestry. The maiden name 
of the grandmother of Mrs. Francis was 
Mary Wessells, of New York. Tiie father 
of Mrs. Francis resided in New York until 
1854, then came to Wisconsin, buying a 
farm in the town of Fitchburg, resided there 



many years, later bought the farm where the 
subject now resides, in Blooming Grove. 
This is one of the best improved farms in the 
county, and here Mr. Van Hoesen resided 
until his death, in 1891. The maiden name 
of his wife, mother of Mrs. Francis, was 
Frances Darling, born in New York, daugh- 
ter of Chester and Lucy (Root) Darling. 
She died in May, 1892. Mr. Van Hoesen 
was prominent in public afl'airs, and served 
as Assessor and Supervisor; was successful 
as a farmer, and acquired a handsome com- 
petency. Mr. and Mrs. Francis have two 
children, Harley B. and Ray G. In his 
political views he is a Republican. 



AVID D. LOGAN, a merchant of 
Black Earth, Wisconsin, was born in 
Onondaga county. New York, August 
29, 1832, a son of John and Ann (Emmerson) 
Logan. The mother was born in Bristol, 
England, and came to America in 1817. The 
father first saw the light of day in Ireland, 
where his father, an officer in the British 
army, was temporarily located on duty. His 
ancestors were from England and Scotland. 
He began life for himself as a tailor, but fol- 
lowed this occupation only a short time. The 
parents came to Wisconsin in 1840, locating 
in liacine county, where the father engaged 
in the hotel business. They reared a family 
of si.x children, four sons and two daughters, 
and those now living are: Thoitias E., a mer- 
chant of Boise City, Idaho: David D., our 
subject; and Enima, now ^Irs. Carpenter. 

David D. Logan received only a limited 
education, ami at the age of seventeen years 
he engaged in general merchandising in Wal- 
worth county, Wisconsin. He next followed 
the hotel tuisiness at Little I'rairie, same 



DANE COONTY, \YIt<CONt<IN. 



239 



county; a short time afterward liegan the 
sale of groceries at Stevens' Point; two 
years later followed agricnltnral pursuits in 
Walworth county, and in 1856 came to Black 
Earth, Dane county, Wisconsin, where he has 
ever since remained. Mr. Logan was en- 
gaged in the sale of grain and live stock un- 
til 1878, and in that year o]iened a general 
mercantile store with J. K. Stanford, under 
the firm name of Stanford & Logan. In 
1869 the firm purchased the fionring mills 
of this city, of whicli Samuel Goodlad owns 
one-third interest, tlie firm name being Stan- 
ford, Logan & Company, and he has charge 
of the mill. 

Mr. Logan was married in August, 1871, 
to Anna Miller, then of Vermont township, 
Dane county, Wisconsin, but a native of 
Germany. She came to America when 
young. To this union has been born five 
children, three now living: Etta C, Eva and 
Carrie. Mr. Losan affiliates with the Re- 
publican party, has served as Supervisor and 
Treasurer of his township, and as President 
of the Village Board. Socially, he is a Free- 
mason. 



^ 



^m- 



'^ 




:ILLIAM SEAMONSON, a success- 
ful farmer of Dane county, Wiscon- 
sin, was born near Skien, Norway, 
Februai-y 9, 1840, a son of Soamon A. and 
Gunild Seamonson. The father, a farmer by 
occupation, came to An^erica in 18'42, and 
was followed by his wife and children the 
next year. They first settled in Muskego, 
Waukesh^county, Wisconsin, in the same year 
located near Beloit, Rock county, and in Au- 
gust, 18'44, came to section 9, Pleasant 
Spring township, Dane county. The father 
died here March 20, 1847, and the mother 



December 2, 1869. They were the parents 
of five children, three sons and two daugh- 
ters, of whom our subject was the youngest 
cliild. The fatlier had been married previous 
to this union, and they also had fivechildren. 
The njaternal grandfather of our suliject was 
a professor in the parish schools, a Deacon 
in the church, and a soldier in the war against 
Denmark in 1812. 

William Seamonson, the subject of this 
sketch, was obliged in early life to assist his 
mother to maintain the family, as his elder 
brother was a cripple. He was given a dis- 
trict school education, and when yet a boy he 
drove an ox team for plowing, receiving five 
cents per day. August 11, 1862, he enlisted 
in Company D, Twenty-third Wisconsin Vol- 
unteer Infantry, served in the Army of Ten- 
nessee, the Gulf and Mississippi, was ap- 
pointed CJorporal, and in April, 1863, rose to 
the rank of Sergeant. Mr. Seamonson took 
part in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, Ar- 
kansas Post, Cireenville, Mississippi, Cypress 
Bend, Arkansas, Grand Gulf, Champion 
Hill, assault on and siege of Vicksburg, 
siege of Jackson, Mississippi, Carrion Crow 
Bayou, Lfiuisiana, Spanish Fort, Fort 
Blakely, and Mobile, Alaliama. He was 
slightly wounded at Sabine Cross Roads, and 
had many narrow escapes from death and 
capture. He was mustei-ed out of service 
July 4, 1865, at Mobile, Alabama, and im- 
mediately returned to Wisconsin. Mr. Sea- 
monson subsequently bought 100 acres of 
land on sections 16 and 17, Pleasant'S|)rings, 
which he sold in 1889, and then bought bis 
present farm of ninety acres, on section 15. 
He is engaged principally in the raising of 
tobacco and live stock. Politically, he affili- 
ates with the Republican party, was first 
Supervisor of Pleasant Springs township, 
also Treasurer; served as Chairman of the 



240 



BIOQRAPniCAL REVIEW OF 



town Board of Supervisors, and member of 
County Board, three terms as Assessor, rep- 
resented his district in tiie Centennial Legis- 
lature in 187G; was Assistant Sergeant-at- 
Arms in 1878, a member of the State Con- 
vention eight different times, and attended 
the last one at Milwaukee, which nominated 
John C. Spooner as Governor of Wisconsin. 
He is now serving his seventh term as Jus- 
tice of the Peace, and is also Chairman of the 
Township and County Board. 

Mr. Seamonson was married November 1, 
1865, to Handy Christopher, who was born 
in Norway, December 4, 1839. She came 
to America in 1850, locating on section IC, 
this township. They have one child living, 
Charles S., assisting his father on the farm. 
They lost two children by death, Cornelia 
Christine, deceased in 1874, at the age of 
eight years; and one who died in infancy. 
The mother departed this life in December. 
1873, and October 22, 1876, Mr. Seamonson 
married Isabelle T. Gullikson, of Pleasant 
Spring township, and a daughter of Toston 
Gullikson, born April 28, 1854. To this 
union has been born six children, viz.: Kandy 
C, born January 17, 1878; Thomas A., Au- 
gust 1, 1879; William A., September 6, 
1881; Matilda G.. August 22, 1883; Simon 
O., born December 22, 1885, died the fol- 
lowing day; Belle Ida. born September 30, 
1887; and Nellie J., August 14, 1890. So- 
cially, Mr. Seamonson is a member of the 
G. A. R., Stoughton Post, and religiously, 
affiliates with tlie Lutheran Church. 



-^y\/\fLfir- 



-q/l/lyxy^ 



a.EXANDEIi M(:(.'AUGirN, a farmer of 
\\^\ Dane town.'^liip, Dane countj.was born 
^^ in county Antrim, Ireland, July 12, 
1822, a son of Charles and Sarah (Christy) 



McCaughn, natives also of that conntry. The 
father followed the blacksmiths* trade during 
his entire life, and his death occurred in Ire- 
land in 1837, at the age of si.xty years. The 
mother survived her husband many years, 
dying in Delaware county. New York, at the 
age of about eighty years. They were the 
parents of live sons and three daughteas, of 
whom our subject is the j'oungest child. 

The latter came to America in the spring 
of 1841, at the age of nineteen years. lie 
came on the sail vessel Francis D. Paul, an 
American three-master in the cotton trade, 
and they were six weeks from Liverpool to 
New York city, having been driven out of 
their course by a heavy storm of three weeks. 
Mr. McCaughn immediately joined his brother 
William in Delaware county, who had come 
to this country two years previous, and soon 
found work in the hay fields. lie spent four- 
teen years in that county, and thirteen years 
of that time was employed by one man, for- 
!nerly a sailor. lie succeeded in saving $1,000 
from his monthly earnings, but afterward lost 
S200. In the fall of 1855 he purchased 120 
acres ot land in West Point township, Colum- 
bia county, Wisconsin, for which he jiaid 
$800. Two years afterward he sold that 
place for $1,700, to be paid for in wheat at 
seventy-five cents per bushel, and at tlie rate 
of $200 a year. This was considered a wild 
liargain, but he sold his wheat at $2 to S2.75 
per bushel. After selling his land Mr. Mc- 
Caughn immediately came to this place and 
bought 120 acres of his sister-in-law, for 
which he paid $2,000. He bought the place 
for timber land, but the timber had been 
mostly stolen. He was obliged to go iti ilebt 
for this place, paying seven percent interest, 
and the first year he borrowed the money to 
pay the interest, paying ten per cent on the 
the latter. Our subject now owns 2Q0 acres 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



241 



of fine land, but for the past year lie has 
rented his entire place. When he came to 
this State there were no regiilai' laid roads, 
and his dwelling was a small tVame cabin. 
He erected his present frame house in 1861, 
at the beginning of the late war. Although 
Mr. McCaughn took no part in that struggle, 
he aided materially with his means. Politi- 
cally, he affiliates with the Republican party. 
In 1856 our subject was united in mar- 
riage witli Margaret Steele, a native of 
Delaware county, New York, and a daughter 
of Robert Steele, a farmer by occupation. 
She departed this life in 1874, at the age of 
fifty years, and three years afterward Mr. 
McCaughn married Miss Mahala Steele, a na- 
tive of Baraboo, and a daughter of Samuel 
Steele, who was born in Delaware county. 
New York. The latter was a brother of Mr. 
McCaughn's first wife. To this union has 
been born five sons: Charles, deceased in 
infancy; William A., aged fourteen years; 
Kolla, twelve years; Emery, nine years; and 
Howard, five years. 






fOSEPH FINGER, deceased, was born in 
Prussia, Germany, in 1816. He was 
reared to farm life, received a good 
conimoD school education, and remained at 
home with his parents until 1854. In that 
year he came on a sailing vessel to America, 
landing in New Y'ork after a voyage of two 
months, with comparatively little means. A 
short time afterward he bought eighty acres 
of land in Bristol township, Dane county, 
Wisconsin, for which he paid $900. Thirty 
acres of the land was cleared, and on which 
was a small log house, where they liegaii their 
pioneer life. Mr. Finger added to his origi- 
nal purchase until he owned 100 acres, 



erected a good residence, barns, etc., and re- 
mained there until his death, August 2, 18S5. 
He was buried in the Catholic cemetery at 
East Bristol. 

In 1884 he was united in marriage with 
Agatha Dreps. They reared a family of 
eight children, viz.: Mary, of La Crosse, Wis- 
consin; Catherine, wife of Fred Krich, of 
Appleton, this State; Ferdinand, of Camp 
Douglas; Henry, of North Leeds; Joseph, of 
Madison; Agatha, of Albany, Minnesota; 
Anton, of Hampden, Columbia count}', Wis- 
consin; and Theresia, at home. For a short 
time after the father's death the farm was 
conducted by a son, but since that time, in 
comjiany with her daughter, Mrs. Finger has 
managed the entire place. The children have 
all received a good education, and the family 
are members of the Catholic Church. 



U^,^'^OLONEL AUGUSTUS A. BIRD, one 
of the first and most noted settlers of 
Madison, paid the debt of Nature, Feb- 
ruary 25, 1870. He was born April 1, 1802, 
in Thetford, Vermont, and was a son of Sam- 
uel H. and Tabitha Bird, and a grandson of 
Ira Bird, whose father emigrated from Eng- 
land before 1730, and settled in Virginia. 
His mother was a daughter of Dr. Burgoyne, 
a nephew of General Burgoyne, and a Ma- 
jor in the British army. When our subject 
was only three years of age the father moved 
with his family to Madison county. New 
York. 

In April, 1824, he was married in the 
town of Westmoreland, New York, to Miss 
Charity Le Clair, a daughter of Louis Le 
Clair, a Frenchman. In 1826, Mr. Bird 
moved with his family to Ann Arbor, Mich- 
igan, where he remained a little over two 



242 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



years, and then moved back to Madison 
count}', New York. In 1836, lie moved to 
Milwaukee, Wis^consin, and there engaged 
energetically in the business of building, as 
be had early acquired the profession of builder 
and architect, and long and successfully 
followed it at Utica, New York. In Mil- 
waukee he was appointed one of the three 
commissioners for the erection of the Terri- 
torial capitol, at Madison, and was the ac- 
tive and efticient man on the board. On 
June 1, 1837, Colonel Bird, at the head of 
about forty workmen and a train of four 
wagons, loaded with provisions, tools and 
other articles, started fortlie Fonr Lakes, the 
present site of Madison. There was then no 
road and the party was obliged to make one 
for themselves. They had an old map and a 
compass, and by perseverance and energy 
Colonel Bird and his party were (Miabled to 
pursue their route, chopping their way 
through the forest, building long corduroy 
roads over swamps, and fording or bridging 
streams. They forded Bock river at John- 
son rapids, near where Watertown now stands 
and forded the Crawfish, at Milford. For 
many uncomfortable days and nights they 
pushed onward, cheered by the luxuriance of 
nature by day, the music of the wolves by 
night, and sustained by an unconquerable 
spirit. There has since sprung up along this 
route the flourishing villages of Summit, 
Watertown, Milford, Hanchettville and Sun 
Prairie, an<l all along farms in a high state 
of cultivation, the homes of prosperity and 
happiness. The incident which gave the 
name Sun Prairie to the place that bears that 
name may not be uninteresting. The day 
Colonel Bird left Milwaukee, rain began to 
fall and continued everyday until he reached 
tjie middle of that prairie, just northeast of 
Madison, when the sun, for the first time 



shone out clear and bright, and he tore the 
bark from the first tree he reached and wrote 
on it, " Let this prairie forever hereafter be 
called Sun Prairie," and this name it still re- 
tains. What with rain, the breaking of roads 
and the fording of streams, the party did 
not arrive at their destination until the 10th 
of June. Among the party that accompan- 
ied Colonel Bird, were Darwin Clark, Charles 
Bird, Davitl Hyer and John Pierce and his 
family. Simeon Mills arrived the same day 
from Chicago. 

Arriving at Madison, the company camped 
under the trees until a log house could be 
built for their accommodation upon the banks 
of Third Lake. This was the first house 
built ill Madison, although at the same time 
and dui-iiijr the building of tiiis house a Mr. 
Peck commenced building a house in the 
same vicinity, as a boarding house for the 
commissioners and laborers. As soon as 
Colonel Bird had his men fairly at work he 
went to Detroit. Michigan, to get a steam 
engine and machinery for a sawmill to saw 
the lumber for the capitol and bnilt a steam 
sawmill on the banks of Fourth lake. The 
most of the men were married, and as fast as 
possible they put up buildings of their own 
and brought on their families, and Colonel 
P>ird laid out the city of the Four Lakes with 
this small nucleus. He was always an en- 
thusiastic admirer of Wisconsin, and was 
very instrumental in Imilding up ^ladison 
and Milwaukee. IJe was an arcliitect and 
builder, and among the monuments of his 
skill were the old capitol building, the old 
Madison House, the American Hotel, the 
first courthouse, the south building of the 
university, and the first dejxit. 

Colonel Bird was frequently honored with 
positions of trust, and in 1837-'38 he was a 
partner in a mercantile firm in Madison, with 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



243 



Governor Doty, James Morrison and John 
F. U'Neil, the settlement of the affairs of 
whicli involved a litigation of aliunt twenty 
years. In 1851, and in 1856, he was chosen 
to represent the Madison district in the Leg- 
islature, served the city as one of the earliest 
Mayors, was the first Sheriff of Dane county, 
and became well known to the pi-ominent 
men of the Territory and State. In the 
prime of life he was a man of much energy 
of character, and was well fitted by his hardi- 
hood of character for a pioneer. lie passed 
through many hardships and privations. 

Colonel Bird left a wife, and several chil- 
dren, who have reached maturity and are en- 
gaged in different walks of life. Three of 
his sons are connected with newspapers in 
this State and elsewhere, and are now in posi- 
tions of usefulness and prominence. Colo- 
nel Bird was possessed of a warm nature, 
generous to a fault, kind to the poor, and 
honest and upright in his dealings. He was 
a prominent member of the Masonic order. 
His death occurred very suddenly, at the 
residence of his son-in-law, Mr. J. Stark- 
weather, at Green 13ay, Wisconsin, where he 
bad been making a visit. He is supposed to 
have died from the effect of cancers of vvhicli 
he had several near his heart. In his death 
Wisconsin lost one of her noted and influen- 
tial pioneers. 



< 



-m^ 



^ 



|STES WILSON, interested in gold and 
and silver mining in Colorado for many 
years, our subject passed a busy life, 
hut is now retired from active business. In 
1882 Mr. Wilson was made the first presi- 
dent of the Badger State Mining and Milling 
Company. The mines which this company 
operated had been known as the Badger State 



mines, and are located near Red Cliffs, Eagle 
county, Colorado, and are considered very 
valuable, having been worked for considerable 
time. The climate of Colorado did not 
agree with Mr. Wilson, and he was obliged 
to return to his home at Madison. He had 
first located in Madison, March 16, 1854, 
since which time he has engaged occasionally 
in farming. 

Mr. Wilson was born in Belchertown, 
Hampshire county, Massachusetts, January 
30, 1820. He grew up as a farmer boy, and 
later took charge of a large brick manufactory 
at Springfield, Massachusetts, where he was 
engaged some ten years. This business 
proved very profitable, and with the money 
which he realized from it became to Madison, 
Wisconsin, and invested in land. Decem- 
ber 6, 1850, he left New York city on a ves- 
sel for San Francisco^ via Isthmus of Panama, 
andi after landing in California, engaged in 
placer and river mining at Mud and Diamond 
Spi'ing, California. After one year he was 
forced to return on account of the fever, 
taking passage on the Vanderbilt line. On 
his return trip he passed through all the in- 
teresting incidents of such a passage, and 
obtained a very good idea of the country at 
that time. 

Mr. Wilson came of an old English fam- 
ily. Three brothers, Jolm, Jacob and J oseph 
came to this country prior to the Revolution- 
ary war, and settled in Massachusetts, from 
whicli state their descendants have scattered 
over the Union. The family has been promi- 
nent wherever it is found. The father, Estes 
Wilson, Sr., was the son of Nathan Wilson, 
who lived and died in Hampshire county, 
Massachusetts. The death of the latter oc 
curred from an accident. He fell from liis 
wagon and ran a sjJinter into his foot, which 
caused gangrene, and death resulted. His 



244 



BIOGRAPHICAL HE VIEW OF 



son, tlie father of our subject, was born, 
reared and lived in Hampshire county until 
1870, when he came to Illinois and located at 
Farmer City, dying at the house of a daugh- 
ter, Mrs. Baggs, aged seventy-six years. In 
his religious belief he was a Methodist; in 
politics he was formerly a Whig, and then 
became a Republican. The mother of our 
subject was named Sarah Currier, who was 
born, reared and married in Hampshire county, 
Massachusetts, of which state her parents 
were natives. She died at the home of her 
daughter in De Witt county, Illinois, in 
1878, when over seventy-two years of age. 
She had been a woman of noble character, 
and was a member of the Metiiodist Episco- 
pal Church. Our subject is one of a large 
family, of whom six children are yet living. 
He is the oldest son, but a sister is still older, 
and is yet living. AVhile living in Spring- 
field, Massachusetts, he was married to Jane 
M. Ingalls, a native of New Hampshire, who 
was reared in Vermont until young woman- 
hood, and then came to Massachusetts, where 
she met and married Mr. Wilson. She was 
a talented young lady, and after graduating 
from an institution of learning in Boston, 
Massachusetts, she became a medical student, 
and graduated from a medical college in 
Boston, and began to practice in the old 
school. She came West in 1854, with her 
husband, and began to practice in the Home- 
opathic school. She has had much success 
and a very large practice, both in the city 
and vicinity. She has become quite well 
known and although now well along in life, 
she has not ceased her labors for the Ijenefit 
of those about her. She has made a success 
of the profession in which she had few com- 
panions at the time she entei-ed it. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have many friends in 
this county, and Mrs. Wilson is a member of 



of the Congregational Church of Madi-^on. 
They are the parents of one daughter, Mary 
J., who is the wife of Mr. Earl De Moe, and 
lives in Chicago. He is now in the United 
States mail service, with which he has been 
connected for nearly twenty years. He and 
his wife have one son. Earl Wilson, a young 
man of twenty- two years of age. 

Mr. Wilson has been a member of the 
City Council for some years. He is a Repub- 
lican in politics, and is a Master Mason, be- 
longing to Hiram Lodge, No. 50. Mr. Wil- 
son has an interest as a stockholder in a val- 
ble gold mine in Colorado. This mine is 
one of the largest and deepest in the State of 
Colorado, being over a third of a mile in 
depth, and is worked night and das- the year 
round by a large force of men. 

Mr. Wilson has recently retired to Chicago, 
and makes his home at No. 23 Best avenue. 

There is a family Bible possessed by Mr. 
and Mrs. Wilson, and is valued as a relic, 
being fully 150 years old. It was brought 
from England by the brothers who first came 
to thiscountry, one of whom, Joseph, in 1775, 
returned to Enj'land. 



LEXANDER FINDLAY, one of the 
leading grocery men of the city of 
Madison is the subject of this sketch. 
His business amounts to many thousands of 
dollars and the value of his stock, including 
groceries, baker supplies and illuminating 
oils would surprise those who do not look 
into those matters. His sales aggregate from 
§85,000 to 11100,000 annually. 

The subject was born in Scotlaml in 1S3S 
and his parents, most respectable and intell- 
igent people, resided in Kincardineshire 
Scotland, and lived and died there. For 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONfilN. 



345 



years Louis Findlay, the father, was a fish 
cnrer and dealer and was prominent in tiie 
business in his home town. Tlie Ijusiness 
wliich lie established is still conducted by his 
son William. 

The first one of the Findlay family to 
break away from home ties was a brother of 
our subject, Roliert Findlay. He came to 
America it 1856 and a few years later he 
moved to Montana and died there in 1868 in 
the prime of life. He had met with success 
in his undertakinffs and one of his descend- 
ants now lives in Kansas. AVhen our subject 
chose an occupation he decided to be an 
apothecary and served his time in that in 
Glasgow, Scotland. Later he became engaged 
in managing an American produce business 
in Scotland, and for seven years before coming 
here he conducted it. 

In 1863 our subject came to this country 
and located in Madison, where he has since 
shown himself one of her best and most 
reliable citizens. One of the causes which 
brought Mr. Findlay to America was the 
loss sustained on a cargo of Grain from New 
York to Glasgow, Scotland. This was during 
the civil war. The vessel which contained 
this grain was the Crenshaw, a ship that had 
made itself famous as a blockade runner past 
Charleston, South Carolina. Although it had 
a clearance paper from the British consul, the 
Alabama sunk it, cargo and all. Captain Sem- 
mes claiming that the "Yankees were getting 
too smart!" After Mr. Findlay reached 
Madison, in 1863, he joined his brother 
Robert as a drug and grocery merchant and 
has increased his business facilities from time 
to time until in 1881 he found it necessary to 
erect the large Findlay block on King street. 
This large and convenient buildingis occupied 
almost entirely by Mr. Findlay himself, as 



he is the lai'gest dealer in his line in the 
city. 

Our subject was mari-ied in Scotland to 
Miss Catherine P^lint, of Glasgow, Scotland 
who was a young lady of excellent family. Mr. 
and Mrs.F'indlay are the parents of the follow- 
ing four children: Paul, who conducts his 
father's business since Mr. Findlay has some- 
what withdrawn from active life, married 
Miss Bodenstein; Margaret D. is at home; 
Esther is married, and Mary is still at home. 



fllARLES STDAPtT SHELDON, A. 
M., M. I)., Madison. Wisconsin. — The 
subject of this sketch was born at New 
York Mills, Oneida county. New York, 
January 14, 1842, the son of Stephen Smith 
and Lemira (Harris) Sheldon. His parents 
were married at Rupert, Vermont, and 
removed first to eastern Massachusetts and 
subsequently to New York Mills, where his 
father was secretary of the New York Mills 
Manufacturing Company. Mr. Siieldon's 
health failing he purchased a farm near 
Brockport,New York, where he removed with 
his family when the subject of this sketch 
was three years old. 

After reaching a suitable age, Charles 
assisted in the work on the farm during the 
summer months and attended school during 
the winters, so continuing until he graduated 
from the Brockport Collegiate Institute in 
1858. In the fall of the same year he began 
his studies at Phillips Academy, Andover, 
Massachusetts, then under the care of that 
eminent scholar. Dr. Samuel H. Taylor and 
graduated in the following; summer. In the 
fall of 1859, with a majority of his Andover 
classmates, he entered the classical depart- 
ment of Yale ('ollege, at which he graduated 



246 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



in 1863. This class was the largest that had 
ever tjradnated from Yale and contained 
many who are now widely known for their 
usefnlness and ability. Among them may be 
mentioned, lion. William C. Whitney, ex- 
Secretary of the Navy, and Professor William 
G. Sumner of Yale College. Our subject 
received the degree of A. M. in 1866. 

After graduation, our subject removed to 
Madison, Wisconsin, where his parents had 
previously gone, and in the fall of 1863 
accepted tlie position of principal of tiie 
First Ward (Trainniar School, where he taiight 
until the following June. At tiiat time he 
became the principal of the State lieform 
School at Waukesha, Wisconsin, where he 
remained until January, 1865. He then 
began the study of medicine at Buffalo, New 
York, in the medical department of the 
Buffalo University. He attended three courses 
of lecture.s and graduated in February, 1867, 
with the degree of M. D. Daring the period 
of his studies at Buffalo he acted in the capac- 
ity of resident physician to the Buffalo 
General Hospital, remaining until the fall of 
1867, when he went to New York city for 
the purpose of attending a course of lectures 
at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, 
and in the spring of 1868 he graduated from 
that institution, receiving an ad-eundein, 
deifree of M. U. 

Our subject's first choice of location for 
the practice of his profession was at Winona, 
Minnesota, where he removed soon after 
graduating at New York. He here spent 
three years, gaining many warm friends and 
succeeding admirably in his practice. In 
January, 1872, he left Winona and removed 
with his family to Greenville, Michigan, and 
here formed a partnership for the practice 
of medicine with Dr. John Avery, for many 
years past president of the Michigan State 



Board of Health and at present a member of 
Congress from the Greenville district. He 
remained in Greenville for thirteen years, 
building up a large practice and actively 
engaging in the alfairs of the place. During 
twelve years of his residence in this place lie 
was Superintendent of the Congregational 
Sunday-school. 

In March, 1885, Dr. Sheldon removed to 
Madison where he has since practiced his pro- 
fession most successfully. He has been secre- 
tary of the Central Wisconsin Medical Society 
for the past six years, and secretary of the 
State Medical Society for the past three years. 
He is the medical nominator of the Equitable 
Life Assurance Society of New York for 
Southern Wisconsin and is a menber of the 
Council of the American Academy of Medi- 
cine. He also served on the Board of Exami- 
ners for pensions at Madison from January 
1, 1889 until June 14 of the same year. He 
finds time among the engrossing cares of a 
successful practice to be an occasional con- 
tributor to the medical journals. 

Politically the doctor is a Republican, but 
he has never sought political prominence and 
has never held office. Dr. Sheldon was mar- 
ried at Buffalo, New York, October 30, 1868, 
to Miss Emma L. Hodge, of that place, niece 
of William Hodge of that place, one of the 
early settlers of Buffalo. Mrs. Sheldon gra<i- 
uated at the Buffalo Female Academy in 
1867. To this union have been born four 
sons and one daughter, as follows: William 
Hodge, born October 8, 1869, who died 
April 22, 1874; Sidney Roby, born April 11, 
1873, now a member of the Junior class in 
the electrical engineerin'; course of the 
Wisconsin State University; Walter Hodge, 
born December 3, 1874, now a freshman in 
the ancient classical course of the same 
institution; Stuart, born .\ugust 23,1876, 



DANE VOUNTT, WISCONSIN. 



247 



and Helen Miriam, born Deceinl)er 3, 1884. 
Dr. and Mrs. Slieldon are ineinberfi of the 
Congregational Church and are both actively 
eumicred in the work. The Doctor is one of 
the Deacons of the ciiurch and was for live 
years Superintendent of the Sunday-school. 
He is known for his public spirit and is deeply 
interested and actively engaged in temperance 
and all other movements, which have for 
their object the benefit of the community at 
large. 



-«^ 



s-KQ 



IHARLES KENDALL ADAMS, pres- 
iWfvii i*^^"*- of the University of Wisconsin, 
Madison, was born January 24, 1835, 
at Derby, Vermont, a direct descendant in 
the seventh generation from William Adams, 
who settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 
1636. His father moved to Vermont in 
1845, from New Ipswich, New Hampshire. 
His early education was in the common 
country school, and at the age of sixteen he 
began teachinur and tau();ht four successive 
winters in his native town. Two terms he 
went to Derby Academy, having acquired, be- 
fore he was nineteen, such an education in 
mathematics as was necessary to become a 
surveyor. 

In the summer of 1855 it was decided by 
his parents to move to Iowa. In theautnmn 
the subject of this sketch, after visiting some 
relatives in Boston, New Jersey and Ohio, 
reached Denmark, Iowa, where some relatives 
had been for several years established. His 
father and mother and his only sister fol- 
lowed in the spring. For several years it 
had been his great desire to acquire a col- 
legiate education, but owing to the financial 
condition of the family it had not been prac- 
ticable. Though his father and mother very 



earnestly sympathized with his desire, it was 
impossible for them to render him any as- 
sistance. In the summer of 1S56, when a 
little more than twenty-one years of age, he 
decided to prepare for college. The princi- 
]3al of the Denmark Academy, Mr. II. K. 
Edson, encouraged him to believe that this 
could be done in two years. At the holidays 
it was decided to make the attempt to com- 
plete the work in one. He began the study 
of Latin and Greek in September, and in the 
following May had completed all the required 
work. His devotion to his studies, however, 
during this period had been so arduous that 
he was attacked with brain fever, which made 
it for a time doulitful wiiether he would ever 
1)6 able to resume his studies. The rest from 
June to September, however, insured com- 
plete restoration, and at the ojiening of the 
university year, in September, 1857, he was 
admitted, under heavy conditions, to the 
freshman class in the University of Mich- 
igan. When he started out for college he 
had $140 with which to go through his col- 
lege course. The financial disasters of 1857 
made it impos8il)le for his father to render 
him any assistance. The first two years he 
supported himself partly by teaching. Dur- 
ing the vacation between the freshman and 
sophomore years he taught a private school, 
which yielded him about $70. With this 
sum and his private endeavors he completed 
the sophomore year. At the beginning of 
the third year he was appointed an assistant 
in the university library, a position which 
yielded him that year |100. This position 
he held until his graduation, in 1861. He 
was induced to remain for post-graduate 
studies, partly by the fact that the post of as- 
sistant librarian was made more desirable by 
an increase of salary to $200, and partly by 
the encouragement received from Prof. An- 



248 



BIOGRAPHICAL HE VIEW OF 



drew D. White, in whose work he liad be- 
come specially interested. Near tlie close of 
the year he took one of President White's 
classes, and at the end of the year was ap- 
pointed instrnctor in Latin and history. 

In 1863 he was advanced to the rank of 
assistant professor, a position which he held 
nntil 1867, when, on the resicjnation of Pres- 
ident White to go to Cornell University as 
president, Mr. Adams was appointed pro- 
fessor of history and given leave of absence 
for somewhat more than a year for stndy and 
travel in Europe. During his period of ab- 
sence his object was to so increase his knowl- 
edge of German, French and Italian as to 
enable him to use them readily to make the 
acquaintances of the educational methods of 
Germany and F'rance particularly, and to 
visit as many places of historical interest as 
practicable. Instead of settling for contin- 
uous study at any one university, he spent 
about three months at Bonn, a month at 
Heidelberg, two months at Leipzig, a month 
at Berlin and a month at Munich. About 
two months in Italy, and from two to three 
months in Lausanne, Geneva and Paris. 
Soon after his return, in 1868, he established 
a historical seminary in the University of 
Michigan, modeled after the methods pur- 
sued in Germany. On the establishment of 
a school of political science in Michigan, 
Mr. Adams was appointed its dean, at the 
same time he was also appointed non-resident 
lecturer on history at Cornell University. 
This position took him for three weeks to 
Cornell at about the middle of each year. 

In 1885 he was elected to the presidency 
of Cornell University, and during the seven 
years of his incumbency of that position the 
number of students was increased from 560 
to more than 1,500. The endowment of tlie 
university was increased by $2,000,000. In 



1879 he received the degree of Doctor of 
Laws in the University of Chicago, and in 
1886 the same degree was conferred by Har- 
vard University. In 1892 President Adams 
resigned the presidency of Cornell Univer- 
sity with the purpose of devoting his life 
henceforth to the writing of history; but in 
the course of the summer he received several 
invitations to resume educational work, and 
finally accepted the presidency of the Univer- 
sity of Wisconsin. 

In 1872 Mr. Adams published his volume 
entitled " Democracy and Monarchy in 
France," a book which attracted the atten- 
tion and favorable criticism of scholars. In 
1882 he published a memoir of historical 
literature, a work which is designed for the 
use of students, librarians and general read- 
ers. This work was the result of ten years 
of arduous application, and is very generally 
used by historical students in Europe as well 
as in America. A third edition of the work, 
much enlarged and improved, appeared in 
1889. In 1882 he published three volumes 
entitled >• British Orations, with Historical 
and Critical Notes," designed to be of assist- 
ance to chose who are studying the represent- 
ative orations of British orators. In 1892 
he issued a small volume on "Christopher 
Columbus, His Life and Works," the result 
of careful and critical study of the original 
authorities. He has been a frequent con- 
tributor to European and American reviews, 
including the Contemporary Review, The 
Forum and the North American. He has 
also published numerous monographs, and is 
a memlter and fellow of a large number of 
leai-ned societies. In 1890 he was elected 
president of the American Historical Associ- 
ation. 



DANE GOUNTT, WISCONSIN. 



249 



iLFRED MERRILL, now living retired 
I05.1K in Madison, was born in Binfjhainton, 
New York, January 17, 1824. Hisfa- 
tiier, Myron Merrill, was born in New Hart- 
ford, Connecticut, where he learned the trade 
of hatter. After his marriage he removed to 
Sherburne, Chenango county, and from there 
to Binghamton, where he established a hat 
factory and was very successful in the busi 
ness. He was one of the orcranizers of the 
Broome County Bank, of which he was the 
vice-president for many years. He dealt 
largely in real estate and at one time owned 
several thousand acres of timber and coal lamls 
in Pennsylvania. He died in I-Jinghamton, 
in 1873, aged eighty-three years. 

The maiden name ot his wife was Rhoda B. 
Robinson, born in Pembroke, New Hamp- 
shire, and died in Binghamton, in 1887, aged 
eighty-seven. She reared two children: 
Amelia, who married Louis S. Abbott and is 
still living in Binghamton. 

Our subject received his early education in 
the public schools of Binghamton and under 
private tutorage at Troy, New York, after 
which he engaged in the dry-goods and gro 
eery business in I'inghamton, until 1853, 
when he came to Madison. After his arrival 
he bought a farm, four miles out of Madison, 
on the west bank of Lake Mendota, on which 
he resided for twenty-five years. Since that 
time he has resided in Madison. On his farm 
is located Merrill's Rock Spring. It is a 
spring of mineral water, an analysis of which 
shows it to be superior to any other mineral 
water yet discovered. He has platted a por- 
tion of his farm, which is known as Merriii'.s 
park, and it occupies one of the most beautiful 
locations in this most picturesque region. 

Mr. Merrill married, in 1854, Miss Olive A. 
Collier, born in Bingiiamton, New York, and 
died October, 1889. In politics he is a Demo- 



crat and cast his first vote for Franklin Pierce, 
and has not voted since 1876, because a Demo- 
cratic Congress agreed to arbitrate, and hence 
the reason that Samuel J. Tilden was not in- 



augurated. 



^j GROVE, one of the leading German 

ll^ citizens of Madison, a wholesale dealer 

"^■if in wines and li(piors, also vinegar and 

a manufacturer of cigars, is the gentleman 

whose name opens this sketch. 

Our subject was born in the city of Han- 
over, Germany, October 13, 1822, and grew 
up and was educated in his native country. 
All youths receive a good education in the 
land of the German Emperor, but our subject 
was so thoroughly taught that he was made 
clerk in a Government Collector's office. La- 
ter he engaged in farming, and then bought 
a restaurant in Hanover for $5,000, and con- 
ducted this for five years. At the end (if that 
time he sold this business for $7,200, and in 
May, 1857, he left Germany for the United 
States, taking passage on a steamer. The In- 
diana, out from Bremer-Haven, and in twenty- 
one days landed in New York city, tiien 
came to Chicago and then to Freeport and 
there, with a Mr. Fred Bues, established a vine- 
gar factory and were wholesale li()Uor deiilers. 
In this venture our subject put the most of his 
money, but in two years the firm was over- 
taken with niistortuue and Mr. Grove lost his 
capital and had but $190 and six vinegar 
generators when he came to Madison, Wis- 
consin, to take a new start. 

The date of the coming of Mr. Grove to 
Madison was 1859, in the month of March, 
and with but small capital he opened ui) first 
as a manufacturer of vinegar and after some 
years so eidarged his business as to include 



250 



BIOORAPIllCAL JiEVI£W OF 



trade in wines and liquors. In 1875 our sub- 
ject bougiit out the cigar manufactory of 
Lantz ct Kevser and increased the business 
from tlie employment of eight men to that 
of tiiirty, which he needs a part of the time 
now. The firm now does business under the 
name of 11. (irove it Sons, and tlie cigar fac- 
tory lias a capacity of about 100,000 cigars 
per month. The goods are represented upon 
the road by one of the sons generally. The 
firm occupies Nos. 109 to 113 South Webster 
sti-eet. 

Few Germans who came here poor have 
done as well as Mr. Grove. He is now feel- 
ing the advance of years and is not very act- 
ively engaged any more in the business and 
has given the care over to his sons, who are 
cajiable and energetic young men, and are 
able to carry on the business as their father 
began it. Mr. Grove has been interested in 
everything which has served to build up the 
city and has been recognized as one of the 
reliable German citizens. lie has gone 
through the many experiences of those men 
who have crossed the ocean to make a home 
in this country. He came of German parents, 
who died when he was in cliildhood, and was 
educated by an uncle with whom he lived for 
some years, his uncle being a successful 
teacher. ^Ir. (-rrove was the only son of the 
family to come to the United States, and he 
liad two sisters who died in Germany, who 
were married to prominent men there. 

Mr. Grove was the lirst married in his na- 
tive province, to a lady of his own town, and 
she died in the prime of life after the birth 
of two children, AVilliam and Louis, the for- 
mer a liquor dealer in Madison and the latter 
a harness dealer in Sacramento, California. 
Mr. Grove was a second time married, at his 
ol<i hoTUf, to Miss Augusta Soehle, who was 
reared at the same place and has since been a 



true wife and mother. She has become the 
mother of seven children, one of whom, Dora, 
died in childhood, and Theodore, who was con- 
nected with bis father in business, died in 
1886, aged twenty-eight. Theodore married 
Miss Emma Itullman, and they have two 
children, William and Helen. Mathilda, who 
was married to Mr. John W. Veerhusen, 
who has died. She now lives with her parents 
and has a family of one son and two daugli- 
ters. Henry is also connected with his fa- 
ther in business. He married Miss Sarah 
McStay, and the^' live in this city. Fred is 
also with his father and married Miss Laura 
Menhardt, and they are residents of Madison. 
Walter is connected with the clerical work in 
the State bank and is at home. Edward, as 
all of the family, possesses business qualifica- 
tions and is connected with his father. Theo- 
dore. was a very proniinent man in the city 
and a member of the Council. The family 
attends the Presbyterian Church and Mr. 
Grove and his sons are independent in politics. 

U.WILLIAM WESLEY GILL, a phy- 
sician and surgeon of Madison, was born 
in this city, February Ifi, 1860, a son of 
William John and Hannah (Lantry) Gill, the 
forn)er a native of Ferrens I'oint, on the St. 
Lawrence river, (^anada, and the latter of 
eastern New York. The father, a railroad 
contractor by occupation, assisted in the build- 
ing of the Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad 
from Madison to Sun Prairie, also a section 
of the Ofdenshurg railroad, New York. He 
died about twenty-six years ago, and the 
mother now resides in Madison. They had 
three sons and three daughters, of whom our 
s\ibject is fourth in order of birth. The sons 
are connected with railroads in the West and 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



251 



Northwest, and the mother's brothers were 
also raili-oad contractors. 

William W. (Jill attended tliepiihlic schools 
of this city until seventeen years of afre, and 
then began the stock business and freighting 
over the west and northwest of Texas. Three 
years later he returned to this State, and in 
1881 entered the University of Wisconsin, 
where he remained one and a lialf years. lie 
was then in the Rush Medical College, Chi- 
cago, until his gra<luation in 1883, and tlie 
following year began practice in Madison, 
being lirst on the police force and iire depart- 
ment. During that year he also began the 
general practice of medicine. Mr. (tHI grad- 
uated at the law school of Wisconsin, in the 
class of 1887. In 1890, and in company with 
Dr. J. M. Boyd, he erected the Madison Hos- 
pital, at the cost of §17,000, which is one of 
the great enterprises of the city. Since that 
time he has confined his practice to surgery. 
Our subject is a Republican in his political 
views, and has held the office of Health Of- 
ficer of the city and Pension Examiner of the 
Government. He is still unmarried, and re- 
sides at home with his mother. 

|ROF. G£(JRGE C. COMSTOUK, widely 
^ and favorably known in educational and 
scientific circles, who has been for sev- 
eral years the efficient director of Washburn 
oljservatory, Madison, Wisconsin, was born 
in this city February 12, 1855. His parents, 
Charles H. and Mercy (Bronson) Comstock, 
were born on the Western Reserve, in Ohio, 
where his father was reared. The Professor's 
mother removed with her parents to Michigan 
when she was a child, where she attained her 
growth, and was educated. His father, a 
merchant by occupation, was married in Ra- 



cine, Wisconsin, whence he afterward re- 
moved to Adrian. 

The subject of this sketch was the oldest 
of f(mr children, and was eleven years of age 
when his j>arents removed to Adrian, Michi- 
gan, and in the public schools of that city he 
received his preliminary educaticjn. In 1873 
he entered the Michigan University at Ann 
Arb(ir, taking what was then denominated 
the Latin scientific course. He graiiuated at 
that notable institution in 1877 with the de- 
gree of Bachelor of Philosojihy, and was 
then made private assistant of the director 
of the observatory. After this, he was em- 
ployed with a corps of civil engineers on the 
coast of the great lakes for the ne.xt four 
years. In the fall of 1879 he came to Madi- 
son, Wisconsin, where he became assistant 
director of Washburn Observatory, under 
Messrs. Watson and Holden. He later at- 
tended lectures in the law class of tlie uni- 
versity two years, and was admitted tn the 
bar of Madison in 1883. He passe<l the fol- 
lowing year in W^ashington, District of Co- 
lumbia, wliere he was engaged on the Nauti- 
cal Almanac. In 1885 he was called to the 
chair of Mathematics and Astronomy in the 
Ohio State University at Columbus, where he 
spent two years. He then accepted a c;dl to 
the Wisconsin University as assistant director 
of Washburn C)bservatory and Professor of 
Astronomy. In 1889 he was made full di- 
rector of the Washburn Observatory, which 
position he has sifice filled. 

Besides his educational and scientilic 
labors. Prof. Comstock has contributed many 
valuable articles to the scientific and astro- 
nomical journals. He has also written a 
work on the " Method of Least Squares," 
published in 1890. 

As a conscientious and able worker, no one 
stands higher in educational and scientific 



253 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



circles than tlie subject of this sketch, who 
brings to his position the ripe knowledge of 
years of experience and study. 



^ON. KOMANZO BUNN, United States 
District Judge for the Western District 
of Wisconsin, and at present lecturer 
on Federal Jurisprudence in the Evanston 
(Illinois) College, is the subject of this sketch. 
Searching the streets of Athens with a lan- 
tern, Diogenes illuiiiine<l a truth of his own 
discovering, namely, that honest men are the 
rarest as well as most precious of jewels, and 
we have discovered that those who shine in 
the Republic, none have a higher worth than 
the executers of the law. Prominent upon 
the roll of prominent and good men we find 
the name of Judge Romanzo Hunii, whose 
lionorable career as a jui'ist, barrister and lec- 
turer has extended over many years, and has 
been closely and laudably connected with the 
courts of Wisconsin. Judge Bunn is liter- 
ally a self-made man, and chiefly educated by 
his own efforts. The path of his early life 
was not strewn with roses, and he has won 
his way on the upward course of an honor- 
able career of a most worthy citizen through 
many hardships, but is now enjoying himself 
and reaping the benefits of a well-nmnded 
life, surrounded by a host of friends, and 
honored and respected by all. His palatial 
home is situated on tlie magnificent residence 
street, the Langdon, in the city of ^fadison, 
and overlooks the silvery lake of Mendota. 

Judge I'linn was born in Otsego county, 
Is'ew York, on September 24, 1829. He was 
oidy three years of age when his parents 
moved to Cattaraugus county. New York, 
where his early years were spent upon a farm, 
and he grew up with only ordinary educa- | 



tional advantages, and as he expresses it him-, 
self, — " Just about as poor as one can be." 
However, he was not lacking in energy and 
ambition, and through his own efforts re- 
ceived a practical education, first in the pub- 
lic schools and then at Springville Academy, 
New York, working his way through school 
bv teachiuir, but always resrrettiuff that he 



>}' 



ay,. 



had not the opportunity to take a regular 
college course. While in school and teaching 
school, young Bunn was giving some atten- 
tion to Hlackstone, and after the style of 
most young men of his day; seeking to be- 
come lawyers, he first entered the office of 
McAckeron & Myers, at Elyria, Ohio, in the 
spring of 1849, at the age of nineteen. In 
the spring of 1850, he entered the law office 
of William II. Wood, at Ellicottville, New 
York, a very excellent lawyer, and now, and 
for many years past, the trustee of the (?ouch 
estate in Chicago. Here he jnirsued his 
studies, practicing the law, some in the 
courts of justice of the peace and teaching 
<luring the winters, until the fall of 1853, 
when he was admitted to the bar, and im- 
mediately found a partnership with Mr. Wood, 
which continued until they both removed 
West in the autumn of 1854. 

In 1854 Mr. Bunn wedded one of the fair 
daughters of his native county, named Sarah 
Purdy. She had been born, reared and edu- 
cated in the same county, ami had come of 
stock in which flowed some of the best blood 
of New England and of New York, in which 
latter place both parents died. The Judge 
anil his young bride were of ambitious na- 
ture, ami decided to join those who were 
making history and taking part in the devel- 
opment of the great West. Consequently 
they started for Wisconsin, and before snow 
had fallen in the winter of 1854-'55 they 
had established themselves in a small house 




j: cm 



y-tnc'f . 



DANE COUNTY, WlSGONblN. 



IVi 



ill the then comparatively new town of Gales- 
ville, Wisconsin, and where young Ennn 
signified liis willingness to conduct the legal 
affairs of the people of the town. Here be- 
gan his career. At first his prospects were 
not very inviting, but honest integrity won 
him friends and brought him business. Al- 
ways prompt and universally polite, he pos- 
sessed those qualities which help any man to 
success. After si.x years of industrious labor 
in Galesville, he was induced to locate at 
Sparta, which was the seat of justice of 
Monroe count}', where he soon became a 
prominent member of the bar, and his career 
as a jurist began. In 1800, before he had 
left Trempealeau county, Mr. I'linn repre- 
sented the jieople of his district in the Assem- 
bly of tliat year. From 18G1 he was in 
active practice as an attorney at Sparta, with 
good success. In 1868 he was elected Cir- 
cuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit of Wisconsin, 
and was re-elected in 1874, and held the 
office until October, 1877, when he was ap- 
pointed l)y President Hayes to tht^ office of 
United States Judge for the western district 
of Wisconsin, and has to his own credit, and 
with great distinction for his wise and hon- 
orable decisions served tiiis district continu- 
ously. The law reviews and the work 
called " Bench and Bar,'' make honorable and 
complimentary mention of him as an able 
and honest jurist. He hi\s not been gres^tly 
interested in local or St^te politics, but affili- 
ates with the Kepublican party. Judge and 
Mrs. Bunn attend the Congregational Cliurch, 
although tl^ey are not; members of it. 

Nothing shows the good qualities of the 
Judge better than his honest, open and happy 
couqtenance, and his pleasant and approach- 
abjeiqanner, treating rich and poor, acquaint- 
ances and strangers witii a like courtesy. The 
Judge's family history dates back some gen- 



erations and seems to have been an admixture 
of New England, New York and Holland 
stock. His father, Peter Bunn, born in tlie 
Empire State, grew up a farmer, fnUowed his 
calling diligently, held some of the local 
offices, and died of a fever in Cattaraugus 
county, at the age of fifty-four years. Al- 
though he came of long-lived, hearty stock, 
he was thus cut down in the prime of life. 
The mother of our subject was named Polly 
A. .lackson, and after the death of her hus- 
band she came to Wisconsin, spent her last 
ye^rs among her children, and died at the 
age of seventy-one years. She had been a 
kind, good wife, an affectionate mother, and 
botii she and her husband had been members 
of the Methodist ('hurcli. 

Judge P)unn and his estimable wife are the 
happy parents of five children, of whom 
Charles W. and George L. are prominent and 
prospering young attorneys '\n St. Paul; John 
M. is employed in a bank in Tacoma, and 
Mary and Fannie remain at home. For seven 
years Judge Bunn was a lecturer in the law 
class of the Wisconsin State University, and 
the Evanston College is to be congratulated 
that it has secured for tlie important subject 
of Federal Jurisprudence so good a lawyer 
as the subject of this sketch. 

fAMES L. O'CONNOR is a native of 
the State of Wisconsin, being born at 
Hartford, Washington county, June 3, 
1859. Flis parents are natives of Ii-eland, 
and are farmers by occupation. They still 
reside on the old homestead, where they have 
reared a family of ten children, five sons and 
five daughters. 

He began his education in the common 
school; afterward spent a term at the Hart- 



254 



BIOORAPUICAL REVIEW OF 



ford liigii school; was then engaged in 
teaching, laboring on the farm, and at sncli 
other occupation as he could lind. lie en- 
tered the University of AYiscoosin in 1876, 
and remained in the nniversity proper for a 
period of three years, lie then entered the 
law school of the State University of Wis- 
coiiriin, from which he graduated in 1880. In 
1881 he formed a partnership with Charles 
N. Brown, and began the practice of law at 
the city of Madison nnder the firm name of 
Brown »& O'Connor. This partnership lasted 
several years. In 1884 he was elected Dis- 
trict Attorney for Dane county. His success 
as Prosecuting Attorney is well attested by the 
fact that he was again re-elected in 1886, be- 
ing the only man elected on the Democratic 
ticket that year. In 1888 he formed a part- 
iiership with Robert M. Bashford. This 
i)artnership still continues. He was elected 
Attorney General of the State of Wisconsin 
in 1890, his opponent being James O'Neill, 
of Clark county. His administration of the 
affairs of the office has been a noted one in 
Wisconsin. In pursuance of a pledge of his 
party, he brought suits against the ex-State 
Treasurers for the recovery of interest re- 
ceived by them on public funds, and recovered 
judgment against them in the Circuit and 
Supreme Courts, in the sum of $700,000. 
Mr. O'Connor was renominated for the office 
of Attorney General, and was again re-elected 
over his old opponent, James O'Neill. He 
has always been identitied with, and interested 
in the success of the Democ^ratic party. 

Mr. O'Connor was married December 25, 
1889, to Miss Anna L. Wood, of Madison, 
Wisconsin. They have one son, Arthur 
James. 




ILLIAM T. FISH, our subject, is 
A/:,\l) one of the substantial men who have 
^-%^ made the city of Madison what it is. 
He was born in Kent, England, January 10, 
1833, a son of Charles William Henry Fish 
and Sarah (Hancock) Fish, natives of Kent, 
where, for four generations, his ancestors 
have lived. By occupation his father was a 
sailor, following the sea for many years, and 
when the war of 1812 broke out he responded 
to his country's call and was with Captain 
Harris in the frigate llussa, until hostilities 
ceased, and on his return was given a com- 
fortable berth by the Trinity House in Lon- 
don, where the lightships and lighthouses 
are managed, and after a service of twenty 
years, lost his life at the locating of Bullock 
Safety Beacon on the Goodwin Sands, — a 
dangerous part of the British channel. Six 
children were born to this family, but onlj- 
our subject and one sister have ever come to 
America. His brother, Charles Edward, 
however, has made a record that should be 
as dear to America as to his native England. 
He belonged to the life-saving service, and 
during the years of hard and faithful toil 
built up a record second to none in the world, 
having .saved 846 lives in twenty-six years. 
He was retired January 1, 1892, with a most 
honorable presentation of medals and the 
U8\uil pension ac-cordud brave officers by the 
English Governnii'iit. 

In one of the charity schools of England 
our subject received his education, and when 
twelve years of age he lost his father, and 
was thus thrown upon his own resources. At 
first he entered an office as page, but he 
sensibly changed this life for that of an ap- 
prentice to a stonecutter, at which business 
he continued for nearly seven years. In 1852 
he came to the United States, locating in the 
vicinity of New York city, where he re 



JJANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



255 



mained a couple of years. He then made a 
visit to England, but returned to the United 
States, this time locating in Illinois, where he 

o 

eugaffed in work as a luason and stonecutter. 
He was one of the builders of the courthouse 
at Woodstock, Hlinois. 

In 1856 our subject came to Madison and 
found work immediately at liis trade. In 
1859 he was selected as foreman for the work 
on the eastern wing of the capitol at Mad- 
ison and manacred this part of the work until 
1861. His skill soon became known, and the 
work he has done testifies to his ability to 
perform. He has built many of the finest 
buildings in and about the city and was the 
builder and contractor selected by Governor 
Rusk to complete " Science Hall " of the 
university. Also he was the main contractor 
of the insane asylum located at Elgin, Illi- 
nois, a building which cost a quarter of a 
million of dollars, and was the contractor of 
the asylum at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. For 
many years he was engaged on public build- 
ings in the capital of the State, one large 
commission being the building of the rotunda 
of the State capitol. He also erected the 
Congregational church, an elegant structure. 
Wingra Park is one of the most Iteauliful of 
the suburbs of the city of Madison, and our 
subject was the originator of the plan for lay- 
ing it out, and has erected beautiful residences 
out there. He owns property there and the 
residences are commanding high ju'ices. 

The marriage of our subject took place in 
this city, l)y Rev. Mr. Britain, January 1, 
1854, to Miss Harriet J. Wharmby, a native 
of England, who came to this country when 
she was four years of acre. Ten children 
have been born into the family of Mr. Fish, 
but four of them have )>assed away, the living 
ones being, Isabelle, William, Harriet, Jane, 
Victoria and Paul Wellington. Mrs. Fish still 



remains to direct the home of our subject, 
William is a merchant in Monroe, Wiscun>in; 
Victoria is in the high school and several of 
the family are married. Mr. Fish is no pol- 
itician. He belongs to the Masonic fratern- 
ity in Madison, also the Odd Fellows ami 
Knights of Pythias. 

Mr. Fish is president of the Madison Land 
and Improvement Company, and vice-presi- 
dent of the Northwestern Building and Loan 
Association and also holds other offices of 
honor and trust. For eleven years he was 
connected with the tire department of this 
city; for two years he was chief engineer and 
two years more assistant chief. For four 
years he served in the City Council, and dur- 
ing four months, when the late Mayor Smith 
was ill and absent, he sei'ved in the place of 
his Honor. 

Financially, our subject is classed with the 
solid men of Madison, and socially he is es- 
teemed by the whole community. 

ENERAL HENRY HARNDEN, the 
prosperous proprietor of the Hickory 
'i fai-m, where he has become noted for 
his success in breedintr fine Jersey cattle, is 
the subject of this notice. He is the ^on of 
Jonathan and Rhoda Ilarnden, and was iiurn 
March 4, 1823, at Wilmington, Massa- 
chusetts. His ancestors were of Puritan 
stock, who came to America about 1860, with 
the early pilgrims, and settled at Andover, 
Massachusetts. They were prominent in 
the early history of the colonies, especially 
that of Massachusetts bay colony. Young 
Harnden had grown up, as many another Mas- 
sachusetts boy, among the hills of his native 
State. Many of his ancestors on his mother's 
side were seafaring men, and from often 



256 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



hearins bis uncles relate their wild advent- 
nres and hairbreadth escapes by sea he early 
inherited a passion for a sailor's life. After 
leaving school at the age of eighteen he was 
given an opportunity to make a voyage, on 
which he visited the coast of Africa, doubled 
cape Horn, stopped at many of the islands of 
the Pacific ocean, and coasted along the west 
shores of South America, from cape Horn to 
Mexico, returnino; after an absence of five 
years to his father's homo at Wilmington. 
Afterward he made several voyages to the 
West Indies and the southern ports, was in 
Mexico in the first summer of the Mexican 
war and witnessed the dobarking of a part of 
General Taylor's army at I'razos, Santiago, 
and also assisted in bringing back the 
wounded of Palo Alto to New Orleans. 
Losing his health that summer he decided to 
make a change in this life, believing that he 
needed less exposure, and therefore engaged 
in clerking in a store in Lowell, Massa- 
chusetts. 

In the spring of 1850 he went overland to 
California and engaged in gold mining. 
While crossing the plains the party had sev- 
eral encounters with the hidians, who were 
at that time quite troublesome on the frontier. 
Not meeting with expected success in mining 
he came back to Boston, via cape Horn, his 
former experience being of great use in ob- 
taining a position for him on the vessel at 
high wages. In 1852 he removed to Wis- 
consin and settled in the town of Sullivan, 
Jetierson county, when the country was very 
new, and for a time engaged in farming and 
lumbering. Here he owned and operated a 
sawmill until the breaking out of the llebel- 
lioii. Our subject had come of lighting 
stock and those who were opposed to human 
slavery. In politics, he was first an Abolition- 



ist, later a Free-soiler, and finally a Repub- 
lican. 

At the breaking out of the war he called 
his mill hands, quite a large numl)er, and 
told them that the mill must stop, as he was 
going to enlist, and he advised them to do 
the same, which they did to a man. At the 
first assembling of the First Wisconsin Cav- 
alry, at Ripley, he enlisted as a private, but 
was soon promoted to be Sergeant, and then 
Captain of Company L, which rank he held 
when the regiment left the State. Colonel 
Edward Daniels was in command. The regi- 
ment was first sent to Benton barracks, 
Missouri. In 1862 the regiment was sent to 
cape Girardeau, Missouri, and later they 
pushed into the interior to Bloomfield and to 
St. Frances river, and then to Arkansas, 
bringing up at Helena so decimated by sick- 
ness and death, that at one time but three 
officers and sixty men were able to ride on a 
scouting expedition, Captian Ilarnden being 
one, and in command. While in the Depart- 
ment of Missouri ami Arkansas tlie Captain 
participated in quite a number of engage- 
ments with the enemy. At one time, when 
on a scouting expedition witli 100 men, lie 
suddenly came upon a party of about liiO of 
the enemy. In the charge which resulted 
the enemy fied with great loss, but not a man 
was lost of the Wisconsin squad. In April, 
1863, the regiment was transferred to the 
Army of the Cumberland, with General 
Rosecranz, and from that time until the close 
of the war they were identified with the army 
and participated in all the battles and 
marches. In May, 1864, Captain Harnden 
was promoted to be Major, and then Lieu- 
tenant (/olonel, but all further promotion was 
prevented by the Colonel being confined in a 
rebel prison; the Lieutenant-Colonel com- 
manded until the close of the war. March 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



257 



15, 1865, he was commissioned brevet Colo- 
nel and Brigadier-General. He participated 
in some thirty actions, was twice wounded in 
battle, and was once severely injured by his 
horse falling upon him. His first wound 
was received while leading a ^cavalry charge 
near Dallas, Georgia, while he was serving 
under General Sherman. This was a very 
severe wound, as by it his shoulder was shat- 
tered, the ball being fired at him when only 
three feet away. This was in May, 1864, 
and after several weeks in the hospital at 
Chattanooga, he was able to be moved to his 
northern home. After recovery he rejoined 
his regiment and was placed under Major- 
General Wilson, in pursuit of Hood, and was 
with General Wilson at Nashville, Selmaand 
Montgomery, Georgia. The First Wisconsin 
Cavalry helped capture F. Tyler, at West 
Point, and here General Harnden was wound- 
ed in the thigh by a riHe ball. While at Ma- 
con, Georgia, in 1865, he was selected by 
General Wilson to take a detachment and 
cross the country toward Savannah and head 
ofE Jeff Davis, who was reported to be mak- 
ing his way south through South Carolina in- 
to Georgia. The duty was so well performed 
that it resulted in the capture of the rebel 
chief, at Irviugville, south Georgia. At the 
capture of Davis an unfortunate affair hap- 
pened, which was afterward the cause of some 
controversy between the General and Lieuteti- 
ant-Colonel Pritchard of a Michigan cavalry 
regiment, but this was finally settled by Con- 
gress dividing the reward for Davis equally 
between the two parties. Congress exoner- 
ated General Harnden from all blame in the 
collision in the two regiments, in which two 
men in the Michigan regiment were killed 
and several wounded, and also several of the 
Wisconsin men were wounded. The close of 
the war found General Harnden in command 



of a regiment at Edgefield, Tennessee, where 
the regiment was mustered out. 

Immediately following his discharge and 
return to Wisconsin, he was elected in the 
fall of 1865 to the Assembly from the third 
district of Jefferson county. In the Legislat- 
ure he was Chairman of the Committee on 
Military Affairs and did gooil service. In 
18(57 he was appointed by Governor Fair- 
child as one of the trustees of the Orphan's 
home, and was made financial agent of the 
institution by the Board of Trustees, and as 
such he did himself credit. Later he resigned 
to take the office of Assessor ami Collector of 
the Second Collection District of Wisconsin, 
and held this office for years, wlien the law 
changed the office, and in May, 1873, he was 
appointed United States Collector of Internal 
Revenue, and tliis office he held until a few 
years ago. 

Our subject has been an active member of 
C. C. Washburn Post, G. A. K, No. 11, and 
is a member of the Loyal Legion of tiie De- 
partment at Milwaukee, and is a Master Ma- 
son. General Harnden is justly proud of his 
military record. His foi'efathers were Revo- 
lutionary soldiers; his grandfather was a 
Lieutenant and his brother was a Captain in 
the Continental army, and one of his uncles 
was wounded in the great sea fight between 
the man-of-war Hornet and the British ship 
Peacock, and two of the General's brothers 
and thirteen of his nephews were in the 
United States service, military and naval, in 
the war of the Rebellion. 

In December, 1848, General Harnden was 
married to Miss Mary A. Lightner, the 
daughter of John Lightner, Esq., of Boston, 
Massachusetts, and four daughters have been 
born of this union. 

E'er three years our subject has been in the 
o-rocery liusiness on West State street in 



258 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



Madsion, and between that and his fanning 
and breeding intei'ests, the General forgets 
the horrors of war, remembering only the 
honors that have come to him and the peace 
which his country enjoys through the valor 
of sucli as ho. 

pSIUAM N. MOULTON, a well-known 
IW) c'fizen of the city of Madison, Wiseon- 
^&i sin, holiis the position of State Carpen- 
ter, having been appointed to this office by 
Governor Peck for the past two years. He 
has held several important positions in the 
city prior to this, having been its Mayor for 
one term in 1885, and Alderman of the Third 
and Fourth Wards for several years. Ue also 
has been a leader in a local way, and is now 
one of the prominent residents of the place; 
has hosts of friends, being the kind of person 
who knows, not only how to make, but also 
to keep them. He has always taken an active 
interest in school, being a member of the 
Board several years, and performs his part 
in all that concerns the advancement of the 
place. 

Mr. Moulton came to this city in 1854, 
and since that time has been closely connected 
with the building interests here, iiaving been 
the contractor for very many of the public 
and also the private buildings of Madison. 
He liad the carpimter contract for the north 
wing of the State capitol, and has built many 
of the stately and beautiful homes of this 
city. In his business enterprises he has 
shown much good judgment, has been emi- 
nently successful, and has made money. At 
one time he owned a good farm in Burke 
township, residing there nine years, at least 
his family did, as he did business in the city, 
but now Iiis residence is a beautiful one at 



the corner of Jenifer and Spaight streets, 
overl(K)kinir lake Monona, where he has been 
located for the past nine years. 

The birth of Mr. Moulton took place in 
East Hartford, Connecticut, August 1-1, 1818, 
and was reared and educated there, learning 
his trade in East Hartford, doing business on 
his own account before coming to Madison. 
His ancestry was good, of New England par- 
entage. His father, Spencer Moulton, was 
born in New Jersey, and spent the most of his 
active life in Hartford as a paper-maker, 
but died in West Springfield, Massachusetts, 
at the age of sixty-eight years. 

The mother of our subject survived him 
two years, dying at the same place and at 
about the same age. Her maiden name was 
Chloa Williston, and her birth occurred near 
the same place where she died in West 
Springfield. Formerly she had been an Epis- 
cojjal Methodist, but in later years embraced 
the Wesleyan Methodist faith, as did her hus- 
band. 

Onr subject is one of twelve children, 
being the eldest, and two sons and two daugh- 
ters are deceased, and three sons and five 
daughters are yet living, averaging over sixty 
years of age. One brother, Abertus, is a 
resident of Oakdale, California; anotiier lives 
in l''aulkton. South Dakota, a fai'Mier there. 
The five sisters are all married and scattered 
over the country, in Iowa, New Jersey, and 
three in Massachusetts. 

The marriage of our subject took place in 
Madison, Wisconsin, with Mrs. Ellen Cook, 
a native of Lyndon, Vermont. She was born 
and educated there, came West a young 
woman with her parents in the early fifties, 
and has since Iier marriage been a true and 
trusty helpmate to iier husband. She is a 
woman of many charms of character, and has 
a host of friends in \\w city. Her kindness 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



259 



and generosity are well known. She is the 
cheerful, happy mother of two children: Nel- 
lie, the wife of Charles Robbins, now living 
in the city of Madison, a bookkeeper for the 
Western agency for steel plows; and Fred N. 
a mechanic. Mrs. Moulton was the daugh- 
ter of Daniel and Mehetible (Cass) Bowman, 
who now are both deceased, having passed 
away some dozen years since in advanced 
age. They were natives of Vermont, spend- 
ing some of their latter years in Massachn- 
setts, before their removal to Madison. 



^fOHN M. OLIN.of Madison, Wisconsin, 
"M, one of the most prominent and snccess- 
^K, fnl members of the Dane county bar, 
was born in Lexington, Richland county, 
Ohio, Jnly 10, 1851. His parents were 
Nathaniel G. and Phtebe II. (Roberts) Olin, 
the father being a native of Shaftsbury, and 
the mother of Manchester, Vermont. Reared 
on a farm in < )hio, his primary education 
was secured by attending the neighborhood 
schools three months of the year, and working 
on the farm the remaii'.der of the time. After 
reaching his fourteenth year he attended the 
Belleville liigh school two years, and follow- 
ing that, attended the private academy of 
the Rev. Daiiey, at Lexington, Ohio, for 
six months. He next spent two years at 
Oberlin College, Ohio, and in 1878 graduated 
at Williamson College, with honors, having as- 
signed him oncommencementone of the philo- 
sophical orations, and was chosen by the faculty 
of the college as a member of the Phi Beta 
Kappa Society. 

Following his graduation he held the posi- 
tion of principal of the Belleville high 
school, which was followed by a term as 
princi)>al of the Mansfield schools. In the 



Fall of 1874 Mr. Olin came to Madison, and 
took a position as instructor in the depart- 
ment of Rhetoric and Oratory, in the schools 
of the city. In the fall of 1878 he took a 
course in the law department of the Univer- 
sity of Wisconsin, and graduated in 1879, 
with the degree of A. M., in a class of seventy- 
six students. After his admission to the 
bar he opened an office in Madison, and began 
the practice with a partner. His partnership 
continued during two years, since which time 
he has practiced alone, until January 1, 1892, 
when he associated with him, Harry L. I]ut- 
ter. 

On June 14, 1880, Mr. Olin was married 
to Miss Helen Remington, of Baraboo, Wis- 
consin, the daughter of Cyrus C. Remington, 
a well-known attorney of that place. Mrs. 
Olin graduated at the University of Wis- 
consin, class of 1870, taking first honors. 
The success of Mi'.'Olin at the bar has been in 
many points remarkable. In a comparatively 
brief time he has risen from the point of a 
beginner to the position of one of the leading 
members of an able bar; and that, too, un- 
aided. Coming into the field as a young 
and inexperienced practitioner, at a time 
when the Madison bar was consiilered an ex- 
ceptionally strong and brilliant one, he en- 
countered contemporaries, who were not oidy 
hi.? seniors in years and experience, but were 
gentlemen who had for years enjoyed strong 
reputations, and were resting secure in the 
laurels already won, while he had neither 
name nor position. But he diligently applied 
himself to his work, and step by step has 
won his way up to a professional reputation 
for ability, integrity, and learning of the 
highest order, and has secured a conspicuous 
place in the front ranks of the leading mem- 
bers of the bar, of not only Madison, but of 
Wisconsin. During his brief professional 



260 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



career Mr. Olin has achieved an elevated posi- 
tion as a learned and profound lawyer, and 
most successful advocate, and iu legal argu- 
ments few lawyers among his contemporaries 
have proved themselves his equal in clear- 
ness of statement, logical reasoning, and im- 
pressive diction, and few surpass him in his 
ability as an orator. With the eminent suc- 
cess already achieved while still young, it is 
easy to understand the hopes of his friends 
and admirers in foreshadowing and predict- 
inif a l)rilliant future for Mr. Olin in the 
legal |)rofeS8ioii. 

Personally, Mr. Olin is a most congenial 
and agreeable character. Of a manner 
rather quiet and retiring, he yet possesses a 
power back of this tliat is comprehensive, 
clean-cut and vigorous. Ilis time is given 
to his profession, to the exclusion of political 
ambition, though in 1886 he was the candi- 
date of the Wisconsin Prohibition party for 
Governor. 



[AMUEL IIIGHAM, vice-president of 
the Fuller & Johnson Manufacturing 
Company of the city of Madison, Wis- 
consin, a very prominent citizen, is the sub- 
ject of the following sketch. 

Mr. Iligham was born in Geneva, Ontario 
county. New York, September 23, 1847, a 
son of Henry and iSarah (Roberts) Iligham. 
These parents were both born and brought up 
in Stockport, England, and his father was en- 
gaged in tlie manufacture of cotton goods in 
his native country. About 1842 Mr. Ilig- 
ham, Sr., came to the United States, first set- 
tling in Geneva, New York, and following 
the occupation of farmer, moving to Madi- 
son, Wisconsin in 1850. He is now living 
with his wife, after a married life of fifty- 
three years, at the age of seventy-eight years. 



Seven children were born to them, five sons 
and two daughter, as follows: Mary Ann, 
who married Mr. Joshua Smith; Elijah, a 
resident of Oakland, California; Sarah E., 
who married Mr. Tillotson and resides at 
Baraboo, Wisconsin; John, who resides in 
Oakland, California; William Henry, who 
resides in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and 
George C, who is a resident of the same 
place. 

Mr. Iligham was a resident of New York 
when our subject was born and the latter was 
two and one-half years of age when the family 
removed to Madison, Wisconsin, in iSSOand 
located in Madison township, in Dane county, 
on a new farm, but later removed to section 
6 in Fitchbnrg township, in 1854. Our sub- 
ject was given a public school education in 
the district schools of Madison and Fitchbnrg 
townships, working on the farm in the sum- 
mer and attending school in winter, and was 
prepared to enter the University of Wiscon- 
sin in 1865, passing some three years in that 
institution. In 1868, he left school and went 
to Hudson, Wisconsin, and there engaged in 
milling and manufacturing lumber, and at 
this place he remained in business some five 
years. 

Following this life in northern Wisconsin, 
our subject went to Cannon Falls, Minnesota, 
and then to Rod Wing, Minnesota, and there 
engaged in the sale of huuber and agri- 
cultural implements. In souie of these en- 
terprises his brother, William II., was a part- 
ner. Until 1883 he remained there and 
then sold out as he saw greater opportuni- 
ties in Madison for his abilities to become 
known. He purchased an interest in the 
Fuller & Johnson Manufacturing Company, 
manufacturers of plows, cultivators, corn- 
planters, mowing machinery, hay rakes, har- 
rows, etc. His experience and training so 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



2«1 



well fitting him for the management of this 
line of busines, he was at once chosen vice- 
president of the company, which office he has 
held ever since. This company is one of the 
largest and best known in the Northwest. 
To this prosperons and growing business Mr. 
llighani devotes all his time, but he is also 
largely interested in other enterprises, among 
them the Higham Brothers' Hardware Com- 
pany of Grand Forks, North Dakota, being 
the president of the company, Init the busi- 
ness being carried on by his brothers, who re- 
side there. These large corporations require 
their ofHcers to be shrewd, farseeing business 
men. Such is our subject. 

In Minnesota Mr. Ilicrham was called 
upon to serve his fellow-citizens in many offi- 
cial position, but since his residence in Wis- 
consin his personal business has claimed the 
greater part of his time. His marriage took 
place in September, 1873, with Miss Clara 
James, of Wellsville, New York, who was 
born in Warren, Pennsylvania, and was there 
educated. She is still living, but the one 
daughter, Gertrude O., born in 1880, was 
taken away by death April 2, 1891. The 
family have been active members of the Con- 
gregational Church and to this denomination 
Mr. Higham has been liberal and attentive, 
doing his whole duty as a Christian and good 
citizen. 

IROF. STEPHEN MOULTON BAB- 
COCK, wlio occupies the chair of Agri- 
cultural Chemistry in the University of 
Wisconsin, is a native of Bridgewater town- 
ship, Oneida county. New York, born Octo- 
ber 22, 1843. His parents, Peleg B. and 
Cornelia (Scott) Babcock, were both born 
and reared in (^noida county, and his father 



was by occupation a farmer. His grand- 
father Babcock was born in Connecticut and 
early in life niove<l to Oneida county, New 
Y^ork. Peletr B. Babcock and his wife had 
two children: Stephen M. and Linn I>., the 
latter being now engaged in the mercantile 
business in St. Louis, Missouri. Their father 
died in New York in 1857, and their vener- 
able mother is a resident of Madison, Wis- 
consin. 

Professor Babcock's education was begun 
in the common schools of his native county. 
He spent two years at Clinton Liberal Listi- 
tute, Clinton, New York, and then entered 
Tufts College, College Hill, Massachusetts, 
four miles from Boston, where he took a 
classical course and graduated in 1866 with 
the degree of B. A. After workint; three 
years upon his farm in Bridgewater he re- 
moved to Ithaca, New York, and took a post- 
graduate course of four or live years in Cor- 
nell University. At the end of that time he 
was made instructor in cliemistry, and occu- 
pied that position in the university during 
1876-'77. after which he resigned, went to 
Germany and for two years devoted himself 
to the study of his chosen science — chemis- 
try — in the University of Gottingen, return- 
iuij to America in 1879. Again he was an 
instructor in Cornell University one year. 
In 1882 he was appointed chemist at the 
New York Agricultural Experiment Station 
at Geneva, which position he occupied five 
consecutive years. 

He was called by the Board of Regents of 
the University of Wisconsin, in 1888, to the 
chair of Agricultural Chemistry, and is now 
in his fifth year in the work. He has written 
a number of papers which have appeared in 
the reports of the Agricultural Experiment 
Stations of New York and Wisconsin, and, 
in connection with Dr. Caldwell, of Cornell, 



263 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



he published a work on Chemical Qualitative 
Analysis. Dr. Babeock is best known as the 
inventor of the milk test, which bears his 
name; this test being at the present time ex- 
tensively used in this country by milk inspec- 
tors and by factory men to determine the 
quality of milk, lie is a member of the 
American Association f(jr the Advancement 
of Science, and of the Society for the Promo- 
tion of Agricultural Science. 

Professor Babcock is unmarried. 

fUDGE HARLO S. ORTON, Associate 
Justice of the Supreme Court of Wiscon- 
sin, and one of the most highly honored 
citizens of the capital city, is a native of the 
old Empire State, having been liorn in Ni- 
agara county, New York, on November 23, 
1817. Ilis parents, Ilarlo N. and Grace 
(Marsh) Orton, were natives of Vermont and 
Connecticut, respectively, and both were of 
that good old New England stock whose 
worthy characteristics are so indelibly 
stamped upon their descendants. The grand- 
fathers of our subject, as well as his paternal 
great-grandfather, were ministers of the Bap- 
tist Church, and both great-grandfathers 
fought in the American army in the Revolu- 
tionary war. Three sons and two daughters 
were l)orn to our subject's parents, but of the 
entire family only himself and one sister, Mrs. 
H. Mason, of Iowa, survive, all having passed 
away at different periods. The maternal 
grandmother lived to an extreme old age, dy- 
ing as late as 1884. 

The boyhood days of our subject were spent 
upon the farm in helping with the work in 
season and'attending the neighboring common 
school in winter. At the age of thirteen 
years he went to Madison, New York, where 



he attended Hamilton Academy and the Madi- 
son University, taking a (ioinplete course in 
each institution and graduating from the lat- 
ter in 1837, when twenty years of age. The 
young graduate next came West to Bourbon 
county, Kentncky, where for one year he had 
charge of the Paris Academy. Ilere he con- 
tinued his law studies begun in Hamilton 
Academy. In search of a location he went to 
La Porte county, Indiana, in the fall of 1838, 
making the entire journey on horseback 
through the primeval woods. Locating in 
that county he continued his preparations for 
the legal profession and in the following 
spring he was admitted to the bar. That sum- 
mer the young and ambitious law fledgling de- 
cided to locate in I'orter county, Indiana, and 
before the autumn leaves were falling he was 
practicing law in Valparaiso, and enjoying the 
distinction of being the only lawyer in the 
county at that time. In 1843 he was ap- 
pointed Probate Judge of Porter county by 
Governor Samuel Bigger, and he continued 
to discharge the iluties of that oflice until 
184:7 conducting quite an extensive law prac- 
tice at the same time . 

In 1847 Judge Orton removed to Milwau- 
kee, while Wisconsin was yet a Territory, and 
in that city he practiced law until the election 
of the second Governor of the State (Gover- 
nor Farewell), when he came to Madison as 
the private secretary of the Governor. He 
remained on the Governor's staff for two years 
efhciently discharging the many important 
duties of his position. In 1849 he w-as ad- 
mitted to the bar of the Supreme Co\irt of 
Wisconsin, since which time he has been 
present at every term of that court, first as 
a lawyer and for the past fourteen years as an 
honored judge of the court. 

In 1854 Jmlge Orton was elected to the 
State Lcirislature and was re-elected in 185!> 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



2G3 



and 1871, serving three terms in all in tliat 
body with distinction and much usefulness to 
his constituents and the entire State. In 
1859 he was unaminously elected Judge of 
the Circuit Court, and was re-elected to the 
same office witliout a dissenting voice, serv- 
ing in that capacity until 1866, when he re- 
signed. 

From that time on Judge Orton devoted 
liitnself to his practice, which was in all the 
different courts, and met with success in a 
high degree his name lieconiing one of the 
best known in the legal profession in the 
State, and thus was established a reputation 
which led to his election in 1878 to the Su- 
preme Bench, which election was unanimous 
and was followed in 1888 by re-election. 
Judge Orton was one of the organizers of tiie 
State Historical Society, and introduced the 
bill authorizing the formation of the same 
while a member of the JjCgislature. Since 
1884 he has been the society's vice-president. 

Judge Orton was married in July, 1839, 
to Elizabeth C. Cheney, who was born in 
Maryland, and is the daughter of William 
Cheney, a prosperous planter of that State, 
now deceased. Six children have been born 
to their union, of whom three sons and one 
daughter are now living. They are: O. B. 
Orton, an able lawyer of Indianapolis, Indi- 
ana;(). II. Orton, aprominent citizen of Beloit, 
Wisconsin; llarlo N., a practicing physician 
of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and O. C, now 
the wife of Henry Coe, of Indianapolis. 

In years Judge Orton is the oldest Asso- 
ciate Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court 
and in length of service is the junior of Chief 
Justice Lyon by only a short time. His ca- 
reer on the bench has been marked by a dis- 
play of ability second to none and he has made 
a name which will always live in the judicial 
annals of his State. He has all his lite lieun 



a close student, and being possessed of a dis- 
criminating mind his decisions have always 
been clear and pointed, and seldom, if ever, 
reversed by a higher court. Quick to see the 
points of a case he is always ready to give 
prompt decisions with superior judgment. 
As an attorney. Judge Orton was able and 
forcible and successful and durin<r his lonar 
experience as a member of the bar held a po- 
sition in the first rank of the able lawyers of 
the State. 

Socially Judge Orton is one (jf the most 
pleasant and congenial of men. Easy of ap- 
proach, always courteous and kind, well 
versed in general literature, and a good con- 
versationalist, he is a most pleasant companion 
as well as a learned iiidcre. 

Originally a Whig in politics, the Judge 
joined the Republican party on its organiza- 
tion, but now affiliates with the Democracy. 

fM'fSl I^^N^^^M DOYON, the generous 
lliriirl ''oDor of this memorial volume, was 
^i^^®boi-n at P^ranklin, Franklin county, 
Vermont, December 18, 1845. His parents 
were John and Arvilla Doyon. He lived on 
a farm an<l was brought up to steady and 
hard labor, attending the district school win- 
ters. In 1865 he left the farm and attended 
the New Hampton Institute for three years. 
Again he worked on tiie farm or was superin- 
tendent of a cheese factory summers, and 
taught school winters. In 1869 he engaged 
in the mercantile business at Milton, Ver- 
mont. He was married to Miss Amelia 
Ilerrick, at Milton, October 19, 1869. His 
children were born at Milton. In 1878 he 
came to Irnton, Wisconsin, where he had 
the general supervision of a furnace, store, 
mill and larije farm. He came to Madison 



264 



BIOGRAPHICAL HE VIEW OF 



in 1881, and since November, 1883, has been 
vice-president and acting president of the 
Capital City Bank. In December, 1887, he 
was elected by the Common Council a mem- 
ber of the Board of Education, taking his 
place in January, 1888. lie was re-elected a 
member of tlie Board in December, 1890. 

He was elected Mayor of tlie city in April 
1888, receiving a majority of more tliaii 600. 
In 1889 he was the candidate of all parties 
and was re-elected without opposition. 

At an open meeting of C. C. Washburn 
Post, Monday evening October 6, 1890, Mr. 
Doyon presented this memorial volume to 
the post. 

John Doyon, the father of M. Ransom 
Doyon, was born iv. Montreal, in 1817. He 
removed to P'ranklin, Vermont, in 1833. 
He was a carpenter and farmer. Enlisted as 
a private in Company F, Tenth Regiment, 
Vermont Volunteer Infantry, August 18, 
1862, and was mustered out September 1, 
foUowini;. This rei'iment was assigned to 
the Third Army Corps and sent from Wash- 
ington to re-enforce McClellan's army at 
Antietam. Later the Third corps became a 
part of the Sixth corps. For a time it lay at 
the mouth of Monocacy, where a fort was 
built. It was ordered to join Burnside at 
Fredericksburg. In the battle that followed 
Mr. Doyon was wounded in a finger. He 
was in the battle of Chanceliorsville. At 
Gettysburg his cotntnaml was stationed on 
Little Round Top, where he looked on the 
advance of Pickett's division. In 1864 he 
was engaged in the movements of the Army 
of the Potomac, from the wilderness to the 
James river. The Sixth corps was afterward 
transferred to the Shenandoah valley, and 
Mr. Doyon was engaged in the battles of 
Wiiiciiester and Fisher's Hill, September 19, 
and 22, and in the expedition to Staunton. 



The Army of Sheridan returned to the 
lower valley. The Si.xth corps was afterward 
transferred to the James River and took part 
in the capture of Richmond and of Lee's 
army. It was stationed for a time in the vi- 
cinity of Danville, Virginia, but marched to 
Wasliiiigton and took part in the grand re- 
view. The Tenth Vermont Regiment re- 
mained in the vicinity of Washington until 
June 24, when it was mustered out of service. 

Mr. Doyon was with his command at the 
railroad depot for transportation to his home, 
but was too ill to go, and was taken to the 
hospital, where he died befo re midnight, 
June 24, 1865. He was buried at Arlington. 
The number of his grave is 12,224. 



fEREMlAII RICHARDS, a prominent 
and influential lumber dealer of Madi- 
son, Wisconsin, was born in Exeter town- 
ship, Penobscot county, Maine, July 4, 1826, 
son of Jeremiah and^Bloomy F. (Wing) Rich- 
ards. His parents were born, reared and 
married in Kennebec county, Maine, their 
ancestors being of English descent, and among 
the early settlers of New England. The 
Richards family were identlied with the agri- 
cultural interests of Maine, while the Wings 
were lumbermen. When a boy, the subject 
of our sketch decided to be a lumberman. 
He spent his summers working in mills, and 
dnrinrr flie winter months attended the die- 
trict schools, until be readied his majority. 
His whole life has been devoted to his chosen 
occupation. He has lived in various States 
of the Union, has met and overcome misfor- 
tune, and now, as age advances, is still ac- 
tively identified with business interests, and 
is one of the wealthy men of the city in 
which he lives. 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



2G5 



III the spring of 1848, Mr. Richards went 
to Georgia, whei'e he was for three years en- 
gaged in the milling husiness. and from 
there, in 1851, went to Florida, remaining in 
that State until 1861. He spent eight years 
near Tallahassee, and was afterward at Jack- 
sonville. On account of the war and the 
loss of property by fire, he returned to his 
native State, landing there with only $10. 
This money was used for doctor bill and 
medicine for his sick wife, and he soon found 
himself in debt. There he obtained employ- 
ment in a sawmill at §16 per month, running 
the same saw he began at when a boy. He 
remained in Maine and Massachusetts two 
years. In 1868 he came West; lived at 
Lyons, Iowa, one year; in Dixon, Illinois, 
one year, having charge of a lumber yard; 
and in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, one year, 
where he boUijht a mill and was in business 
for himself. In 1866 he acjain went to Flor- 
ida, and at Cedar Keys built a mill for an- 
other party, remaining there one year. Next 
we find him at Galveston, Texas, where he 
established a lumber yard, and while there 
had an attack of yellow fever. Again coming 
North, he spent one year in Maine, one year 
in Lyons, Iowa, and from there came to 
Dane county, Wisconsin. He purchased a 
lumber yard in Oregon, Wisconsin, in 1870, 
resided there until JNovember, 1881, and then 
came to Madison, where he has since made 
his home. Now in ])artnei'ship with A. P. 
Lovejoy, of Janesville, Wisconsin, under the 
lirm name of Lovejoy & Richards, he has 
lumber yards in nine different towns, and at 
another place has an interest in a yard, the 
firm being Lovejoy, Richards & Ringham. 
Mr. Richards has the personal supervision of 
these ten yards, which are situated at the 
following named places: Argyle, Blanchard- 
ville, Jquesdale, Dodgeville, I3arneveld, Blue 



Mounds, Mount Horeb, Stoughton, New 
Glarus and Brooklyn. He sold his yard at 
Oregon in May, 1891, after having operated 
it for twenty-one years. 

Mr. Richards was married August 20, 
18-49, to MaryE. Hartt, of Savannah, Geor- 
gia. Mrs. Richards was born in New York 
city, but was reared in Georgia from iier 
sixth year. They have had tiiree children. 
One daughter died in infancy, and anotlier, 
Florenco, at the age of eigiit years. Their 
only son, Walter C, is a resident of San 
Diego county, California, engaged in raising 
lemons. 

Mr. and Mrs. Richards have a pleasant 
home on Jenefer street, where they are sur- 
rounded with all the comforts and luxuries 
of life. They are attendants at the Unita- 
rian Church, and he is a Freemason. 

^ON. JOHN B. CASSODAY, Associate 
'iitil) ''^"*^'''''''' *^'^ '^'^ Supreme Court of Wis- 
vd consin, was born in Herkimer county. 
New York, July 7, 1830. About three years 
after his birth his father died, and he witii 
his mother moved with her parents to Tiotra 
county, Pennsylvania. He began life as poor 
as the poorest of boys, but the same indus- 
try, good judgment and well-directed ambi- 
tion, which made him one of the foremost 
lawyers of AVisconsin, carrietl him through 
his early struggles. Besides occasionally at- 
tending district schools for a few months and 
working for his board he attended one term 
of the village school at Tioga, and one term 
at Wellsborough Academy, before he was 
seventeen years old. For the next four years 
he was engaged in various kinds of manual 
labor in order to gain a livelihood, occasion- 
ally teaching school in winter. Afterward 



266 



BIOOBAPHWAL HE VIEW OF 



he attended two terms at the Knoxville, 
Pennsylvania. Academy, and tlien two years 
at the Alfred Academy, Xew York, from 
which he irraduated. He then went to the 
Michii^an [Jniversity, where he took a select 
coarse, wiiich was snpplemented by a short 
term at the Albany Law School and reading 
in a law otiice at Wellsborough, Pennsyl- 
vania. Uesirinfr to find a wider held, he 
went West in 1857, and settled in Janesville, 
Wisconsin, whore he entered the law otfice of 
Judge Conger, who was a prominent local 
legal light, and pursued his law studies there 
until 1858, when he became a member of the 
firm of Bennett, Cassoday & Gibbs, which 
continued for over seven years, during which 
time he served as circuit judge of the 
Twelfth Judicial District. From 1865 to 
1867 he was alone in his practice, when the 
firm of Cassoday & Merrill was formed, 
which lasted five years. That firm was suc- 
ceeded by Cassoday & Carpenter, the late 
Senator, now deceased, and continued until 
Judge Cassoday was promoted to the Su- 
preme Bench. 

Prior to this election he had been some- 
what prominent and active in local and 
national politics. He had been a Republi- 
can ever since the party was organized. In 
1864 he was a delegate to the Baltimore 
convention which renominated Lincoln, and 
was placed upon what was that year the 
most important committee, that of creden- 
tials. In 1864 he was elected to the Assem- 
bly, and during that session served with 
credit on the Judiciary and Railroad com- 
mittees; and again in 1876 he was elected to 
the General Assembly from his district. He 
was then chosen Speaker of tliat body, with- 
out a dissenting vote from iiis party, and in 
this place he displayed his native ability, 
serving with decided distinction. In 1879 



he stumped the State for the Republican 
campaign, making many forcible and telling 
speeches for his party, and the same year was 
chairman of the Republican State Conven- 
tion. In 1880 he was a delegate at large to 
the convention at Chicago, and was chairman 
of the delegation. He presented to the con- 
vention the name of the late E. B. Wash- 
burne as a candidate for President, in a 
speech that was worthy the man and the 
occasion, and later, after supporting his 
favorite candidate as long as there was any 
hope, he announced the vote of the Wisconsin 
delegation for James A. (Tarfieid, which broke 
the dead-lock and resulted in the nomination 
of that gentleman. lie took an active part 
in the campaign, making speeches over the 
State, as he had up to that time in almost 
every presidential election since the organi- 
zation of the Republican party. On Novem- 
ber 11, 1880, he was appointed Associate 
Justice on the Supreme Bench to till the 
vacancy caused by the promotion of Chief 
Justice Cole to the office made vacant by the 
death of Chief Justice Ryan. Judges Cole 
and Cassoday were elected by the calls of the 
bar and the people, without regard to party, 
and excepting a few scattering ballots re- 
ceived the entire vote of the State, Judge 
Cole having 177.522. and Judge Cassoday 
177,553. In 1889 lie was re-elected with 
tluf entire vote of tiie State, receiving the 
largest ever eiven in tiie State to one man. 
In the American Law Review, of July, 1892, 
we find the followinij: "The law school of 
the University of Wisconsin is in many re- 
spects very favorably situated. The univer- 
sity is located at the capital of the State, 
where the Supreme Court, the courts of the 
United States, and also the State courts of 
nisi prius for Dane county, hold their ses- 
sions. The Legislature also meets there, and 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



2G7 



the presence of these courts has enabled the 
regents to attach to the faculty several emi- 
nent judges, among whom may be mc-u- 
tioned Mr. Justice Oassodaj, of the Supreme 
Court of Wisconsin, whose opinions have 
been long distinguished for soundness, and 
whose conclusions for the thoroughness of 
their search." Mention is made in the same 
work that the decisions of the Supreme Bench 
of the State have placed it third among its 
sisters in value, and the standing of its de- 
cisions is ranked next to New York and 
Massachusetts. 

The Chicago Legal News publishes many 
legal extracts of the judges of this court. 
As a lawyer, Judge Cassoday was one of tlie 
brightest and most successful in the State. 
From the outset of his career he showed a 
clear, analytical mind, well balanced, cool 
and cautious, but the success he obtained 
could only come from downright iiard study 
and work. While in practice he was de- 
voted to his profession, thorough and method- 
ical in the preparation of his cases, and 
skilled and judicious in their management. 
Always true to his client, and equally true to 
himself and the court, intensely anxious to 
succeed, but always just and courteous to his 
opponents. lie took luitUing for granted, 
but went to the bottom of every (juestion, 
and the members of the bar who attempted 
to rake after him found but scant gleaning. 
In his arraignments, his clever manner of 
presenting each particular case, and his com- 
plete mastery of the questions involved, gave 
him a rare power, and caused him to be 
listened to by court, jury and bar, with the 
utmost attention and respect. While making 
his profession a general practice, he was 
especially interested and successful in wills, 
patents and trademarks. As a politician he 
was sagacious and unflinching in his fidelity 



to the interests of the people and the funda- 
mental principles of the Republican party. 
He is an American and a liepublican of the 
best sort, coupled with a thorough compre- 
hension of all the great fundamental ques- 
tions of the times, which combine to make 
him a clear, accurate thinker, most effective 
in argument. Since 1886 Judge Cassoday 
has been a law lecturer in the law school of 
the university, and his present theme is wills 
and constitutional laws, of which he is com- 
plete master. His lecture to the law class of 
lSS4r portrayed his idea of the true lawyer, 
and was a masterpiece. 

As a man Judge Cassoday is exemplary in 
all walks of private and public life. He 
is a Ciiristian gentleman and an honest man. 
He has an educated conscience, a large heart 
and a ])ractical sympathy, a tender regard for 
young men who are struggling for an educa- 
tion and a higher life. He is an attractive 
man personally, his somewhat deep-set, sharp 
and steady eye, firm lips, strong chin, and 
high, well-proportioned forehead, all are out- 
ward signs of this rare man, and with his 
untiring industry and a continuation of his 
present good health, must exercise a marked 
influence in molding and building up the 
jurisprudence of the State. 

fRANK A. TURNER, a telegraph oper- 
ator of Stoughton, was born in Bran- 
.f don, Vermont, September 23, 1832, a 
son of Solomon and Rhoda (Westcott) Tur- 
ner, also natives of that State. The father 
was a boot and shoe maker by occupation. 
When our subject was aliout eleven years of 
age the parents removed to Washington 
county, New York, and in 1855 came to 



268 



BIOOHAPUICAL REVIEW OF 



Dane county. The mother is deceased, and 
the father now resides in Stoughton. 

Frank A., the eldest of four children, at- 
tended the conimou schools in both Vermont 
and New York, also a select school in the 
former State one year. After completing 
his education he began farming in Dane 
county, Wisconsin, and later embarked in the 
grocery business in Stoughton, which he con- 
ducted alone with the exception of two years. 
Mr. Turner then began the study of teleg- 
raphy in the city, under O. M. Turner and 
11. H. Giles, remaining with the former ten 
years, and with the latter only a few months. 
He was then engaged in the grocery business 
three years, and in July, 1881. was employed 
as agent for the Chicago, Milwaukee it St. 
Paul Railroad, where he has ever since re- 
mained. 

Mr. Turner was married May 16, 1865, to 
Mary H. Westcott, of Dunn township, Dane 
county, and a daugliter of John S. West- 
cott, a farmer by occupation. Mr. Turner 
atbliates with the Democratic party, has 
served as president of the Village Board, and 
as Supervisor of Dunkirk township. Socially, 
he is a member of the Masonic order, Ke- 
gonsa Lodge, No. 73. 

lALPlI L. J3ABC0CK. a farmer of 
Dane county, Wisconsin, was born in 
Madison county. New York, August 
10, 1859, a son of Ilaraden R. and Adelia 
I)..nnet (Beebe) Babcock, both born and 
reared in that county, where they still reside. 
Tlie I'amily are retnarkahle for their longev- 
ity, the paternal grandmother having lived to 
the age of ninety years, dying in 1891. The 
parents of our sul)ject reared a family of three 
children, two daughters and oue son. Net- 



tie, the eldest daughter, is married, and 
resides in Attica. New York; Lois is the 
wife of Professor Longworthy, a professor 
of the Colgate University at Hamilton, that 
State. 

Dalph \j. the only son, was reared on his 
father's farm, and was given a common school 
education, also attending the Colgate Acad- 
emy and Colgate University. In 1880 he 
left his native State and came West, locating 
in Albion township, Dane county, Wiscon- 
sin, which he has made his permanent abode. 
Mr. Babcock has been a popular, progressive 
and successful farmer, and has in his charge 
212 acres of the fertile loam so characteristic 
of his adopted township. lie raises a variety 
of crops and also live stock. He is a be- 
liever in the McKinley high tariff, is Chair- 
man of tiie township Board of Supervisors, 
and has been Side Supervisor for the past 
seven years in succession. 

Mr. Babcock was married November 1, 
1880, soon after his arrival in Albion town- 
ship, to one of its fairest daughters. Miss 
Martha L. Longworthy, who was born and 
reared in this township, and was given a col- 
legiate education at AUiion, Wisconsin, and 
Rockford, Illinois. To this union has been 
given one son, Harrold H., born November 
14, 1884. 



«|^^^-- 



I^RA 11. GERARD, a lumberman of 
ii. Dane county, Wisconsin, was born in 
Sparta, Middlesex county, Canada, 
March 9. 1850, a son of Norman and Jane L. 
(Brown) tierard, natives of Vermont and 
New York, respectively. When our subject 
was si.x months old, the parents removed to 
Winnebago county, Wisconsin, where the 
father engaged in lumbering. The mother 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



200 



died in 18(11, and tiie father now resides at 
Centralia, tiiis State. 

Era H. Gerard attended the conmion 
schools, and after completing his education 
began work in a shingle mill at Appleton, 
Wisconsin. Two years later he was employed 
in his father's general store at Omro; two 
years afterward took charge of his father's 
shingle mill; and in 1872 began the lumber 
business in Wood county, haviini; erected two 
mills while there. In 1880 Mr. Gerard be- 
gan business independent of his father, open- 
ing a retail lumber trade in Wel)ster City, 
Jowa; in 1881 sold out and went to Austin, 
Minnesota; three years afterward embarked 
in the same business in Centralia, Wisconsin, 
anil in 1886 came to Stouirhton. He now 
conducts a general sash, door, blind and lum- 
ber trade. 

Mr. Gerard was married, April 28, 1872, 
to Harriet M. Grout, then of Omro, Wiscon- 
sin, but a native of Canada. She is a daugh- 
ter of E. P. Grout, engaged in the mercantile 
business. Our subject and wife have two 
children: Ora B., aged seventeen 3'ears; and 
Milo C, aged si.\ years. Mr. Gerard is a 
Kepublican in his political views, but has 
never sought office. Sucially, he is Secretary 
of Ketronsa Lodcfe of Stoutrhton. 



I^EVEK H. SEVERSON, of Stoughton, 
Dane county, was born in Grimsrud, 
Tillemarken, Norway, November 2, 
1840, a son of H'elge Sigiirdson and Birgit 
Olsdatter, also natives of that country. They 
came to America iii 1842, locating in Racine 



county, Wisconsi 



'1, 



engaged in farming two years 



where the father was 
They then 

went to the settlement of Koshkonong, Dane 
county. 

19 



Sever H., the eldest of three children, who 
grew to years of maturity, spfiit his early 
life on a farm, and attended school about 
three months in each lantjuaee. At the a^e 
of seventeen years he left home and was 
employed as a clerk in a Mr. Blackman's 
store at Stoughton. Two years later he 
engaged in the same business with A. Peter- 
son, but one year later, in 1860, sold his 
interest to James G. Baker and went to 
Pike's Peak, Colorado. He was engaced in 
mining there six years, after which, in 1866, 
he came again to Stoughton, entering the 
lumber business in the spring of 1867, and two 
years afterward he entered into partnership 
with C. A. Bronson & Co. Mr. Severson sub- 
secpiently bought his partners' interests and 
continued the business alone for the follow- 
inir nineteen years, havinir had the largest 
lumber trade in Stoughton. In the spring of 
1886 he sold out to Lovejoy & Richards, and 
then entered the leaf tobacco business, and 
was also employed in collecting old accounts; 
in IS'JO embarked in the grocery and tobacco 
trade; was later engaged in collecting old 
accounts; and in the spring of 1891 opened 
a sample room in tiiis city. Owing to the 
village having passed an ordinance prohibit- 
ing the sale of liquor he discontinued the 
business after one year. In the spring of 
1892 Mr. Severson engaged in the marble 
business. He is at present publishing a series 
of articles of his experience at Pike's Peak, 
and his book will be finished in about two 
months. 

May 24, 1866, our subject was united in 
marriage with Gurine Peterson, and they 
had four cliildren: Ilattie P>elle. Henry ('., 
Abraham Lincoln, and Theo Benjamin. The 
mother died November 4, 1884, and January 
1, 1866, Mr. Severson married Rari Peter- 
son. He affiliates with the Republican party. 



;o 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



has held the office of Trustee of Stonghton, 
ami has also refused many offices. Religiously, 
he is a member of the Lutheran Cliurcli. 



fAMES E. FISHER, the oldest furni- 
ture dealer of Madison, was lx)rn in 
Nottingham, England, Octol)er 2, 
1836. Uis father Edward Fisher was born 
in Wales and was there reared. When a 
vouuf man he moved to Nottingham to 
engage in the manufacture of lace, in wliich 
he became very successful and continued his 
business until 1845, when he came to America 
and located at Madison. About 1847 he 
returned to Nottingham, England, and re- 
mained two years, when he again made the 
journey to America, accompanied by his 
family, consisting of a wife and three chil- 
dren. They embarked from Liverpool on the 
sailing vessel Plymouth Rock and landed at 
Boston thirty-five days later. From that city 
the little family made their way, via railway 
to Buffalo and thence on the lakes to Mil- 
waukee and from there by teams to Madison. 
At this time Madison was a very small 
village and not a line of railroad was in the 
State of Wisconsin. The greater part of the 
State was uninhabited except by the Indians. 
There were no convenient markets and pro- 
duce was very cheap, consequently money, 
scarce. Teams sold for twenty-live dollars if 
good security was given. Mr. Fisher had 
money of his own, so engaged in the profit- 
able business of loaning money to those less 
fortunate and continued it until his death, 
which occurred in 1852. The maiden name 
of his wife was Charlotte Dutton, of the same 
city as her husband. She died in 1885 after 
rearing the following children: Angelina, 
Anna and James E. 



Our subject was the only son and received 
his earlv tdncatiou in the schools of Not- 
tinirliam and after cominjj to Madison 
attended the public school for some time; 
After his father's death, he left school to 
learn the trade of cabinet-maker and served 
three years' apprenticeship, after which he 
worked for a year, until 1857, when he 
engaged in business for himself and has 
continued to carry on business in the same 
block ever since.. He has been in the mer- 
cantile business for a period of thirty-five 
years, a longer business career than any other 
man in Madison, Philo Dunning excepted. 
lie has erected a tine new brick block, three 
stories high, on his old site in which he 
carries on a flourishing business. 

Our subject was married in 1885, to Mary 
G. Rundle, born in Saratoga, New York, and 
she has borne him one chikl, Edward Jan)e9. 
Mr. Fisher is a member of the Episcopal 
Churcli, in which he is an influential person. 
In politics he is a stanch Republican, l)ut 
has never sought for political distinction or 
office, prefering to use his influence as a 
private citizen. 



-|^«^^- 



OLONELGEORGEW. BIRD.— 

Among the most prominent and suc- 
cessf\il members of the Madison bar is 
Colonel George W. Bird, who was born in 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 28, 1837, the 
son of Colonel A. A. and Charity (Le Claire) 
Bird. The family came to Madison during 
the same year of our subject's birth, and in 
this city he was reared to manhood. lie 
graduated from the University of Wisconsin 
in June, 1800, having taken the ancient 
classical course. As one of a committee 
with Senator William F. Vilas, he revised 



D.INE VOUKTY, WISCONSIN. 



2.1 



the constitution and by-laws of the Hespe- 
rian Society, one of the leading literary so- 
cieties of the university, of which both were 
ineiubers. He was also chairman of the 
committee of that society that conducted the 
controversy with the Athenian Society in 
1860, well remembered liy the older students, 
as it excited much interest on the Hill at the 
time. He preserves in careful keeping many 
interesting mementoes of the university's 
early daj's; among others, the original draft 
of a poem written by the first graduate, 
Charles T. Wakeley, and famous in college 
circles at the time; the students' original 
address of regrets to Chancellor Lathrop on 
liis retiring from the institution. The hitter 
is in the handwriting of Colonel Vilas and 
signed by nearly all the students, but became 
so worn in passing from hand to hand for 
signature that it was discarded and one on 
parchment more carefully and elegantly pre- 
pared was presented to the chancellor, and 
this one preserved by the Colonel. He has 
also copies of the mock and other commence- 
ment schemes of early days. 

He commenced the study of the law in the 
office of Smith, Keyes & Gay, July 5, 1860, 
and after two years' study, was admitted to the 
bar of the Circuit Court of Dane county, then 
presided over by Judge Harlo S. Urton, 
now an honored justice of the Supreme 
Court. Subsequently lie was admitted to 
practice in the Supreme Court and the Fed- 
eral Courts, including the Supreme Court of 
the United States. 4'Tio'ig the noted cases 
with rt'hich he has been connected as leading 
counsel and attorney may be mentioned the 
following: The Watertown Bond Litigation, 
which involved something over $3,000,000, 
and continued some fifteen years. It was 
prosecuted through all the State Courts, Cir- 
cuit and Supreme, and also the Federal Courts, 



District, (Jircuit and Supreme of the United 
States. Colonel Bird eonducteil the defense 
for the city, and was entirely successful at 
every step, thus finally relieving the city of 
an immense and crushing debt. The ablest 
legal talent of the C(_)unti-y was arrayed against 
him in the progress of the litigation, among 
otliers Senator Matthew H. Carpenter, Senator 
William F. Vilas, Senator Edmunds of Ver- 
mont, G. A. Jenks of Pennsylvania, ami Jen- 
kins, Winkler and Flanders of this State. 
The defense of the Jefferson and Waterloo 
Bond Litigatiitn was also intrust(M_l to (!olonel 
Bird, and resulted successfidly for those 
municipalities. 

In the Curran murder case, originating in 
Portage and tried in Waupaca county, he 
was employed by the county to assist the 
district attorney. The case excited great 
interest throuorhoiit tlie State. The Curran 
brothers, Henry and Jolin, prominent capi- 
talists at Stevens' Point, were charged with 
the murder of W. W. Haseltine, a leading 
lawyer of that city. John Curran shot and 
instantly killed the latter on one of the main 
streets of the city in the forenoon of town- 
meeting day, 1888, and Henry Curran was 
claimed to have aided and assisted in the 
shooting. The defendants admitted the shoot- 
ing, but claimed that it was done in self- 
defense. The trial lasted upward of two 
weeks and involved the relation of the parties 
and their conduct toward each other reaching 
over a period of ten to twelve years. A very 
strong case of self-defense was made out by 
the proofs and an acquittal on that grouinl 
followed. 

Colonel Pird was also associated witii Col- 
onel John C. Spooner and General C. E. 
Estabrook in the Wisconsin gerrymander 
cases, in which was settled the important 
principle tliat courts are properly clothed 



272 



BIOORAPHIGAL REVIEW OF 



* witli jiirisclictioi) to pass upon the constitn- 
tioDiility of Mpportioninent laws. Tliat deci- 
sion is considered of vital importance to tlie 
continued existence of free popular govern- 
ment. The Colonel made extemled research 
and e.xamination into tlie principles of law 
involved, and his arguments were pronounced 
by the court, it is said, among the ablest ever 
made before it. 

He was also the attorney for X. S. and 
Walter S. Greene, the owners of the Milford 
Water Power, in the defense of the milldam 
litigation against them. It was the most 
important litigation of the kind ever insti- 
tuted in the State. More than a dozen suits 
were pending at one time in the different 
courts, State and National, anil involved in 
their trial the condition of the country for 
thirty miles about the mill power since 1837. 
The defense was entirely successful in every 
case, the right to maintain and use the dam 
as it was being maintained and used being 
fully estaljlishod by the judgment of the 
court. Colonel Bird was also the attorney 
for the det'endants in the Watertown, Jeffer- 
son, Ixonia and other important milldam 
litigations. 

He resided at Madison until 1863 when he 
removed to Jefferson, Jefferson county, and 
continued in the practice of his profession 
there until December, 1886, when he moved 
back to Madison, where he still resides. In 
May, 1864, he enlisted in Company D, For- 
tieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was 
Second Lieutenant of that company. He was 
married October 2, 1864, by Rev. N. E. 
Cliapin at Aztalan, Wisconsin, to Miss Maria 
S. Sawin, who was born July 12, 1845, at La 
Porte, Indiana, and wliose mother taught the 
iirst school in the city of Madison. Four 
children, all l<orn in Jefferson, were the fruit 
of this marriage: Claire Bray ton, born Octo- 



ber 27, 1868; Guy Sawin, April 16, 1871; 
Hobart Stanley, Septeml)er 10. 1873, and 
Maria Louise, April 5, 1876. 

Colonel Bird was County Superintendent 
of Jefferson county for four years, from Janu- 
ary, 1866, to January. 1870; was private 
secretary of Governor Taylor from 1S74 to 
1876; was chairman of the town of Jefferson 
and member of the County Board two years, 
and has been a delegate in four Democratic 
National conventions. 

Duiing the Taylor administration, he ke])t 
a diary of large dimensions in which were 
entered all that occurred in his ])resence in 
the capitol or elsewhere respecting public 
affairs. All conversations heard or partici- 
pated in by him with public men in the e.\- 
ecutive office and other dej)artments are en- 
tered at length, and the doings and schemes 
concocted and carried out. or attempted to be 
carried out, in the State House during that 
two years, are there given in full. This diary 
would make an interesting ciiapter in the 
history of tliat period. In a conversation 
there recorded, between Judge Sloan and the 
Colonel, which the writer was permitted to 
bear is an interesting account of the Potter- 
Prior affair at Washington, Judge Sloan 
then bein<»' a member of Congress and of 
Potter's so-called body guard. The history 
of the railroad war, connection of prominent 
men therewith on botli sides and what they 
said about it are also i^iven. 



illlLlP i,()Kl\(i SPOONER, for 
many years a distinguished member of 
the Wisconsin bar, was born at New 
Bedford, Massachusetts, January 11, 1811, 
and died at Madison, Wisconsin, November 
2, 1887. About 1825 iiis family removed to 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



273 



Ohio, wliere they reuniined until 1829 or 
1830 and finally s^t^ttled at Lawi'enceburwh, 
Indiana, from which place Mr. Spooner came 
to Madison, June 1, 1859. 

September 11, 1839, he was married to 
Miss Lydia Lord Coit, a daughter of the 
Hon. Roger Coit, of Plaintield, Connecticut, 
"A fit companion for such a man" as has been 
elsewhere recorded of her, and they had seven 
children, four of whom survive their honored 
fathei-, namely: John C, of Hudson, Wis- 
consin, who for six years so ably represented 
his State in the United States Senate; Philip 
L., Jr., first Insurance Commissioner of Wis- 
consin, an office held l)y him for nine years, 
also a Mayor of the capitol city; lioger C, 
Assistant Insurance Commissioner and twice 
elected Chairman of the Dane county Re- 
publican committee; and Mary C, wife of 
Dr. J. W. Vance, who was through all the 
years of her father's failing eyesight, as an- 
other has so beautifully and truthfully said, 
"Like unto the daughter of the immortal 
Milton," in her loyalty and devotion. The 
mother and wife died August 28, 1881. 

On the death of Mr. Spooner interesting 
and appropriate proceedings were held in the 
Circuit Court for Dane county, in the Ihiited 
States District Court and in the Supreme 
Court of the State, in which his brethren 
of the legal profession, united in sincere 
encomiums upon his sterling traits of char- 
acter, as a man and citizen and his emi- 
nent ability as a lawyer. The panegyrics of 
these gentlemen, who knew him so well as a 
lawyer, and loved and respected him so sin- 
cerely as a citizen, are placed upon the rec- 
ords of the courts, in which he and they 
practiced together, and are enduring me- 
morials of his life and service, an exemplar for 
the coming generation of lawyers and an 
open record to all. No better and truer ac- 



count of Mr. Spooner's citizenship and of the 
estimation in v^liich he was held by his co- 
laborers in the profession could be obtained, 
than by transcribing some extracts from the 
spontaneous and heartfelt tributes of his 
memory, the voluntary offerings of those 
who best knew his personal virtues and ex- 
alted legal attainments. 

The late Judge A. J5. Braley said of him: 
"As a lawyer he possessed immense strength 
and exhibited consummate ability. He was 
logical, critical and clear. He was always 
cool, calm and collected, never aiming at or- 
nament, but went straitiht to the center. 
The ample resources of his intellect were al- 
ways at his command. Words and sentences 
flowed from his lips with wonderful deliber- 
ation. He was slow in his utterances, but 
his language was marked with that careful 
precision, wdiich indicated thought and prep- 
aration. The fabi-ic of his arguments was 
always erected upon solid masonry. He laid 
his foundations deep, and then built layer 
after layer, until when he had tinished you 
saw before you a beautiful superstructure, 
systematic, and logical in all its proportions. 
He never seemed to pause to catch a word, 
but every sentence he uttered w'as formed 
and constructed before it came to his lips, 
and when it was spoken it often surprised 
you with its emphasis. Judge Spooner's 
mind was essentially and exceptionally pure, 
and the habits, actions and manifestations of 
his life were marked by that same purity. 
He was not only a very able man, but an ex- 
ceptionally good one. No acts of dishonor, 
no questionable habits, no words even of im- 
purity can be conjured up to his long life to 
cast a single blemish u])on his noble mem- 
ory. Wliat a proud fame he has left as a 
rich hei'itage for his children! Far better 
than goods or lauds, money or bank stock, 



274 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



for these things will pei-ish aiui fade away, 
while a pure and honest name remains for- 
ever. It is pleasant to be able to say such 
things of the dead." 

The late Hon. Alva Stewart, Judge of the 
Circuit Court for Dane county, said from 
the bench: "As a lawyer I had known Mr. 
Spooner for about a (quarter of a century, 
and almost from the time he made this city 
his home. What I say of him will relate 
only to him after he came here. I remem- 
ber well the tirst time 1 ever saw him. 1 
then heard him argue a ease in the Supreme 
Court. 1 was sitting by the side of Chaun- 
cey Abbott, now dead, but then one of the 
most prominent lawyers of the Madison bar, 
then, as now, amons; the ablest bars in the 
State— and ho said to me, as Judge Spooner 
arose, and commenced addressing the court: 
'Listen to him and see with what wonderful 
clearness he will present his case.' I did so 
and found that the prediction of Mr. Abbott 
was correct." 

Hon. J. 11. Carpenter, Judge of the 
County Court of Dane county, and president 
of the Bar Association of that connty, said: 
that, " as a lawyer, in some respects he was 
without a peer. The legal points in a cause, 
as represented by the facts never escaped his 
attention. Ih; was so constituted that he 
could examine with patience all the facts for, 
and against his client in a cause, and protect 
the client's interest as few lawyers are able 
to do. llis life was an exemplification of a 
Christain character worthy oF our admiration. 
He could state a legal proposition with re- 
markable accuracy and precision, and could 
fortify his proposition with logic as nearly 
inexorable as human intellect is permitted to 
make it. As a citizen he was quiet and un- 
obtrusive, but here also he acted well his 
part. To the claims of charity he gave 



freely of his substance. In his home he was 
chief, loved and revered. Judge Spooner 
prepared for the end of this life and the be- 
ginning of the next." 

Plon. I. C. Sloan, a member of the law 
faculty of the State University gave this 
high testimony: "In my judgment Judge 
Spooner was a remarkable man, and one pos- 
sessed of extraordinary courage. lie illus- 
trates as well the great merit and strength 
that exists in repose of character or that re- 
sults from a well-balanced mind, — faculties 
harmniously arranged in rehition to each other. 
He settled here in early days and from that 
time his reputation ever grew. Perhaps his 
strides of advancement were not as rapid as 
other men, but withal his gi-cat mind grew 
as time went on. Judge Spooner possessed 
what is called a legal mind, — a mind that 
leads to the front ranks in the profession of 
law. He possessed the reasoning faculty in 
a high degree and thereby he was cotnpletely 
enabled to compare, measure and weigh 
questions and solve legal problems. The 
word of censure I have never heard spoken 
of Judge Spooner, but as a man he was re- 
vered and honored. In the legal profession 
he stood in the front ranks, not only of the 
State, but of the country. No client's rights 
suffered that were intiiisted to the hands of 
Judge Spooner and as an example for young 
men of the legal profession to follow he was 
pre-eminent and without a peer." 

Gen. E. E. Bryant, dean of the law de- 
partment, said: "He had the first requisite 
of a great lawyer, a character above reproach, 
above suspicion, free from tiie frailties that 
sometimes mar great talents. As the true 
Christian exemplifies his religion, so Mr. 
Spooner in his life and his intercourse and 
dealings with his fellow-men illustrated that 
high sense of duty, that Imnor. justice, con- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



sideration of the rights of others, whicli are 
the essence and sjjirit of tlie hiw. To him 
tlie law was the rule of conduct, and to irs 
mandates he conformed his life in the spirit 
of true obedience. He rendered to every 
man his due in leu^al right, in courtesy, in 
recognition, in kindly intercourse, in charity 
and sympathy. And so his life was l)lame- 
less. Not ostentatiously nor by profession, 
but by daily walk and life he lived the Chris- 
tian gentleman, and showed always how well 
the kindly grace, the honorable bearing, the 
guileless spirit, can blend with the courage, 
the force and the aggressiveness in profes- 
sional encounter of the truer lawyer, lie 
was all his life a student. In his practice he 
was famed no less in Wisconsin than in In- 
diana and Ohio, where his earlier profes- 
sional life was spent, for his studious prepara- 
tion of his cases. When dean of the faculty 
he could never do enough probing to the 
bottom and leading his students to do so, for 
the true rules and doctrines of the law. 
Even when in the late evening of life he had 
retired from practice and from connection 
with this college, he still loved to study cases, 
and for pastime kept informed on the im- 
portant cases before the courts. In profound 
legal learning he is among the very first who 
have adorned the legal bar of the State. 
His knowledge was comprehensive, accurate 
and critical. He knew the law, its principles 
and doctrines. He knew what was in the 
books and he had reflected long and patiently 
upon it, until his mind was a rich storehouse 
of judicial lore, all arranged and at com- 
mand. In the preparation of his cases he 
opened the way for success. He deemed it 
his dutv to examine a case thoroughly. In 
his investigation he viewed the case thor- 
oughly from all sides. He studied it from 
the adverse side to find its vulnerable points. 



He cross-examined his client and witnesses 
in the council room with relentless scrutiny, 
and drew from them every point and detail 
of their knowledge. He viewed the case in 
all its aspects and was guarded from attack 
from every quarter. He was rarely ever sur- 
])rised. Every contingency had been pro- 
vided for, every assault anticipated; and the 
antagonist soon found that an alert, wary 
and thoroughly equipped master was against 
liim. He went into the court thoroughly 
informed as to the facts of his case and as to 
the law. In tiie courtesy of the l)ar his 
bearing was admirable. Gentle, unostenta- 
tious, he was fair to his opponent and con- 
ducted a legal conti-oversy as it should be 
conducted, without irritating personalities, 
or the querulous or cpiarrelsome spirit so of- 
ten annoying to courts, jurors antl witnesses. 

"In legal arguments he was the admiration 
of the bench and liar. To him all men 
loved to listen, and his students hung upon 
his words. He was one, who by long and 
laliorious ascent had climbed to those high ta- 
blelands of the law, where men see with 
clarified vision, in all its symmetry and 
beauty, the broad domain of jurisprudence. 
Such men, venerable in years, imbued with 
the learning, the spirit and the ethics of the 
law, seem like seers and prophets, in the. ri- 
pened wisdom gained by so long study of the 
noblest science within reach of finite minds." 

Hon. Orsamus Cole, then (!hief Justice of 
the Supreme Court of AVisconsin, bore this 
high testimony of the legal abilities of Mr 
Spooner: '-Indeed he might be said to be 
master of every branch of law. He certainly 
was distinguished for great learning and at- 
tainments. In arguing causes his manner 
was calm, deliberate and unimpassioned. 
II is language was clear, plain and forcible. 
He never indulged in rlietoric or any appeal 



276 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



to the emotions. He had great powers of 
analysis and possessed the rare faculty of be- 
ing able to grasp a legal or abstract proposi- 
tion and iiolding it before the mind, 
so to speak, as one might a visible object 
before the eye, contemplating it from all 
points of view, eliminating whatever was 
immaterial or non-essential and finally ex- 
tracting the real principle, the heart and 
core of the matter and applying it to 
the facts of his case. He was a consum- 
mate master of pure reasoning; his proposi- 
tions were bound together like chain armor; 
by close, severe logic; and one who would 
overthrow his propositions must have strength 
to crush the entire argument, for the propo- 
sition could not be answered iu detail." 

Judge Pinney, now an Associate Justice 
of the Supreme Court, at the memorial ex- 
ercises before the 'Circuit Court of Dane 
county, in a long and appropi-iate tril)ute to 
Judge Spooner, said: >'The many graduates 
of the law school, now active, useful and in- 
fluential members of the profession in the 
Northwest will cherish his memory with an 
affectionate regard, and long remember the 
painstaking accuracy and clearness of state- 
ment, and facility of illustration, which 
characterized him in all his personal inter- 
course, and social and business relations. 
Judge Spooner never souglit office or noto- 
riety, lie was ever modest and unobstrusive. 
His enjoyments were in the home circle, 
with his books, his studies and his cliosen 
friends. Mo official position, none of the 
dignities and honors so much sought after 
and struggleil for in life could have added 
anything of wui'th to his character, or the 
true rei;ard and esteem in which he was held 
by all who knew him. In his arguments in 
court he was careful, accurate and exhaustive. 
His manner was earnest, serious and always 



considerate and respectful, and we bear 
in kindly remembrance the pleasure, satis- 
faction and advantage, which we have de- 
rived from our personal and professional in- 
tercourse with him, and the benefit the bar 
has received as a whole, ou account of his at- 
tainments as a lawyer, and his personal in- 
tegrity and example." 

Mr. T. J. Lamb, of the Madison bar, very 
feelingly said: "1 count it one of the pecul- 
iar and happy privileges 1 have enjoyed, 
that at a comparatively early period in my 
professional life, I was associated with Judge 
Spooner for a number of years on terms of 
the closest intimacy in the practice of our 
profession. During those years 1 think I 
came to know our deceased brother well. I 
can speak with the assurance of accurate 
knowledge of those qualities of character in 
the man, that now claim, for his surviving 
associates and this court, those tokens of re- 
spect and honor we now and here offer to 
his memory, — the eulogy of deserved praise. 
1 shall not attempt discussion of the many 
noble and honorable qualities of head and 
heart and life, which distinguished our de- 
parted brother, although I may say that in 
ruling his own spirit and fashioning his own 
life, with a nice regard to its force and effect 
on his own character, and the character and 
welfare of all his neighbors, and those whom 
he might influence, he was the peer of any 
of his contemporaries. He loved justice and 
was always ready to yield it to an opponent, 
as well as to demand it for his client. It was 
frequent saying with him that one should 
demand nothing more than was his right, 
and be content with nothing less. His sense 
of honor was lofty, and not only were his 
acts honest, but the very habit of his tiiought 
was righteous. I do not think the logic of 
his activities could work on any other than 



DANE COUNTY, WISGONnTN. 



377 



the strait;ht and honest lines of truth. Act- 
nateil and coutroUed by these and kindred 
qualities of character in his intercourse, and 
contests with his brethren at the bar, and in 
advocacy before the tribunals of the State 
and nation, it is not strange that he passed 
tlirough a long and busy life in active prac- 
tice, without making an enemy, but on the 
contrary always winning the respect and re- 
gard of his brethren at the bar and golden 
opinions from the judges who heard his 
masterly arguments and witnessed the ex- 
ertion of his splendid al)ilities in behalf of 
those whose rights he championed before 
them. A beautiful and noble spirit has 
gone from among us, but there remains, and 
will ever remain to those who know his 
worth and life a fragrant memory, the recol- 
lection of a pure and noble life lived among 
us, sullied by no deserved reproach, — dimmed 
by no unworthy deed." 

Mr. Spooner was of English extraction, 
his ancestors having been of the old Plymouth 
colony, among the little band of pilgrims 
who early came to this country to be the 
founders of a great nation, a band, "who 
builded better than they knew," while the 
ancestors of Mr. Spooner's beloveil wife, tlie 
Colts, are of Welsh extraction, and as llil- 
dreth has it, to be reckoned "among the 
Puritan families of New England." 

The writer of this sketch first became ac- 
quainted with Judge Spooner during the 
time his eldest son was Assistant Attorney 
General in our capitol and he used often to 
observe how the son conferred with the fa- 
ther upon the various difiicnlt legal questions 
which came up for consideration before the 
State Law Department. Certainly he could 
have found no riper, or safer counselor, yet 
somehow, the reliance of the young lawyer 
upon the riper experience of his father 



brought to mind the beautiful and suggestive 

lines of Schiller: 

"How beautiful and granil 'tis, band in hand 
With a dear son, t.> tread youth's rosy patli, 
Again to dream once more tlie dream of life. 
How sweet and great, imperishable in 
The virtue of a child, to live for ages, 
Transmitting good unceasingly! How sweet 
To plant what a dear son will one day reap,— 
To gather what will make him rich,— to feel- 
How deep will one day be his gratitude!" 



^ZPtA W. RICHMOND is a successful 
farmer and stock-raiser of York town- 
ship, Dane c(junty, Wisconsin, who 
makes a specialty of the breeding of Galloway 
cattle. He is the son of Peres 15. Rich- 
mond, and the grandson of Brightman Rich- 
mond, the latter a farmer, late of Livingston 
countv, New York, and a native of Massa- 
chusetts. Brightman had been edtu-ated for 
the law, and been admitted to the bar, but 
bucolic life had greater charms for him. He 
married Lucy Osborne, who bore him five 
children, namely: Peres 1!., the fatlierof our 
subject; Lucia, wife of Daniel Bosley, de- 
ceased, lives in Livingston county. New 
York; Caroline M., wife of Nathan Piatt, 
living at Hornellsville, New York; Edwin 
R., married, deceased; and Elizabeth, wife of 
A. Spinnings, living near Mt. Morris, Liv- 
ingston county. New York. 

Peres B. Richmond was born in Livingston 
county. New York, May 30, 1809; received 
a good education, having a common school 
and academic training; was reared a farmer, 
made two trips to Ohio, and then located some 
land, which he subsequently sold. Peres was 
married March 12, 1835, to Miss Harriet 
Warner, of Lima, New York, and in the fol- 
lowing year removed to Allegany county. 
New York, where he bought 100 acres of 
laud; improved it to some extent, with 



378 



BIOaBAPHIGAL REVIEW OF 



orchards, good buildings, etc.; lived upon it 
for eleven years, meeting with fair success; 
then, in 1847, he sold it and went to Milwau- 
kee, by canal to Buffalo, and by the lakes 
for the remainder of the distance, leaving 
his family behind, as he was prospecting only; 
visited a brother in Milwaukee, and then 
went to York township, Dane county, Wis- 
consin, where lie bouiiht 400 acres of Gov- 
ernment land on sections 3 an 4, less forty 
acres, which were improved; this being the 
same farm that is now occupied by our sub- 
ject, and the one upon which his father 
afterward settled. lie also bought forty "acres 
in Porthind, and as many more near Water- 
loo, his total investment being about §'1,800. 
This was in June, 1847, and as soon as he 
had completed his purchases he returned to 
New York; in the fall came to Milwaukee, 
and was in the merchandise business with his 
brother in the winter of 1847-'48. In the 
Spring of 1848 he bought a pair of horses 
and a wagon, with which he drove across the 
country to New York, taking with him a 
crazy woman and child, whom he left at an 
asylum in New York, and arrived after 
tiiirty days, about April 1, at his home. He 
started on his return trip in September, ac- 
companying the family, by the canals and 
the lakes, and upon arrival at Milwaukee, 
took the family to York township, having for 
their occupancy a house of hewn logs, one of 
tiie best at that time in the county. The 
date of their settlement was October, 1848. 
Promptly the work of improvement went on; 
crops raised, wheat being the principal grain; 
barns and other outhouses and fences iiad to 
be built. Considerable teaming was done, 
no less than seven trips to Milwaukee having 
been made the first winter, sleds being used; 
wiieat Ijringing from forty to fifty cents per 
bushel. 



The family of the father of our subject 
occupied the log house until 1862, when he 
built the present comfortable frame residence. 
In the year 1882 he moved into Columbus; 
poor health causing him, ia 1887, to go to 
New York, but he returned the following 
year, August 23, 1888, and he died in the old 
home, and was buried October 3, 1888, in the 
cemetei-y at (Jolumbus. The mother of our 
subject died August 24. 1884, at Red Cloud, 
Nebraska, while on a visit, her body being 
brought back and interred in the cemetery 
at Columbus. She was the mother of seven 
children, namely: Lucy J^., wife of O. A. 
Southmayd, living at Helena, ilon tana; Ezra 
W., our subject; Caroline M., married Sam- 
uel C. Smith, was a widow and died; Daniel 
B., died at six months old, in New York; 
George B., married Alice Policy, living at 
Phcenix, Arizona; Edward A., married Car- 
rie McGuire, now at Sabetha, Kansas, he 
dying at Geuda Springs, Kansas, September 
20, 18G9; and Fred O., married Hattie Mil- 
lett, living at Sabetha, Kansas. 

Oursubject was born in Granger, Allegany 
county, New York, September 11, 1837; was 
brought up on the farm and came West with 
the family in 1848; went to school in New 
York, and was taught by a master at home; 
was a pupil in the old log cal)in on section 
4, York township, and attended college one 
year. After this he taught school in the town 
of Columbus, when twenty years old, and 
later, in Missouri — twelve terms altogether; 
while teaching at the former place he formed 
the acquaintance of Eliza Bowen, who)n he 
married November 28, 1861. She was a na- 
tive of Ithaca, New York, born August 9, 
1841; her people natives of New Jersey, and 
her ancestors being from France and Eng- 
land. Her parents removed to Wisconsin 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



279 



in 1842, settling near Jaiiesville, and now 
live near Columljus, Wisconsin. 

Mr. Ricbinond taught school for three 
winters after his niarriatre, making his home 
at Columbus; then lived there for five years, 
moved on a farm in York Centre, boucrht 160 
acres there, on section 15, which he improved 
and settled upon in the fall of 1866, contin- 
ued there until March, 1867, and then sold 
out. This step jiroved a prrititalile one, as he 
made $700 profit, the farm being an im- 
proved one. lie next bought sixty-five acres 
in the town of Sun Prairie, on section 24, 
the same being improved; and here he made 
his liome about fourteen years, his farming 
proving quite protitable. Then he came to 
the old homestead, consisting of 287 acres, 
his father havini>; removed to Columbus, 
farmed it under a lease until he came into 
ownership from the estate. Mr. Richmond 
has kept the farm up in excellent shape, 
doing general farming until 1883, when he 
bought a herd of seven Galloway cattle, one 
male and six females, imported, which he has 
kept pure; has registered and selected the 
best for breeders; has sold a great many, and 
now has a great, fine herd of fifty recorded 
animals, one of the very best in the country. 
Mr. and Mrs. Richmond have live children, 
all living, as follows: Mabel, born May 30, 
1869, at home; Hattie, born May 15, 1873; 
Bradford B., born February 23, 1875; Eliz- 
abeth, born January 2, 1877; C!arrie A., 
born July 10, 1880; all living at home. 

Mr. Richmond has 272 acres of good, 
well-improved land, to which he has given 
careful and close attention, making his busi- 
ness steadily profitable. Henry Sherman 
owns the eighty acres located by his father 
on section 4, and David Lasky owns sixty 
acres of the old home tract, located by his 
father at an early day. Mr. Riclimond is a 



Republican in politics, and while too busy to 
bold office, is ready in liis loyalty to the 
party. Mr. and Mrs. Richmond, as well as 
Misses Mabel and Hattie, are memliers of 
the Presbyterian Church. 



fOIIN DOHM, Postmaster at Springfield 
C'ornei-s, Dane county, AViseonsin, was 
born in Wilkes Barre, Luzerne county, 
Pennsylvania, in 1846, a son of John and 
Theresa (Stab!) Dohm, natives of Westphalia, 
Germany. The father was married previous 
to his union with the mother of our subject, 
and they had one son and two daughters. In 
In 1836 he came to America, and two yeai-s 
after landing in New York he sent for his 
wife and four children. They afterward re- 
moved to Pennsylvania, where the father 
worked at the stonemason's trade; next 
came by water to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and 
then by team to Dane county. They re- 
mained on a farm seven miles south of Madi- 
son one and one-half years, and in 1848 pur- 
chased a small place one-half mile south of 
Springfield Corners, where both afterward 
died of cholera. The father died August 4, 
1854, aged sixty-one yeai-s, leaving his widow 
with eight children. The mother died Au- 
gust 11, same year, leaving five of her own 
children. Our subject was then eight years 
of age and being one of the younger chil- 
dren, lived among friends two years. The 
children were then brought home and were 
taken care of by the elder brother, William 
A., and a sister, Emily, wife of Valentine 
Hack. 

John Dohm, the subject of this sketch, 
was early inured to farm labor, and received 
f)ut few educational ailvantages. At the age 
of sixteen years he left home and worked as 



280 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



a farm liand for 812 per month. At the at^e 
of eighteen years he enlisted in the late war, 
in the Forty-fifth Wisconsin Infantry, Com- 
pany K, under Captain Lasche. He took 
part in no battles, and was mustered out of 
service with his regiment, July 17, but on 
account of sickness at Nashville, Tennessee, 
did not reach home until the followincr Au- 
gust. His half i)rutiH'r, Peter Doliin, was an 
early volunteer from Pennsylvania and was 
slain in battle. His sister's husband, Valen- 
tine Hack, a volunteer in the i^^inth Wiscon- 
sin Infantry, was also killed, leaving his 
widow with one son. After the close of the 
struggle Mr. Dohm followed the blacksmith's 
trade in Springfield Corners two years, next 
farmed on rented land, and in 1871 began 
teaming in Madison; and next was employed 
as a sewing-machine agent, but in which he 
lost money by the failure of his employer. 

In 1876 he was employed by the Singer 
Sewing Machine Company at Dane station. 
He followed the same business in Lodi a 
short time, and in 1880 opened a blacksmith 
shop at Dane station, with a partner. In 
1885 Mr. Dohm opened a shop at Springfield 
Corners, which he continued until 1890, and 
then was obliged to quit the business on ac- 
count of rheumatism. He next bousrht a 
part of his present building of Theodore Sick, 
for which he paid $900, and where he now 
has a good public hall, a large hotel and a 
saloon. For a time he has also been engaged 
in the sale of agricultural implements. Mr. 
Dohm has served as Deputy Sheriff four 
years, as Township Treasurer three years. 
School Trustee six years, and he has held the 
office of Postmaster since 1888. 

June 9, 1868, our subject was united in 
marriage with Mary Klief, a native of this 
township. Her parents came to this country 
from Germany, in 1847, and both died on 



their farm in this county; the father at the 
age of seventy-four years, and the mother, at 
the age (>f sixty-one years. At their death 
they left two children, a son and a daughter. 
Mr. and Mrs. Dohm are members of the 
Catholic Church, and the former is a Repub- 
lican in his political views. 

'OHN W. GREEN, of Middleton, Dane 
county, Wisconsin, was born in Sheffield, 
England, November 1, 1846, a son of 
Thomas and Ann (Kay) Green. The father 
was born in Wadsley, a suburb of Sheffield, 
England, and was engaged in the saw trade, 
as were also his ancestors for several genera- 
tions before him. He died in Sheffield at 
the age of thirty-four years, and his wife de- 
parted this life at the same place, aged 
twenty-nine years. They were the parents of 
seven children, four of whotn still survive, 
three sons and one daughter. 

John W., the subject of this sketch, re- 
mained at home until twelve years of age, or 
until his parents death, then spent two years 
in a boarding school, after wliich he served 
an apprenticeship of seven years in a grocery 
store. His parents had inherited the estate 
in England known as Farrier's Arms, which 
afterward became the property of our sub- 
ject. He also received an interest in twelve 
tenement houses in Sheffield, opposite Sir 
John Brown's immense works. This Sir 
John was knighted by the Queen of England 
on account of his ingenuity in inventing 
different devices used in his works. While 
serving his apprenticeship in the grocery 
store, Mr. Green also studied nights, and the 
bitys there associated themselves together in 
a kind of night school, occupying the large 
building known as the Mechanics Institute. 



DANK COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



281 



Tlie more enligliteneil ones were selected as 
professors or teachers, and our suhjcct was 
placed at the head of a class, teaching short- 
hand, etc. He could then take down 125 
words a minute. At that time he also 
studied French and Latin, and is now as pro- 
ficient a scholar as one-half of tlie college- 
bred men. After serving liis a])prentice8hip 
Mr. Green worked on a salary one year, 
travelino;, bookkeeping, etc., for the house, 
receiving about $300 a year. In September, 
1868, he came to the United States. He 
first worked three months in Dayton, Green 
county, Wisconsin, then worked by the 
month seven years for R. Green, of Middle- 
ton, Dane county. lie then bought a one- 
fourth interest of Mr. Green, and in 1886 he 
purchased the entire business, where he has 
ever since remained. lie handles grain, 
wool and fai'm machinery, and notwithstand- 
ing the encroachmetits of railroads on his 
territory, and consecjuently more com]ietitive 
points, he still ships more wool and grain than 
any other shipper on the i^rairie du (!liien 
division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. 
Paul railroad. He is assisted in his Inisi- 
ness by Solomon Freenian, a colored man of 
rare intelligence, who was given his freedom 
more than half a century ago by Abraham 
Bush, formerly of Middleton, now deceased. 

In his political views Mr. Green affiliates 
with tlie Republican party, and his first pres- 
idential vote was cast for U. S. Grant. He 
has served as a member of the School Board. 

In 1868, in England, our subject was 
united in marrian-o with Miss Annie Morton, 
who was born in that country .January 10, 
1848, a daughter of Henry and Sarah (Skin- 
ner) Morton. The father a silversmith by 
trade, has followed that occu])ation through 
his entire life, acquiring a business of his 
own about seventeen years ago, which he 



lias conducted very successfully at Shef- 
field, England. His parents, .lohti and 
Mary Morton, were born in l^irmingham, 
England, and died in Sheffield, that coun- 
try, the father at the age of seventy-two 
years and the mother at eighty-eight years. 
They were the parents of seven children, 
three now living. The mother of Mrs. Green 
died in England, in 1884, aged sixty-one 
years. She was a daughter of Matthew and 
Alice (Wells) Skinner, natives of Sheffield, 
where they both died, aged between seventy 
and eighty years. The Mortons are descended 
from a noted family in England. Mr. and 
]\Irs. Green have seven cliildron, as follows: 
Emily S., born March 10, 1860; Mary E., 
November 29, 1870; Bertha M., Marcii 17, 
1873; Morton K., December 6, 1876; WiU- 
ard S., October 20, 1878; John IL, Se]item- 
ber 14, 1882; and Ethel B., October 12, 
1885. Mr. Green reflects his learning and 
ambition in his family, as not only his wife 
is a highly refined and accomplished lady, but 
his children are exceptionally brilliant. One 
daughter. Bertha, received a first-class certifi- 
cate for teaching school at the age of sixteen 
years, graduated at the high school ot Mid- 
dleton, ami also took first prize in the Fresh- 
man contest at the Wisconsin University at 
Madison; and Emily has considerable musi- 
cal talent, with a large local reputation as ;i 
singer. Mrs. Green is a meiiilier of the 
Presbyterian Church. 

I^ON. JOHN S. FRARY, a prominent 
resident of Oregon, Wisconsin, is the 
subject of the present sketch. He was 
l)orn in Haverhill, New Hampshire, October 
26, 1821, his father, Elisha, having been born 
in Connecticut, and his grandfather, also 



282 



BIOGRAPniCAL REVIEW OP 



Elisha, was of the same State. Tlie grand- 
father was a miller by trade aud followed this 
occupation in New Hampshire and Vermont. 
He resided in Haverhill some years, but 
spent his last ^-ears with a daughter at Nor- 
wich, Vermont. 

The father of our subject went to New 
Hampshire when a young man, and he and 
John Page, who later became Governor of 
the State, went into the woods together, and 
went into the manufacture of shingles, which 
they rived by hand and carried them on their 
Lacks from their camp to the nearest road. 
Later our subject engaged in milling, and 
operated mills in New Hampshire and Ver- 
mont, spending his last yeai's in that State. 
The maiden name of the mother of our sub- 
ject was Mary Stearns. She was born in 
Vermont, and died in Orange county, in that 
State. The parents of our subject reared 
eleven children, as follows: Nathaniel E., 
Mary A., Lucy, Harriet, Susan, John, Jede- 
(liali. Sarah, Elisha S., Eliza and Albert. 
The latter went South l)efore the war, and 
was at Charleston when the first gun was 
fired at Fort Sumter, was forced into the 
rebel army and was killed. Elisha served in 
the Union army. 

Our 8nl)ject commenced when young to 
earn his own living, and at ten years of age 
commenced work in a woolen mill, where at 
first he earned one dollar a week, working 
himself up rapi<lly until he was, at the age of 
sixteen, foreman of the mill in Watcrvillc, 
Vermont, where thirty men were em])loved. 
When he was seventeen he went to Boston, 
and was employed clerking until 1843, when 
he came to the Territory of Wisconsin. He 
first made a visit to his Vermont home, and 
then removed by stage to Whitehall, New 
Yoi'k, then went on by way of ( 'luitnplain 
and Erie canals to Buffalo, by lake to Mil- 



waukee, and thence to Oregon, which he 
reached after a journey of eighteen days \n a 
lumber wagon. 

At that time Madison was a hamlet, and 
the surrounding country was but sparsely 
settled, and the most of the land was owned 
by the Government. There was but one 
building in the place where the flourishing 
town of Oregon now stands. He made claim 
on a tract of land on sections 24 and 25, in 
what is now the town of Oregon, and cut 
down four trees to make a good foundation 
for the log house he proceeded to erect. This 
he did to secure the claim, and that winter 
he employed himself in cutting down trees 
and in splitting rails with which to fence his 
land, and in the spring of 1844, he returned 
for his wife, and they went togetiier to the 
little western home and began housekeeping. 
He cleared about twenty acres and lived there 
two years, when he sold and bought 160 acres 
on section 24 of the same town, erected 
another log cabin, and began the improve- 
ment of the second farm, going through with 
all the same experiences as at first. He had 
to lianl his grain to market at Milwaukee. 
At this place he lived eight years, and then 
had a good opportunity to sell and bought 
another ItJO acres on section 3 of the same 
township, and resided there until 1885, when 
he sold that and came to Oregon, where he 
has since lived a retired life. 

Our subject married, in 1843, Miss Rhoda 
P.. Martin, a daughter of S. Martin. They 
have four living children: Alice, Luella C, 
Orelia B. and Louis A. Alice died at the 
age of twenty years; Luella marriuil W. 11. 
liruce, and has three children named Alice, 
Nellie and John, and this Alice married 
Charles Hersey, ami has a child named Bruce, 
the oidy great-grandchild in the family. Ore- 
lia married DeWitt C. Saulsbury, and has 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



283 



three children, Grace, Winnie and Philip S. 
Louis graduated from the Oregon High 
School and then from Rush Medical (Joilcge, 
Chicago, and now practices medicine in Ore- 
gon, lie married Dora Kingsley. 

Our subject has been a Republican since 
the forination of the party, and has tilled 
many of the positions of trust. In the fall 
of 1864 he was elected to the State Legisla- 
ture, and served his constituents faithfully. 
lie was an Odd Fellow, and a member of 
Oregon Lodge, A. F. & A. M. 

lEORGE P. DELAPLAINE, a native 
WSlir of Philadelphia, son of Joseph and Jane 
Ann Delaplaine, came to Milwaukee in 
December, 1835, accompanying Captain Gar- 
ret Vliet, a United States Engineer, who, 
during the year 1836, subdivided into sec- 
tions Government lands situated in the land 
district of Milwaukee. 

Mr. Delaplaine settled in Milwaukee and 
during the year 1837 had charge of the mer- 
cantile business of Mr. Solomon Juneau, an 
early pioneer of that locality, agent of the 
American Fur Company. He moved to 
Madison in June, 1838, and became secre- 
tary to the United States Comtnissioners of 
Public Buildings, who were then construct- 
ing the Territorial capitol. Subsequently he 
was appointed by Governor Henry Dodge, 
Auditor of Pul)lic Accounts for the Territory 
of Wisconsin, following which h(> served as 
private secretary for (liovernor Dodge, and 
then in 1848, upon the admission of Wiscon- 
sin as a State, acted in the same capacity for, 
Governors Nelson, Dewey and William A. 
Barstow. 

In 1861 lie was appointed on the military 
stafi' of Governor Alexander Randall, and 
since then has resided in Madison. 



His father, who was an autlior ami pub- 
lished in iMlo " Delaplaine's Repository of 
the Lives and Portraits of Distinguished 
American Characters," died in Philadelphia, 
in 1824. The subject of this sketch was 
married in 1841, to Miss Eineline T. Smith, 
by whom he had four daughters. 



^ 



^ 




ll^ILBER W. WARNER, one of the 
WW successful and prominent represent- 
itive business men of Madison, Wis- 
consin, where lie has the leading and most 
extensive music house in the city, was born 
in Lockport, Erie county, Pennsylvania, 
December 20, 1850. His parents were Will- 
iam C. and Susan (Partridge) Warner, the 
father a native of New York State and the 
mother of England; she, however, coming to 
the United States when sixteen years of age. 
The Warner family is an old one, both in 
tliis country and England, the genealogy be- 
ing easily traced back to 1600, at which time 
the family was found living at Gloucester, 
England. In about 1625 Arnold S. Warner 
came witli his family to the American colo- 
nies, settling in Massachusetts with the Pur- 
itans. The family went from Massachusetts 
to Connecticut in aiiout 1696, and the old 
homestead of tlie Warners at Chester, Con- 
necticut, is still extant. For the past eight 
generations they have lived in the old home- 
stead ; and in Saybro(jk township, that State, 
are buried the great-grandfather and other 
members of the family. In 1780 the grand- 
father retnoved to the State of New York, 
locating in Cambridge. Prior to the war of 
1812 he was an innkeeper at Rome. He 
served with the American army throughout 
that struiTtrle as a farrier, renderinjf more 
service individually in that capacity than he 



284 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



could probably have done as a soldier in the 
ranks. He was a man of powerful build and 
of herculean strength, and lived beyond the 
alloted " three-score years and ten." The 
maternal side of our subject's family was 
also well known, they came from I^e (irave, 
Bedfordshire, England, in 1785, and first lo- 
cated in Cortland, Kew York, where mem- 
bers of the family reside at the present time. 
They were educated and cultured people, sev- 
eral of whom were members of the clergy. 
William C. Warner was born at Rome, New 
York, in 1813. lie received only a common 
school education. The marriage of he and 
his wife took place at North East, Pennsyl- 
vania. To their union nine children were 
born, five of whom are living, the surviving 
ones being: Edwin, a contractor of Madison, 
Wisconsin; Frank, a merchant of Sumner, 
Washington; Anna, wife of E. Dane, an ex- 
tensive cranberry grower, of Mather, Wis- 
consin; and Ella, wife of C. A. Kyan, for- 
merly of Baraboo, Wisconsin, but now a 
ranchman of considerable prominence of 
Slautrhter, Washington. 

The father came to Wisconsin in 18i)2, and 
located at Baral)oo, where he died July 24, 
1882. He was a prominent business man 
and at one time was a miner in Colorado. 
He also served a term as Postmaster at Bar- 
aboo, Wisconsin, during President Buchati- 
an's administration. Our subject was three 
years of age when he came with his parents 
to Wisconsin. After attending the schools 
of narai)0O he entered the preparatoi'y de- 
partment of the University of Wisconsin, 
where he remained three years, leaving as a 
member of the sophomore class of '77. When 
he was twelve years old his father removed 
to CTilpin county, Colorado, wliere he engaged 
in mining. Although but a boy young Wil- 
h)er possessed a remarkable faculty for locat- 



ing valuable mines and was the discoverer of 
some of the most valuable mines ever located 
in those localities. As an evidence of his 
ability and value in this direction his father 
declined an offer of $50 per week for his serv- 
ices in locating lodes. 

While at Central City our subject discov- 
ered the famous " Wilber '' mine (named for 
him), which in six months from the time of 
its discovery sold for 820,000. At the time 
of the location of this mine, Dr. Updegraff, of 
Baraboo, purchased a half interest in it for 
$25. Two years were spent by our subject 
in Colorado. Before he was twenty-one 
years of age Mr. AV^arner made three trips 
across the country by team to Colorado. He 
also located the celebrated " Idaho," from 
which mine was taken the finest specimen of 
silver ore exhibited at the Centennial Exposi- 
tion at Philadelphia, in 1876. Upon leaving 
the university our subject began his business 
career as a salesman in the music store of 
H. X. Clark, in Madison, which business was 
established by the W. W. Kimball Company. 
His rise in business was rapid and after 
one year as salesman he was given charge of 
the establishment. During the first ten 
years of his career he indorsed paper to the 
amount of $60,000, all of which he paid at 
par with interest. Beginning with a capital 
of S300 in cash, he has, by industry and en- 
terprise, and the exercise of his naturally tine 
business talents, built up a trade of consid- 
erable magnitude, easily establishing himself 
at the head of his line in Madison and Dane 
county, and by the practice of only honest 
and legitimate methods and principles, has 
at the same time made for hiiuself a splendid 
reputation financially and socially. In all 
his life he has never failed in discharging an 
obligation, meeting all when due, and his 
trade have come to rely implicitly upon his 




^-^rrn Jr. yo-iied-. 



DANE COUNTY, WT8G0NSIN. 



28", 



won! tlie same as his Iiond. lie cdiitiiiiics to 
deal witli the W. W. Kimball Company, 
mainly in pianos and organs, and aside from 
his large retail business has an extensive job- 
bing trade. He is a thorough and practical 
business man in all that term implies, and 
gives all his attention to his trade. lie takes 
little or no interest in politics, never permit- 
ting his name to be used in connection with 
any public office. He is posse sed of ex- 
traordinary talent and fitness for his line of 
business, and with his splendid executive 
ability, could handle with ease a much larger 
house than that warranted by Madison. But 
he has not allowed liusiness to absorb all of 
his time, to the exclusion of the pleasures of 
life. I'eing of a geuial and pleasant temper- 
meiit he has quite a circle of friends and ac- 
quaintances. He is quite a linguist and 
speaks flnently both the French and (xerman 
languages. He has a taste for art and paint- 
ings. 

Mr. Warner was married on May 13, 1875, 
to Miss Medora A. Finster, of Pulaski, New 
York, who is the daughter of Sherman W. 
Finster. Mrs. Warner, who is a charminf 
and accomplished lady, was educated at the 
Pulaski Academy. One son has been born 
to Mr. and Mrs. Warner, Paul S., born 
August 21, 1876. He is- attending the Mad- 
son Iliijh School. 

|URU W. JONES, a rcsidetit of Madi- 
son, Wisconsin, was born at Union, 
Rock county, Wisconsin, March 9, 18-16, 
a son of William and Sarah M. (Prentice) 
Jones, natives respectively of western Penn- 
sylvania and western New York. The father 
died in 1855, and the mcither afterward mar- 
ried Levi Leonard, a pioneer of Rock county. 

20 



They now reside at Evansvillc, in that county. 
Our subject had oiui sister, who mari-ied .1 . .'\. 
Pettigrew. but is now deceased. 

Purr W. Jones spent his early lib^ on a 
farm, and afterward attended the Evansville 
Seminary, lie then entered tin; Un'iversity 
of Wisconsin, at which he graduated in 1870, 
and the following year finished th(; law course 
of that university. Mr. Jones also taught 
school several winters to assist in defraying 
his expenses at school. After leaving the 
university he entered the office of Colonel 
Vilas; in the winter of 1871-"72 began the 
practice of his jtrofession at Portage, (Joluni- 
bia county, W^isconsin, and a short time alter- 
ward formed a partnership wifii Alden S. 
Sanborn, of Madison, wl^o was later elected 
County Judge. This partnership lasted a 
number of years, after which our subject 
practiced alone until 1874. Since that year 
he has been associated with General A. C. 
Parkinson and F. J. Lamb, although he iKnv 
has no partner. 

In 1872 Mr. Jones was elected District 
Attorney of Dane county, on the Democratic 
ticket, which position lie held lour years; in 
1882 he was elected a member of Congress 
for two years, from the old Third (yongres- 
sional District, which was hopelessly Republi- 
can. In 1884 he was renominated, but was 
defeated, his party being in the minority; 
but he ran largely alusad of his ticket. Al- 
though ii] Congress but a single term, the 
record shows that he took an active part in 
the debates and public business, and part of 
the time lie was the acting chairman of the 
important Committee on War Claims. Put 
his Congressional career was cut short by the 
rtstoration of peace in the Republican ranks, 
and the election of Hon. R. M. La Follette 
in 1884. For the past two years Mr. Jones 
has served as City Attorney of Madison, and 



•iMI 



BIuailM'UlCAL REVIEW OF 



fur tlie past seven years has been one of the 
faculty of the law de])artment in the Wiscon- 
sin University, and is lectnrer on Domestic 
Relations and the Law of Evidence and Cor- 
porations. 

Mr. Jones was married in December, 1873, 
to Olive L. Hoyt, a daughter of L. W- Hoyt, 
late of Madison, and to this union has been 
born one child, Marian 15. Except duriuo; 
the time Mr. Jones was in Congress, he has 
always devoted himself exclusively to his 
chosen profession, and has won the reputation 
of being one of the leading lawyers of his 
State. In every political campaign he has 
been in great demand as a public speaker, 
and has often delivered public addresses on 
other occasions. 

Our subject was the chairman of the last 
Democratic State Convention, and his name 
has often l)een mentioned in connection with 
other public honors, which he has declined to 
accept. Although Mr. Jones has been drawn 
into considerable prominence in political 
affairs, he has never sought or asked a nomi- 
nation for any public office, and his tastes 
are those of the lawyer and student. He has 
always been devoted to the interests of his 
city and community, and hardly any measure 
of improvement during the last twenty years 
can be mentioned with which he has not been 
identified. The Madison Times says: "His 
successes as a lawyer have already won for 
him a wide reputation, which extends beyond 
the borders of "Wisconsin, and although 
pitted against the ablest counsel that money 
could employ, lie has been eminently success- 
ful in his causes, many of which involved 
largo amounts of money. He is universally 
liked by all the students because of his learu- 
ing, clarity of exposition, and courteous, 
gentlemanly demeanor." 



^ipSON. SEREXO W. GRAVES.— A well- 
%W\ known historian has said that the most 
"^i obscure resident of a community, if he 
has reached mature life, has had experiences 
which, if truthfully told, would both interest 
and instruct his fellow-creatures. No doubt 
this is true, and how much more is it true of 
one of the most prominent residents uf a 
community who for many years has taken a 
prominent position and has faithfully per- 
formed the many public duties intrusted to 
his care. In calling attention to the subject 
of this sketch we find that his life has been 
full of change and that he occupies a prom- 
inent position in his county, possessing tiie 
esteem of his fellow-citizens and the respect 
of all with whom he has come into contact. 

Sereno W. Graves was born in Berkshire, 
Franklin county, Vermont, October 11, 1810, 
a son of David J. (t raves, who was born in 
Leominster, Massachusetts, and his grand- 
father Captain Peter Graves was, as far as 
known, born in the same place and com- 
manded a company in the Revolutionary 
war. Captain Peter spent his last years in 
Leominster, and his wife, was married a 
second time to Colonel John Poynton, and 
spent her last days at Weatherstield, Vermont. 

The father of our subject was tliree years 
old when his father died and his mother 
married again two years later and removed 
to Vermont and located at Weatherstield and 
here our subject's father was reared. After 
marriage he removed to lierkshire and 
bought timber land and built the log house 
in which our subject was born. Mr. Graves 
resided at this place until 1832, when he lost 
his farm and returned to Weatherstield and 
lived thvire until 1S47. at which time he 
removed to Wisconsin ami spiTit his last 
days in the town of Rutland. He was twice 
married, the maiden name of his first wife, 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



the mother of our tiubject, being Polly Leland, 
who was born in Grafton, Massachusetts, a 
daughter of Joshua and Tliankful Leland, of 
Ciiester, Vermont, lint she died on July 4, 
1817. The maiden name of the second wife 
of our suiiject's fatiier was Sally Colboth, 
of Vermont and she died in Rutland. Four 
children were born of the first marriage and 
live by the second. 

Our subject was reared and educated in 
his native town. There were no railroads in 
that section of cor.ntry nor any of what we 
at tl\is time regard as the necessary adjuncts 
of civilization. Tlie people were mostly poor 
and lived upon tiie products of the land, but 
the meagerness of tiieir li\es made them all 
the more interested in the lives of others and 
neighborly kindness and interest were the 
rule amono; all. What nolile men and women 
liave come from the secluded portions of the 
New England States, and what wonderful 
marks they have left behind them! 

Thrifty habits were inculcated in both 
sexes and the industrious mother of our 
subject labored without ceasing, spinning 
a!id weaving, and all of her family were 
arrayed in garments, not only made by her 
own skillful hands, but the cloth was also 
produced in the same manner. Money was 
scarce and debts were paiil in cattle and 
stock. The pioneer schools were taught in log 
cabins, with only the merest excuses for 
teachers and with no opportunities at all for 
anything beyond the most pi-imjtive inethods. 

When eighteen years qf i\ge our subject 
went to Chester to live with his grandfather 
Leland, where he remained until tlie death 
of this kind man two years later, at which 
time he returned to Weathersfield and lived 
with his aunt, attendinu- the farm and going 
to school. This last occupation was very con- 
genial, as he hail a very intelligent under- 



standing and was most anxious to learn. 
Four years passed by in this way and tluMi 
our subject started out in life as a teachei-, 
following tliis profession in the winters and 
farming during the summers until 1841, 
when he bought a farm in Weathersfield and 
lived upon it until 1S43, when he sold it and 
June 10, 1844, accompanied liy his wife he 
started for the far-away Territory of Wis- 
consin, feeling snre that the great West held 
possibilities which a resident in the East 
could never reach. The trip was commenced 
by team to Troy, New York, where the travel- 
ers took the Erie canal foi- their i-ide across 
the State ami upon landing in l>utialo took a 
steamer to Milwaukee, landing there June 
26. He left his wife in Milwaukee with 
his cousin, D. A. J. Upliam, and started 
to seek a location for a permanent home, 
accompanied liy Jonathan Lawrence and 
his son Frank, and finally drifted to Dane 
county. At that time the country was luit 
sparsely settled and liut tiiree families lived 
in the town of Rutland. All the land was 
Government land, and our subject selected a 
tract that is now included in his present 
farm. 

Our subject walked to Milwaukee, from 
there to Waukeska and there worked 
through harvest. September 1 he hired a 
horse and buggy and drove to iiis frontier 
home, and his wife was pleaseil with the land. 
Here he concluded then to settle and his wife 
returned to Milwaukee and entered the land, 
consisting of 280 acres: then Mr. Graves 
bought a pair of oxen and a cow, commencing 
to cut and hew logs for the new house. Before 
long a comfortal>le log cabin was erected and 
that same fall housekeeping was begun en 
the place. Tliis log house has been replaced 
by others since, but Mr. Graves has resided 



288 



BIOGIiAI'niGAL UK VIEW OF 



on the old farm since, althoucrh lie rents the 
land. 

In 1841 our subject was marrieci to Miss 
Malinda Blakcsley, born in Weathersfield, 
wliere siio died in December of the same 
-year. In 1843 he married Meivina Dennison 
a native of Ludlow, Vermont, hut she died 
in Rutland December 28, 1845. In 1846 
he married Mary (Read) Dudley, a native of 
Plaintield, New Hauipshire, a daughter of 
Silas Read and widow of Charles Dudley. 
Mr. and Mrs. Graves have three living chil- 
dren: Ellen, who married La Salle C. Brewer 
of Evansville; Marinda, who married C. A. 
Cole of Evansville; and Leland, the efficient 
manacrer of the farm. 

In public life our sul)ject has become well 
known in the State in which ho has lived. 
In 183() he joined Captain Aldricli's company 
of State Militia and was made Second Lieu- 
tenant, but in 1837 the company was dis- 
banded, l)\it that same year a petition was 
made to the Legislature that another company 
mif^ht be organized. The petition was granted 
and when the company was organized our 
6ul)ject was made Captain and later was made 
!Major and was still later promoted to be 
Colonel, holding that position until his de- 
parture for the West. 

Soon after locating here Mr. Graves 
became interested in public aifairs, his intel- 
ligence and active mind requiring him to be 
more tlinn a mere tiller of the soil. Formerly 
he was a Whig in politics and may be said 
to have been one of the founders of the 
Republican party. Since those early days in 
the Territory he has been called upon to fill 
various (>ffices of trust. For si.xteen years he 
was County Surveyor, and Deputy. Seven 
times has lie beun elected on the Town and 
County l)oard of Supervisors. In 1848 he was 
elected Justice of the Peace and with the 



exception of one year has served as such since. 
Also his time has been required as Road Com- 
missioner and as Town Clerk. In 1861 he 
was honored further by being elected to the 
State Legislature, and in all of these positions 
he has l)orne his part as a man of honesty and 
strict integrity. 

IPsON. GEORGE W. STONER,one of the 
\'m\ oldest residents of the city of Madison, 
"^•Is Wisconsin, is the subject of the present 
brief notice. A residence of so many years in 
a locality, which has changed as much as lias 
this portion of Dane county, must have had 
many interesting experiences and, if space 
could be awarded in a work of this kind, no 
doubt the personal adventures of our honor- 
able subject would fill the book from cover to 
cover. When he located here, the great city, 
which is now known the world over, was but 
a settlement of two log houses. 

Our subject was born at Euclid, near Cleve- 
land, Ohio, September 14, 1880, and is the 
eldest son and fifth in order of birth of seven 
children, four girls and three boys, born to 
John and Magdalena Stoner, natives of Mary- 
land and Tennsylvania, respectively. John 
Stoner grew up in MaryliiiKl and learned the 
trade of cabinet-maker, which he followed for a 
time in Pennsylvania. He enlisted in ihi: 
war of 1812 and served to its close, after 
which he was iriarried, and with bis young 
wife removed to Ohio. They continued to 
reside there until all their children but one 
were born, when the limited products derived 
from a few acres of heavily timbered land 
became insufficient for the support of a large 
and growing family, and they sought the broj^d 
and fertile prairies of the, then, far West, and 
in 1837, started overland to the Territory of 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



289 



Wisconsin. The last child born to them was 
the first white male child bom in this city, 
and was named Madison Stoner, In honor of 
the place. He is now living in Denver, Colo- 
rado, being connected witii the health de- 
partnient of that city. John and Magdalena 
Stoner, the parents of our subject, started 
here in the most primitive style and were 
obliged to undergo many hardships, endure 
privations and self-denials, which should make 
their memory honored by those who have 
come later and now enjoy the lienefits of civ- 
ilization, which could only have been secured 
by the efl'orts of the pioneers. Their lives 
ended here and they passed away respected 
by all who knew them. John Stoner was one 
of the first cabinet-makers in Madison, and 
was prominent in the management of affairs 
pertaining to the growth and development of 
this new city and county. He was the first 
Treasurer of Dane county, and is yet remem- 
bered as a man of unsnllied character, thor- 
oughly honest in all his dealings with man- 
kind, and strictly temperate in all his habits, 
havinjj never indulged in the use of tobacco 
or strong drink of any kind. In politics he 
was a firm Jackson Democrat. 

The family removal took place from Euclid, 
now Lake county, Ohio, when our subject 
was seven years of age, the trip being made 
overland and consuming just four weeks. 
They arrived in the new location September 
6, 1837, at four o'clock in the afternoon, this 
being the first wagon that had ever come 
through from Janesville, Wisconsin. They 
had to drive through the oak openings and 
open prairies without a road or trail of any 
kind, guided only by the aid of blazed trees 
made by a party of surveyors who had run a 
line through but a short time before. Arrived 
in Madison, they were fortunate in securing 
a rudely constructed log cabin, witli an oak 



shake roof, without a floor, door, or window, or 
even a fireplace, for which they paid the sum 
of $200 in cash. This cabin was built before 
tiie town was laid out, and after a survey had 
been made, proved to be in the center of North 
Hamilton street, near Fourth Lake, wliere it 
remained for many years, until ordered re- 
moved by tile street superintendent. This 
was antedated by but few in tliis locality, and 
was one of the first houses from which grew 
the city of Madison. 

Our subject was one of tlie first pupils at 
the State University, having attended scliool 
in the red brick in 184!J, where tlie high 
school building is now located. In this con- 
nection may be appropriately mentioned a 
narrow escape from drowning, which he sus- 
tained. On the afternoon of September 1, 
1852, while out alone on one of our beautiful 
lakes in a fine new sail-ljoat, and when near 
the center of the lake, a severe wind storm 
suddenly sprang up, capsizing his boat, which 
being heavily ballasted with stone, rapidly 
sank to the bottom, leaving Mr. Stoner to the 
mercy of the swells and l)linding storm, witii 
nothing to cling to but an empty gallon jug, 
tiglitly corked. To this he clung with death- 
like tenacity for over three hours, and was 
driven by the furious wind and rain for a dis- 
tance of three miles, when a dark object at 
last loomed in sight, which proved to be the 
shore. The boat has never been recovered and 
still reposes at the bottom of the lake. Mr. 
Stoner owes his rescue from a watery grave 
to his perfect coolness in the face of danger, 
self-possession and the agency of the jug. 

After completing his education he went, in 
1855, to Prairie du Chien, where he engaged 
in the land agency and insurance business for 
five years. He then joined the " innumerable 
throng " in pursuit of gold, crossing the plains 
to Pike's Peak in 1860, and visited, what is 



290 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



now the city of Denver, Colorado, before there 
was a house in tlie place. Remaining there 
thronirh one season, he I'etnrned home, where 
he continued to reside for many years, filling 
various clerical positions in the different State 
departments about the capitol. In 1869 he 
was elected Clerk of the Circuit for Dane 
county, the duties of which office he dis- 
cliarired with credit to himself and entire sat- 
isfaction to the members of the bar. lie has 
been Enrolling Clerk of one l)ranch or the 
otiier of the Wisconsin Legislature for more 
than twenty years, having first been appointed 
in 1859. under L. H. D. Crane, Chief Clerk 
of the Assembly. He has filled every cleri- 
cal position in that body except that of Chief 
Clerk. He was also Enrolling Clerk of the 
lower honse of the Colorado Legislature for 
three successive winters, and is thoroughly 
conversant with the duties of that important 
office. 

Twelve years of the adventurous life of our 
subject was spent in Colorado, roughing it 
amid the mountain wilds and snow-clad peaks 
of the old Rockies, engaged in mining and 
mining enterprises, with varied success. 
Leaving a temperature of sixty degrees below 
zero, with the snow from three to four feet 
deep, in the Gunnison country in the winter 
of 1888, in three and a half days' travel he 
was enjoying the Halian skies of Southern 
California, where flowers were in full bloom, 
grass several inches high, and lawns as fresh 
and jireen as in midsummer in the Northern 
States. This sudden transition was truly 
wonderful and can better be imagined than 
described. Here he was engaged for four 
years in the lumber business and the cultiva- 
tion of fruit. He obtained 160 acres of choice 
Government land in Fresno county, one of the 
richest and most productive portions of the 
State. This he designs devoting exclusively 



to fruit. His experiences on the frontier of 
the far West are of the deepest interest, as he 
has had some remarkable escapes and has 
traveled over a large scope of territory. He 
is a prolific writer for various periodicals, and 
his clear, terse style makes his letters from 
the far West very interesting. 

In the fall of 1857 our subject was married 
to Miss Abbie Noonan, a native of Montgom- 
ery county, New York, and a sister of .1. A. 
Noonan, formerly Fostmaster of Milwaukee, 
who was one of the most prominent politi- 
cians in the State, now deceased. Mrs. Stoner 
is a lady well-known in Madison and among 
her neighbors near No. 146 East Gorham 
street, where she now resides. Her home is 
regarded with the greatest afl'ection on account 
of her neighborly kindness and sytnpatliy. 

Mr. Stoner still retains a warm love for his 
old Wisconsin home, around which cluster so 
many cherished memories of early pioneer 
days. He is one of five of the oldest inhabi- 
tants left in Dane county, and is highly es- 
teemed by all his old friends and associates. 

,,^^ANIEL HUMPHREY, of Mazo Manie, 
Dane county. Wisconsin, was born in 
Rrescott, Ontario, Canada, January 7, 
1820, a son of James and Mary (McDougal) 
Humphrey. The mother was born in Glen- 
gary, Ontaiio, of Scotch parentage, and the 
father was a native of Johnstown, New York. 
They were the parents of twelve children, 
ten of whom lived to years of maturity. 

Daniel Humphrey, the subject of this 
sketch, received a good education and was 
reared on his father's farm. At the age of 
eighteen years he began Inmbering in Can- 
ada, rafting his products to Quebec, which 
he continued about tiiree years, and for the 



DANE COUNTT, WISCONSIN. 



291 



follosv'inir three years was engased in tuwing 
lumber from Montreal to Quebec. He was 
next employed in constructing the road from 
Ogdensburg to Boston, next received tlie con- 
tract for grading and ballasting the Prairie 
du Ohien division, in 1858 assisted in grad- 
ing and relaying a railroad track from Ha- 
vana to Matanzas on the Island of Cuba, 
and remained there until the news arrived of 
the bomliardment of Fort Sumter. Mr. 
Humphrey then embarked for his native land, 
on the Quaker City. He came immediately 
to his farm of 260 acres in Wisconsin, which 
he had purchased while grading the i-ailroad 
in this State, and engaged in agricultural 
pursuits from 1861 to 1888. In the latter 
year he sold his farm and erected his resi- 
dence on a part of the old homestead, where 
he lias since livcil in retirement. At one 
time Mr. Humphrey erected a cheese factory 
on his place, and after running it a number 
of years sold out to a stock company. He 
reserved considerable stock and was elected 
president of the concern, which position he 
held about ten years. He is a lover of good 
stock and at one time raised large numbers 
of Ilolstein cattle and blooded horses. 

Our subject was married at Janesville, 
Wisconsin, February 26, 1855, to Sophronia 
Hamilton, a native of Allegany county. New 
York, but who removed to Milton, Wiscon- 
sin, with her parents when a child. Mi', and 
Mrs. Humphrey have one child, Jennie, now 
the wife of W. M. Curtis, a lumber dealer of 
Mount Horeb, Dane connty, Wisconsin. Mr. 
Humphrey gives but little attention to pol- 
itics and has never sought public ofHce. Both 
he and his wife are members of the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church of Mazo Manie. 



fDWARD SHAKP, a plasterer, living 
at No. 228 Mills street, Madison, Wis- 
consin, came to this city in 1860, and 
began work as a journeyman at his trade, 
being for some years in the employ of James 
Levesey, leaving him in 1853 to go into busi- 
ness for himself. For inany years he had a 
number of men working for him, doing a 
large amount of conti'act work in plastering, 
among other jobs doing jiart of the plastering 
of the State capitol and of tiie insane asylum, 
and foui' of the university buildings. These 
were his largest public contracts, but he has 
done very many private ones in the city of 
Madison. Mr. Sharp retired from active 
business about five years ago. He was born 
in Hastings, Sussex county, England, May 
26, 1818, of pure English stock, his people 
being numerous in Hastings, where his par- 
ents lived and died at an advanced age. 

Edward Sharp, father of our subject, was, 
throughout his life, a sailor on fishing smacks. 
His father, Edward Sharp, Sr., owner of many 
fishing boats, lived and died in Hastings, 
England. The latter's father likewise lived 
and died there. The grandfather of our sub- 
ject, Edward Sharp, Sr., was married to a 
Hastings lady, of good family, whose father 
was a prominent owner of trading vessels, 
plying between London and Hastings. Ed- 
ward Hastings. Jr., father of our subject, was 
married to a girl of Rye, England, whose 
maiden name was Elizabeth Nash, and whose 
forefathers were for years in the Government 
service, being the managers of Government 
cutters that looked after smugglers, etc. She 
died of consumption, when about forty years 
of age, being nearly or quite the last of a 
family that was wiped out by that dread 
disease. 

Our subject was brought up to the trade 
of a plasterer, serving about seven years under 



298 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



a Mr. Thorn, of Hastings. When twenty-two 
years old, having completed his term of serv- 
ice, he went to London, where he worked at 
his trade, six years as a journeyman, three 
years as foreman and four on his own ac- 
count, when he came to the United States, 
taking passage at Liverpool December 10, 
1849, and landing at New Orleans February 
14, 1850. From the city last named he pro- 
ceeded up the Mississippi to St. Louis, where 
he worked at his trade, and in the following 
August took his family to Dane county, Wis- 
consin, locating them on a farm in Sun Prai- 
rie township. Ue then returned to St. Louis 
and continued to work at his trade until tiie 
following spring, when he rejoined his family, 
who had lived in a neighbor's granary for 
some months or until a small house could be 
built on the new farm; but soon after his re- 
turn Mr. Sharp decided to give up farming 
and return to his trade. Our subject has 
been successful ever since, having laid up a 
goodly sum for his last years, the reward of 
skilled work and of faithful attention to busi- 
ness. 

Mr. Sharp, our subject, was married De- 
cember 25, 1833, at Hastings, to Miss Ann E. 
Watkinson, born May 6, 1810, in Linconsliire, 
daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (llallj Wat- 
kinson, natives of Lincolnshire, but who re- 
moved to Hastings when Ann Eliza was a 
child. Mr. and Mrs. Watkinson came with 
their dangiiter and their son-in-law, Mr. 
Sharp, to the United States in 1849, subse- 
quently living with their children until their 
deatli. the wife and mother passing away soon 
after their landing at St. Louis, at tiie age of 
about fei.xty years; but Mr. Watkinson lived 
until 1881, when he died at the home of his 
daugliter, Mrs. Sharp, in Madison, aged 
ninety-four years and five months. Mr. and 



Mrs. Watkinson were members of the Meth- 
odist Epi.^copal Church. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sharp, of this notice, have 
lived together as man and wife for fifty-nine 
years, in love and affection, the peace and 
happiness of their home being a truth worthy 
of record as example for others. They are 
parents of three children, namely: William 
W., who died when past three years of age; 
Lydia, wife of Tliomas Winterbottom, a plas- 
terer, living at Rockford, Illinois; Emma W., 
wife of William Grime, a farmer, living in 
Burke township, Dane county, Wisconsin; 
also an adopted son, John, a plasterer, hus- 
band of Mary (Hray) Sharp, residing at the 
home of tiie sulnect. Edward Sharp was for- 
merly a Republican, but is now a I'rohibi- 
tionist. He has been a member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church since 1829, and his 
wife has been of the same connexion from 
early childhood. 

tA N S I N G W. H O Y T, now deceased, 
died at his liome in the city of Madison, 
Wisconsin, September 30, 1892. He 
was one of the pioneers of Madison, was 
born in Onondaga county, JS'ew York, June 
26, 1817. His father. Philander Hoyt, was 
a native of Stamford, Connecticut, or of Dan- 
bury, the same State, and came of old New 
England stock. He grew up a farmer and 
later married Miss Perces Wilcox, who was 
born in Great Parrington, Massachusetts, 
and came of Massachusetts parents. After 
marriage. Philander Hoyt and wife settled 
in Onondaga county, New York, and there 
engaged in farming, but in 1822, Mr. Hoyt 
died , being only thirty-two years of age. 
During life he had been prominent in local 
affairs and had taken great interest in the 



DANE COUNTY, M'ISCONtiTN. 



293 



Presl)yterian (church. The Iloyt family 
were all members of that tleiiomination. 
After his death, Mrs. Hoyt married a second 
time, in Onondaga county. This alliance 
was with Deacon Erastus Baker, and they 
afterward lived in the same county until 
their decease. Mr. Baker lived to be about 
seventy years of age, and his wife, about 
lifty-six. They were prominent members of 
the I'resbyterian Church. 

Our sniiject was but live years of age when 
his father died and he was reared by his 
mother, becoming her support in later years. 
She had been a teacher, was a woman of rare 
gifts and was extraodinarily familiar with the 
poets of her time. After her second mar- 
riage, he set out for himself having received 
his education in the schools of the county 
and at Homer, New York. Later, when of 
age, he went to Bergen in Genesee county, 
New York, and there became a clerk in a 
store, later becoming a partner when the firm 
was known as Hubbard & Hoyt, continuing 
for some years. Prior to this he had been a 
teacher for some time in the public schools. 
He started out a poor boy and all that he 
ever possessed he made for himself. For 
many years he literally followed the scri|)- 
tural injunction of giving one tenth of his 
income to charity and the church. 

Our subject came west to Wisconsin in 
1849, and after some months spent in Mil- 
waukee, in the fall of 1850, he came to Madi- 
son, where he remained until his lamented 
decease. He became interested in difi'erent 
business enterprises, in which he was success- 
ful, and had built for a residence one of the 
most beautiful liomes which adorn the bluff 
overlooking lake Monona, whei-e he spent 
the last twenty-one years of his life. He 
was one of the first members of the Congre- 
gational Church of Madison, and for more 



than forty years was a Deacon in that de- 
nomination. He had held the office of 
Treasurer of Dane county, for years was a 
Republican and later an advocate of temper- 
ance principles. Always self-sacrilicing, he 
thought often of those who lacked the need- 
ful things of lite, and his sympathy was ever 
ready, accompanied with his purse to allevi- 
ate their wants. 

Oni' subject was one of the liardworking 
men of the world and his means came to him 
by a steady application to business and a 
sterling honesty in all of his dealings. The 
first marriage of Mr. Hoyt was in Bergen, 
New York, to Miss Louisa G. Pierson, who 
was born and reared in that State, a daughter 
of Rev. Josias Pierson who was, foi- more 
than sixty years a pastor of a Pi-esbyterian 
Church in the State of New York and who 
died in Bergen when full of years. Mrs. 
Louisa Hoyt died in Bergen in the prime of 
life, after the birth of two daughters, who had 
passed away before her death. Mr. Hoyt 
was married a second time in La Fayette, 
Onondaga county, New York, to Miss Mellie 
Williams. She was born and reared there 
and was educated. She was the intelligent 
and amial)le daughter of Dr. Chauncey and 
Betsey (Cole) Williams, natives of Great Bar- 
rington, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, 
respectively. 

Dr. and Mrs. Williams were married in 
La Fayette, New Yoi'k, and settled there, 
whei-e the Doctor practiced liis profession for 
about fifty years, dying when sixty-seven 
years old to a day. His wife surviveil him 
a little more than a year, dying at the age of 
sixty-three years. 

Mr. Hoyt was associated in business with 
the well-known firm of Fuller & Williams, 
and for some years was a partner of John A. 
Johnson. He was one of those modest, un- 



294 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



assuming men whose deeds of kindness and 
self-sacritice in every relation or life are well 
remembered by those who knew him. Mrs. 
lloyt is the only sur%'iving member of the 
four children born to her parents. Her old- 
est brother, Chauncey L., was for many years 
a partner in the firm of Fuller & Williams, 
of this city; Olive C, died at the age of 
twenty-four years; and Henry C. died at the 
age of sixty-three. 

Mrs. Iloyt has three children: Olive, who 
is the wife of Hon. B. W. Jones (see biogra- 
phy); Frank W., married to Miss Mary C. 
Clark, a daughter of J. T. Clark, of I'ortage, 
Wisconsin; and Howard H., a resident of 
Milwaukee, who married Miss Mary ^lit- 
chell, daughter of Rev. James Y. Mitchell, 
of Pennsylvania. 

jOBERT STEELE, the subject of sketch, 
was born in Ro.xbury, Delaware county, 
New York, November 18, 1832, is the 
son of James and Jane Steele, and the grand- 
son of Robert and Nancy Steele, both natives 
of Armagh county, Ireland, who emigrated 
to America in 1801, on the ship Stafford. 
This vessel was more than nine weeks mak- 
ing her passage from the coast of Ireland to 
Philadelphia, and more than 100 of her pas- 
sengers died of yellow fever. Mr. Steele was 
stricken down with the disease soon after 
landing, and while unconscious was robbed of 
all his money. Robert Steele and Nancy 
Dunshee were married in Kortright, Dela- 
ware county. New York, in October, 1802. 
James Steele, their second son, was born Jan- 
nary -i, 1805, and was married to Miss Jane 
Cowan, a native of Scotland, in Middletown, 
Delaware County, New York, March 4, 1830. 
They settled on a farm in the town of Rox- 



bury, where they resided until they removed 
to Wisconsin in 1848. They bought a farm 
of 320 acres of Government land in the town 
of Dane, Dane county, where they resided 
until the time of their death. Mr. Steele 
died February 4, 1887, aged eighty-two 
years, and Mrs. Steele died May 16, 1889, 
also aged eighty-two years. 

Mr. and Mrs. Steele raised a family of eight 
children, six sons and two daughters. One 
son died in infancy, and William at the age 
of four years. They brought six children to 
Wisconsin with them, five of whom are now 
living: Eliza, the wife of William Rapp; 
Robert, the subject of this sketch; and Sam- 
uel D., the youngest of the family, who re- 
sides on the old homestead of 525 acres. All 
reside in the town of Dane, Wisconsin. 
Nancy M., was married to James Hallett in 
June, 1861. and died in February, 1865; she 
resided in Dane also; Herman N., resides in 
Custer county, South Dakota; and James W., 
resides in Seneca, Kansas. 

Mr. Steele was one of the pioneers of 
Western, Dane county; and Robert, his eld- 
est son, worked diligently with his father in 
improving the farm and making a comfort- 
able home for the family', and at the same 
time improving the meager opportunities 
there were at that time for securing an educa 
tion by going to the district school a few 
months in the winter seasons. In the spring 
of 1856 he commenced improving the farm 
where he now resides, on section 16, town of 
Dane; and on the 18th day of June of that 
year was united in marriage to Miss Rhoda 
A. Bower, a daughter of Rensselaer and 
Christiana Bower, natives of Orange county. 
New York, who was born in Little Britain, 
Orange county. New York, March 23, 1835, 
and died in Dane, Wisconsin, February 2, 
1864. Tliey had four children: John Wes- 



DANE COONTT, WISCONSIN. 



295 



ley, Anna Josephine, Robert Benson and 
William Washington. 

Mr. Steele was married the second time to 
Miss Mary Hanley, Auirust 7, 1866, who was 
born in Limerick county, Ireland, 1843. 
She was brought to America when an infant, 
l)y her parents, James and Catherine llanley. 
By his second marriage they have three cliil- 
dren: Daisy, James Eddy and Samuel llan- 
ley. Six of his children are now living. 
Anna Josephine, the wife of W. H. Bitney, 
died February 5, 1884. 

Mr. Steele entered the military service of 
United States in August, 1862, and was com- 
missioned by Governor Salmon Second Lieu- 
tenant Company 11, Twenty-third liegiment 
Wisconsin Volunteer Lifantry, and in Janu- 
ary, 1862, was promoted First Lieutenant. 
He participated in the battles of Chickasaw 
Bluff, Arkansas Bost, the bombardment of 
Grand Gulf, Fort Gibson, Champion Uills, 
Black river, and the siege of Vicksburo'. 
He saw at a distance of a half mile the meet- 
ing of Generals Grant and Peml)erton, when 
the terms of the surremler of Yicksburg were 
agreed upon. His regiment, the Twenty-tiiird 
Wisconsin, formed a part of the Thirteenth 
Army Corps, and was transferred to the De- 
partment of the Gulf soon after the surren- 
der of Vicksburg, and he took part in about 
all the campaigns in which his regiment was 
engaged up to the time of his resigiuition on 
account of sickness, on July 4, 18()4. His 
health having improved, he assisted in re- 
cruiting Company C, Forty-second Kegiment, 
Wisconsin Volunteers, fie was commis- 
sioned First Lieutenant of that organization 
by Governor James T. Lewis in September, 
18()4. The Forty-second Regiment was as- 
signed to duty at Cairo, Illinois, and re- 
mained tiiere until tlie close of the war. 
Lieutenant Steele had command of his com- 



pany during his service in the Forty-second 
Regiment, his Captain, G. H. Hum])hery, 
being on detached service. At the close of 
the war, in 1865, he came home with ids 
company and returned to the pursuits of civil 
life. 

Mr. Steele has been elected Assessor of his 
town four times. Supervisor once, and Chair- 
man of the Board of Supervisors five times. As 
a member of the County Board he has always 
been placed on important committees, often 
acting as chairman. He was once a defeated 
candidate for County Treasurer, and again 
defeated for member of the Assembly, but al- 
ways received the full sti'ength of his ])arty 
vote. In Politics, Mr. Steele is a Republi- 
can, and is thoroughly posted on all political 
questions of the day, and is always ready to 
give a reason for the faith that is in him. 

Mr. and Mrs. Steele are both members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has 
been an active worker in the church over 
forty years, and most of the time a member 
of the official board. 

Mr. Steele resides on the same farm on 
which he settled in 1856. His farm now 
contains 320 acres, well improveif. He has 
a tine residence, erected in 1891 by his son, 
William W. He carries on general farm- 
ing, having his farm well stocked with horses, 
cattle and hogs of improved breeds. Mr. 
Steele loves a country life, and thinks the oc- 
cupation of a farmer the most independent, 
and will bring as much happiness to the home 
as any other calling in life. 

/^LISIIA W. KEYES was born January 
^M^ 23, 1828, in Northfield, Washington 
"C^l county. Vermont. He was the third 
son of Cajitain Joseph Keyes, one of the 



296 



BIOOBAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



earliest pioneers of Wisconsin Territory, who 
came to the Territory in 1836 and made a set- 
tlement; in the spring of 1837 moving his 
family here. On May 2, 1837, the family 
left Northtield to meet the husband and 
father somewhere on the route to the Terri- 
tory, proceeding by wagon to Burlington, 
thence by steamboat to Whitehall, and there 
taking the canal as far as Utica, from which 
place they proceeded by stage to Bingham - 
ton, Xew Vork, meeting Captain Keyes at 
that place, and where the family remained 
a short time. From there they removed to 
Buffalo by wagon, whence the trip was made 
across lake Erie, to Detroit; and from De- 
troit overland to Milwaukee, passing around 
the head of lake Michigan, through Chicago, 
and arriving at Milwaukee on June 17, 1837. 
where the family took up quarters in a frame 
house on the corner of Broadway and Oneida 
streets, which had been constructed previously 
by Captain Keyes. During the summer, the 
subject of this sketch attended school in the 
old courthouse, a select school kept by Eli 
Bates, who became quite prominent in busi- 
ness circles before his death. 

In the latter part of September following, 
the family removed to the township of Lake 
Mills in Jefferson county, where Captain 
Keyes had made a claim the year previous. 
At the time of their arrival there was but 
one other family in the township. A log 
house was soon constructed, which sheltered 
tlie family for a number of years. Captain 
Keyes built the first schoolhouse in the town- 
ship, at his own expense, and hired a teacher, 
who was Miss Ilosey Catlin, afterward the 
wife of La Fayette Kellogg, of Madison. 
Tliis school was tirst opened in 1840, which 
E. W. K. attended. In 1841, a school was 
opened in Aztalan, two miles and half dis- 
tant, taught by Mrs. J. F. Ostrander. which 



was attended by Mr. Keyes. The next win- 
ter the school system of the Territory was 
organized, and school was held in the new 
village of Lake Mills, which Mr. Keyes at- 
tended. The education which Mr. Kejes re- 
ceived was mainly in the common schools, 
although he attended several terms later at 
Beloit Seminary. Previous to 1848 Captain 
Keyes had constructed a sawmill and grist- 
mill at Lake Mills, but in this year he made sale 
of the same, reserving land for a large farm 
adjoining the village plat, now known as the 
Phillips" farm, to which the family removed, 
and where, until the year 1849, the subject 
of this sketch was engaged in breaking up 
the land and in fencin": the same, and in gen- 
eral farm duties. It was his ambition to de- 
vote his life-work to the business of farming, 
but at this time there were no railroads in 
the country, and there was a very poor mar- 
ket for every product of the farm, Mr. 
Keyes, as a boy, having frequently drawn 
wheat to ^Milwaukee, and sold it for fifty 
cents a bnshel; butter and cheese, which were 
products of the farm to quite an extent, were 
not worth over six or seven cents a pound, 
and pork and beef in about the same propor- 
tion, farming was decidedly unprofitable, and 
Captain Keyes, who, for a few years, had left 
the farm fully in the charge of his son, E. 
W. Keyes, and had built a sawmill and grist- 
mill, and started the new village of Cani- 
bridge in Dane county, became discouraged 
at the prospect, and the Cambridge venture 
having proved a failure, he was obliged to sell 
out his farm in Lake Mills, and did so in the 
year 1^49, removing thence to Menasha, 
Wisconsin. It was with great reluctance 
that Mr. Keyes and his mother, who liad 
had charge of the farm almost from its com- 
mencement, consented to its sale, and were 
induced to do so only on account of the poor 



LANE VOUNTT, WISCONSIN. 



297 



prospects of profit on tlie farm. This was 
the turning point in Mr. Keyes' life. Up to 
tliis time lie thoui'ht farming would be his 
life-work. 

In the spi'ing and summer of 1850 he 
again attended Beloit Seminary, where he 
had previously been in the winter of 1847- 
'48, and in December of that year, he came 
to Madison, and on the 6th day of that month, 
he was entered as a student at law in the 
office of Collins & Smith, tlie firm being com- 
posed of A. L. Collins, afterward judge of 
the circuit, and George H. Smith, subse- 
quently attorney general of the State. Be- 
fore this, he had devoted some little time to 
reading law, and on October 17, 1851, he was 
admitted to the bar of Dane county, lie at 
once entered upon the practice in a small way. 
In the spring of 1852, he was appointed 
Special Agent of the Post Office Department 
by Postmaster-General, N.K.Hall, under Fill- 
more's Administration, a position which he 
tilled for several months. His duty was to 
collect money from postmasters by drafts 
drawn in his favor by the Postmaster-Geti- 
eral, and to deposit the money so collected in 
the sub treasury at St. Louis. These collec- 
tions were made principally in Illinois and 
Wisconsin; the travel was almost wholly by 
stage, although the trips to St. Louis were 
made mostly by steamt)oat. After this em- 
ployment was linisheil,and the business closed 
up, Mr. Keyes opened an office, and more 
especially devoted himself to his profession. 
In 1853 he was offered a partnership in tiie 
firm with which he had studied law, and the 
firm l)ecaine known as Collins, Smith & 
Keyes, and continued until its dissolution, by 
the election of the senior partner, Mr. Collins, 
to the bench of the Circuit Court, which 
position he entered upon January 1, 1855, 
leaving the firm from that time on, as Smith 



& Keyes. From that perioil until 18f;2, when 
the firm of Smith & Keyes was dissolved liy 
mutual consent, the firm did a very large 
business, by far the largest in Dane county, 
or in the interior of the State. 

During the years 1859-'60 he was Dis- 
trict Attorney of Dane county, having been 
elected t(.» that office in tlie election of the 
fall of 1858. Up to the time of the organi- 
zation of the Republican party, in which Mr. 
Keyes participated, he had always been a 
Whig in politics. In April, 1801, he was 
appointed by President Lincoln, Postmaster 
at Mailison, and was reappointed by Presi- 
dents Johnson, Grant and Hayes, havintr 
ser\-ed continuously in that office over twenty- 
one years. In 18(55 he was elected the first 
Repulilican Mayor of Madison, and was re- 
elected without opposition, in 1806. In 
1877 he was appointed a Regent of the uni- 
versity, which position he held for twelve 
years. He was elected to, and served in the 
Assembly of the State in 1883, and was again 
re-elected Mayor of Madison in 1886. 

Mr. Keyes had been active in politics, 
strongly supporting the war and the suppres- 
sion of the Rebellion, had been a member of 
the Republican State Central Committee sev- 
eral years, when in 1868, he was ajipointed 
by the convention, chairman of the com- 
mittee, serving as such chairman ten years. 
In 1872 Mr. Keyes was a delegate to the 
Republican National Convention, wliich met 
in Philadelphia, and was chairman of the 
Wisconsin delegation. He was afterwar<l 
delegate to the liepublican Convention, which 
met in Cincinnati, 1876, and was again cliair- 
man of the Wisconsin delegation. lie was 
also a delegate to the Republican Convention, 
which met in Chicago in 1884, and at that 
time was also chairman of the Wisconsin 
delegation. At these last two conventions. 



298 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



lie was a strong supporter of tlie nomination 
of Mr. Klaine for tlie pre^iidency. 

In 1879 there was a memorable senatorial 
contest in Wisconsin. The candidates were 
T. ('. Howe, the incumbent, Matt. H. Car- 
penter, who had been defeated for tiie jtlace 
in 1875 by Angus Cameron, and Mr. Keyes. 
Mr. Keyes was very strongly supported by 
tlie members and the Republicans of the 
State. For over 100 ballots of this triangular 
contest he was in the lead, receiving as high 
as thirty-three votes in caucus. Finally he 
withdrew from the contest, and his friend. 
Matt. 11. Carpenter, was nominated by accla- 
mation, and duly elected by the Legislature. 

In 1881 he was again a candidate, and his 
opponent was the Hon. Philetus Sawyer. It 
was thought when the campaign tirst opened 
that Mr. Keyes would be .elected without 
much serious opposition; the party organiza- 
tion was strong for him. and he was sup- 
ported by a large majority of the Republican 
press of the State, but the corporate powers 
within the State, backed by a lavish expendi- 
ture of money, encompassed his defeat; in 
this last contest he received thirty-three 
legislative votes. In 1871 Mr. Keyes was 
appointed Attorney by the Secretary of War 
to represent the United States in the arbitra- 
tion between the Government and the Green 
Bay & Mississippi Canal Company. The 
arbitration consisted of Hon. Paul Dilling- 
ham, of Vermont; e.\-Governor William 
Larrabee, of Iowa; and ex-United States Sena- 
tor, James R. Doolittle, of Wisconsin; the 
latter having been selected by the canal com- 
pany, Mr. Larrabee by the Government, and 
Mr. Doulittle having been selected l)y the 
other two arbitrators. This was a very im- 
portant matter to the Government and to the 
people of the State. It consumed a good 
part of the summer of 1871. the Board of 



Arbitration going over the whole route from 
Green Bay up the Fox to the Wisconsin, and 
down the Wisconsin to the Mississippi, after- 
ward holding session in the Federal court- 
house in Madison, where testimony was taken 
in the case, and the award of the arbitrators 
finally made. The claim was made by the 
attorneys for the canal company, that the 
water route and its improvements were worth 
all they cost, and that for the work, the Gov- 
ernment should pay that much, amounting to 
about §2,000,000. Mr. Keyes made the 
startling claim that the improvement was not 
worth anything, and that therefore the award 
should be for the smallest sum possible, and 
it was made for so small an amount that for 
a time the company refused to accept it; 
Congress finally appropriating about §1-15,- 
000 and succeeding to the interests of the 
Canal Company in this line of water com- 
munication. The people of the State were 
very anxious that the Government should 
come into possession of the works, and they 
knew that a transfer would not be made un- 
less the award was found to be a reasonable 
one, therefore the reason why great effort was 
put forth to bring the award down so low that 
it would not be objectionable to Congress. 
Great credit was given to Mr. Keyes for his 
management of the case from beginning to 
end. 

After Mr. Keyes" defeat for Senator, in 
1881, he retired from active politics, in the 
main devoting himself to the practice of law 
and real-estate transactions. In February, 
1889, he was appointed by Governor Hoard, 
Municipal Judge of Dane county, to till a 
vacancy, and was elected to that position by 
the people of the county in April of that 
year, serving out the unexpired time of Judge 
A. B. Braley, which terminated January 1, 
1893. 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



aii'J 



Mr. Keyes was first married iti the city of 
New York, in May, 1854, to Miss Caroline 
Stevens, who died in 18(35, leaving him three 
children, two sons, Joseph S. and Elisha W., 
and a daughter, Catharine. In 1867 he was 
married to Mrs. Louise Sholes, by whom he 
had one son, Louis R. This union was dis- 
solved by the courts, and in 1888 he was 
inarriedto Mrs. Eliza M. Reeves, witli whom 
he now lives. 



fRANK E. FARIvINSOX, uf the city 
of Madison, was born in the town of 
Fayette, La Fayette county, Wisconsin 
Territory, October 16, 1842, and is a son of 
Nathaniel Taylor and Maria Louise (Briijgs) 
Parkinson, natives of Tennessee and New 
York. 

N. T. Parkinson, a mere lad, with his 
father, settled in Wisconsin Territory in 
1827, at Mineral Point; was a soldier 
in tile Black Hawk war, fought in the 
battle of the I'ad Axe; was the first 
Sheritf of Dane county, in 1S3'.I, appointed 
by Governor Dodge, and built the first Dane 
county jail. He was named '• Taylor," at 
the request of General Zacbai-y Taylor, who 
was a near neighbor of his father in Tennes- 
see, and made him a handsome bequest in 
consideration of so naming tlio child. Our 
subject now has b(_)oks in his law library 
l)OUght with money derived from this Taylor 
bequest. 

Mr. F. E. Parkinson was educated at the 
Wisconsin State University, and received the 
degree of Ph. P.. Studied law in Shulls- 
bure, Wisconsin, in the law office of the 
Hon. John K. Williams; was admitted to 
the bar in Wisconsin and Kansas in tlie year 
1872; began practice in the city of Stoughton 



in 1873, and in 1875 formed a copartnership 
with the Hon Alden S. Sanborn, of the city 
of Madison; was Clerk of Stoughton two 
years, and City Attorney of Madison one 
year; was twice a candidate, in 1880 and 
1886, for Judge of the Dane county Munici- 
pal Court; is a Republican and a protection- 
ist, and for twelve years has been secretary 
and attorney of the Northwestern Mutual 
Relief Association, a most successful life 
insuratice company, of Madison, Wisconsin. 

Mr. Parkinson is of the seventh genera- 
tion of English ancestors settled in South 
Carolina; is a grandson of Colonel D. M. 
Parkinson, who was a soldier in the war of 
1812, and fought in the battle of New Or- 
leans; was aid-de-canip to General ])odge in 
the Black Hawk war; was a member of the 
first three Territorial Legislatures, 1836-1840, 
first constitutional convention, and first 
State Legislature in 1849, and introduced 
the first free, or common-school bill. 

Mr. Parkinsim's iri'andfatlier, H. L. Brin-o-s, 
was a son of a Revolutionary officer, a soldier 
in the war of 1812; was superintendent of 
western mail service, and lived during the 
reign of four British monarchs and twenty- 
two American presidents. 

Mr. Parkinson was married December 23, 
1869, to Miss Nellie I'elden, and they have 
twin daughters, ]\[aude and Eve, now eio;ht- 
een years old, an<l members of the senior 
class in the Madison High School, in tiie 
ancient classical course. 

Mrs. F. E. Parkinson is a daughter of 
Merriwether Lewis and Judith (Marshall) 
Belden; was born December 10, 1843, in 
East AYhately, Franklin county, Massachu- 
setts; came in 1849, with her parents to Illi- 
nois, and to Wisciinsin in 1851, and is a 
descendant of Captain Samuel Marshall, a 
soldier of the Revolution. 



300 



BIOGHAPIIWAL REVIEW OF 



Mrs. Parkinson's ancestors came from 
England with tlie Connecticnt colony in 
1(530, and in 1B40 settled in East Whately, 
and took hind under the royal British grant, 
which is still in the family, having descended 
from father to son chrough six generations. 
The Belden homestead, built in 1765, before 
the Revolution, is still a grand old man- 
sion. 

Mrs. Parkinson is ninth in descent from 
Thomas P'ord, who was born at Salcombe 
Regis, Devonshire, England, in 1580, and 
came to America in the ship Mary and John, 
Captain Squebb; sailed froni Plymouth in 
March, and landed in Boston, May 30, 1630. 
It is written of Thomas Ford that he was 
" a man of property. Deputy to the General 
Court, and a grand juror." 

Mrs. Parkinson is also eighth in descent 
from Captain Ro^er (Jlap, who also came to 
America in the ship ]\rary and .John. He 
was twenty-one years captain of Castle 
William, in Boston harbor. lie has slept 
two centurie.-, in the old King's Chapel bury- 
ing ground, one of the oldest in America, 
and his name, in (juaint old lettering, can still 
be read on the time-eaten tombstone, and 
ahso on the bronze tablet at the Tremoiit 
street gateway. 

Among Mrs. J'arkinson's relatives may be 
found Anna Belden, who imported the seed, 
raised the first broom corn, and made the 
first corn broom in America; John Fitch, 
inventor of the steamboat; the proprietors 
of the Belden and Leonard silk mills; Merri- 
wether Lewis, the great western explorer; 
Dixon II. Lewis, once a United States Sena- 
tor from Alabama; William Cullen Bryant, 
the poet; the Professors Whitney, of Yale, 
Harvard and Beloit; also Professor Elwell, 
of Amherst; and her father served in the 



Florida and Indian wars under General 
Taylor. 



NDREW C. GARTON, a prominent 
I i/K^K resident of Rutland, Wisconsin, was 
born in JMorwich, Chenango county. 
New York, June 25, 1833. His father, 
{ Jolin Garton, was born in Yorkshire, Enji- 
I land, and his grandparents were natives of 
: England, who spent their entire lives there. 
Four of their children came to America: 
William, Mary, Martha and John. The 
father of our subject was reared on the farm 
in his native shire until his marriage, when 
he came to America, accompanied by his 
bride, and joined his brother William at 
Vernon, in Oneida county. New York. The 
latter conducted a flour mill there, and he 
entered his employment and learned the trade 
of miller, rented from him three years, then 
rented a flour mill for a time, later bought a 
mill four miles from Norwich, which he op- 
erated a few years, and then, on account of 
ill health, sold and bought a farm near Versa- 
lia, where he resided until 1843, when he 
emiiirated to Wisconsin. He traded his 
farm for a tract of land on the line of Rock 
and Walworth counties, and there he built, 
improved the land and resided there a few 
years, then sold and came to Dane county, 
settling on the farm where our subject now 
resides, and where his death occurred, Febru- 
ary 25, 1883, at the age of ninety-two years. 
The maiden name of the mother of our sub- 
ject was Rachel Hostler, born in Yorkshire, 
died April 2, 1888. Both parents were ten- 
derly cared for during the last days of their 
lives in the family of our subject. They 
reared six chihlren. The married luxmes of 
the daughters are: Rachel J. Spurr, Mary 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



301 



A. Welcli, Martlia Duiiljar, Elizabeth Hall 
and Doi'oth-y Foster. 

Our subject was the third child and only 
son, and was only ten years of age when he 
came to the Territory of Wisconsin with his 
parents. The removal was made by the Erie 
canal and lakes to Milwaukee, thence overland 
to Walworth county. At that time the Ter- 
ritory had but few inhabitants. Much of 
the land was owned by the Government, and 
was for sale at $1.25 per acre. He resided 
witli his parents until his marriage, and then 
located in Jetferson county, where he rented 
land for a ^evi years, then came to Dane 
county, and in 1877 settled on the homestead, 
which he now owns and occupies. His farm 
has 120 acres. He has erected good frame 
buildings and made other improvements. 

Our subject was married, January 28, 
1851, to C'atherine Green, born in New York, 
October 11, 1883. Her father, Calelj Green, 
was a native of New York, a son of Jehiel 
and Esther Green. The former moved to 
Medina county, Ohio, from New York, and 
spent his last years in La Fayette townsliip, 
that county. He had been a soldier in the 
Kevolutionary war. He was a chairmaker by 
trade, and when he removed to Medina 
county he was one of the pioneers of La Fay- 
ette township. At that time that section of 
country was a wilderness, and deer, bear and 
other kinds of game plentiful. He traded his 
team for seventeen acres of land, which he 
occupied for a time, then bought a larger 
tract, upon which he resided until 1849, then 
came Wisconsin, via railroad and lake to Mil- 
waukee, and team to Waukesha county. He 
stopped here a short time, then removed to 
Henry county, Illinois. He hail received a war- 
rant of hind for services in the war of 1812, and 
with that he secured 100 acres of land in 
that county. Here he built a log house, lived 

21 



for two years, then moved to Jefferson 
county, Wisconsin, l)ought a tract of heavily 
timbered land, cleared a farm and resided 
there until his death, July 29, 1855. The 
maiden name of the mother of Mrs. Gart<in 
was Catherine Clausen. She was born in 
New Jersey, of Holland ancestry, and died 
in 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Garton had a family 
of seven children, namely: Jennje, Oscar, 
Elmer and Edwin are still living. Henry H. 
died at the age of twenty-six years; David 
F., died at the age of four years and three 
months; Charlies died in infancy. Jennie 
married George Ingles, and lives in Mai'sh- 
field, Wisconsin, has two cliildren, Clayton 
and Hazel. Oscar married Ella Smith and 
resides eight miles from Eau Claire, Wiscon- 
sin, and has seven children, namely: William, 
George, lUirt, Charlie, lioy, David, and an 
infant. Elmer married Nellie Willard, and 
lives in Rutland, and has three children, 
namely: Jennie, Sylvia and Berl; Edwin 
resides at home. 

Our subject enlisted in February, 1865, in 
Company II, Forty-seventh AVisconsin Regi- 
ment, and served until Septeml)er 4, 18(55, 
when he was honorably discharged and re- 
turned home. Mr. Garton is a Republican 
in his politics. 

tNDREW S. PARSONS.— The name of 
Parsons is very familiar in Dane county, 
,,, where membei's of that family have re- 
sided since 18p0. Our subject was born at 
Moravia, Cayuga county. New York, October 
12, 1833, the son of Anson G. and Nancy 
(Thompson) Parsons. His paternal ances- 
tors, Moses and Chloe Parsons had a family 
of twelve children, six sons and four daugh- 
ters of whom grew to maturity (the other 



302 



BIOORAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



two died in infancy), as follows: Daniel, 
known as " Major.'' a fanner and drover, 
died at Forestville, New York; Anson G., 
father of subject, died at Oregon, Wisconsin; 
Aaron, a shoemaker, died at Moravia, New 
York; Warren, died while Warden of the 
Anbnrn, New Y'ork, State prison; Reuben, 
died when a young man; John, a Baptist 
clergyman, died on the Mississippi river, 
while on his way to his home at Minneapolis; 
Sally (means Sarah), wife of Solomon Davis, 
died at Garretsville, New York; Susan, wife 
of Griffin Briggs, died at Garrettsville, New 
York; Eunice, wife of Charles Albert 
Wheeler, died at Garrettsville, New Y'ork; 
Harriet, wife of Nathaniel ^Iswort,. died at 
Garrettsville, New York. 

Tile father of our subject, Anson G. Bar- 
sons, was born in Springfield township, Otsego 
county, New York, September 8, 1789, where 
he grew up to manhood; afterward removed to 
Moravia, New York, and followed the trade 
of carpenter. In his thirty-fourth year, Jan- 
uary 8, 1823, he married, as stated above, 
Nancy Thompson, who was born July 30, 
1802, in New Uampshire; afterward lived in 
Maine until seven years old, and then moved 
to Madison county. New York. Slie was a 
daughter of John and llannah (ilealy) 
Thompson, the father dying August 31, 1818, 
in his fifty-first year, the mother at the age 
of ninety-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Thomp- 
son had three sons and seven daugiiters, 
namely: Abigail, born January 29, 1794, wife 
of Aaron Barsons, diedat Moravia, New York; 
John, born October 11, 1796, a farmer, died 
in Chautauqua county. New York; Betsy, 
born November 20, 1798, wife of John Kelly, 
died at Lancaster, Wisconsin; Washington, 
'.)orn January 20, 1X00, a farmer, died in 
Chautauqua county, New York; Nancy, 
mother of our subject, died at Oregon, Wis- 



consin; Seth, born July 30, 1802. twin 
brother of Nancy, a farmer, died at Ann Ar- 
bor, Michigan; Lydia, born October 13, 1805, 
thrice married, — Asa Foster, James Eddy, 
and Ira Knight; she was accidentally killed 
by the cars at her home, November 28, 1892, 
at Gaines, Genesee county. Michigan; Jane, 
born September 13, 1807, wife of Daniel 
Bush, died at White Water, Wisconsin; Clar- 
issa, born January 12, 1810, widow of James 
Bratt, lives at Fenton, Genesee county, Mich- 
igan; Naomi, born June 1, 1813, wife of 
John Felt, died in young womanhood leaving 
two children. 

After their marriage the parents of our 
subject resided at Moravia, where all their 
children were born, the father pui-suing his 
trade of carpenter until a favorable ojiening 
made him owner of a gristmill at Ledyard. 
New York. Alter operating it for two years 
lie had a mill <at Dresserviile, New York, two 
years and another at Milan. New York, two 
years, going West from the latter place in 
1850, making the journey by way of the 
lakes to Milwaukee and thence by team to 
Oregon, Dane county, Wisconsin. Here he 
purchased a small piece of land on section 12, 
Oregon township, upon which stood a small 
log cabin, now in the village of Oregon. 
Here he followed his trade and farmed his 
land nntil advanced age compelled him to de- 
sist, lie yielded reluctantly, as he was a 
most industrious man and had been very 
healthy ;ill liis life. Finally he passed 
quietly away, February 15, 1881, at the ad- 
vanced age of nearly ninety-two years. His 
wife survived him but a single month, she 
dying March 15, 1881. She was a most zeal- 
(lus Christian and temperance woman and 
was bitterly opposed to slavery years before 
the abolition party came into existence. A 
kindhearted neighbor, she ministered to the 



DANE VOUNTT, WI8CCNS1N. 



■SO-; 



sick with skillful hands, and her friends were 
never weary of tellino; of her goodness and 
kindness. First ('oiigregational and then 
Presbyterian in faith, she and her husband, 
who was an Elder, were consistent members 
of tliat body throughout their lives. The 
husband in the early part of his career was 
a Jackson Democrat, but later became an 
abolitionist, and when tlie liepublican party 
was formed in 1854 promptly joined its 
ranks. 

Our subject had four sisters ami a brotiier, 
as follows: Eliza Ann, born February 8, 
1824, wife of Nelson Winston, living at 
Evansville, Wisconsin ; Jane T., born March 
3, 1826, wife of Ambrose Spencer, died at 
Sparta, Wisconsin, May 13, 1858; Harriet, 
born September 23, 1837, wife of Daniel 
Briggs, living at Ironton, Sauk county Wis- 
consin; Josephine, born November 14, 1829, 
wife of Tristram Story, lives at Evansville, 
Wisconsin; Henry, born April 23, 1843, and 
died June 27, 1847. 

The education of our subject was obtained 
in the public schools of New York State and 
AVisconsin, and then he worked with his fa- 
ther at the carpenters' trade until 1856, 
when he went into the mercantile bnsines in 
Monroe county, Wisconsin, for a time and 
then returned to Oregon, to resume his trade. 
Appointed Deputy Sheriff of Dane county in 
1861 he held that oftice until 1864, when lie 
enlisted as a recruit in Company F, Thii'ty- 
tliird Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. 

Tins regiment made a gooil record in the 
Red river expedition, our subject partici- 
pating with it, guarding the Union retreat. 
In the three days' engagement at Tupelo, 
Mississippi, the Thirty-third fought bravely; 
really, at this time and after in tlie forests of 
Arkansas and Missouri and its swamps, pnr- 
suing Price, seeing its hardest work on a ra- 



tion of one cracker a day for each man and 
many of them barefooted, too. After guard- 
ing; 1,000 rebel soldiers from Warreiisl)urg, 
Missouri, to St. Louis, the regiment went ti> 
Nashville and participated in the battle 
which destroyed Hood's army. The siege 
and capture of the forts at Mobile added fresh 
laurels to the fame of this irallant regiment. 
Then they made a march of 150 miles to 
Montgomery, Alabama, traversing a pine 
•wilderness seventy-five miles in length with- 
out seeing a liouse. When the Thirty-third 
was discharged Mr. Parsons was transferred 
to tiie Eleventh Wisconsin Regiment, return- 
ing to ^[obile, Aialiama, and remained in the 
service live weeks longer. 

Iveturning home our subject worked at his 
trade for some time, was again Deputy Sher- 
iff and also Constable and later engaged in 
farming at Oregon, upon a very superior 
tract of 100 acres, which he sold in 1888. 
He now has a farm of 120 acres on Sauk 
prairie, Sauk county, Wisconsin, and four- 
teen acres located upon a mound in the vil- 
lage of Oregon, upon which he resides. 

Mr. Parsons was married August 31, 1857. 
to Louisa W.. daughter of Stodderd S. and 
Patty (Wait) Johnson, pioneers of 1844. 
She was born in Walton, New York, May 3, 
1834, and her father on January 28, 1807. 
The latter early in life was a clothier but 
later became a farmer. He came to Wiscon- 
sin in 1844, and settled on section 1, Oregon 
townsliip, then a part of Madison township, 
where he purchased 160 acres of land, now a 
part of Oregon village and is very valuable. 
At the time Mr. Johnson reached there the 
country was new and sparsely settled and 
Milwaukee was the chief market. Mr. anil 
Mrs. Johnson were married at Solon. New 
York, January 13, 1831, by the Rev. J. Leon- 
ai'd and had six children, namely: Louisa 



3U4 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



W., horn May 3, 1834, wife of .subject of 
sketch; Gill.ert C, born April 16, 1830. 
died January 5, 1873; Laura, born March 10, 
1840, died April 1. 1841; Riley W., born 
September 12, 1842, married January 16, 
1867, lives in Iowa; Isaac S., born February 
21, 1847, died April 17, 1848. The eldest 
died in infancy. Mr. Johnson lived upon 
the band which he had improved at Oregon 
until his death, November 20, 1879; his wife, 
who was born July 5, 1806, having pi-eceded 
him, she <lying June 21, 1872. 

Our subject and wife have seven children, 
as follows: Minnie M. L., born October 2!), 
1858, wife of Harvey G. Fox, of Brookings, 
South Dakota, has four children, — Bertha M., 
Hubert H.. Merl E. and Forest W.; Hubert 
A., born October 12, 1860, married to Mary 
Barker, has one daughter. Burl, is living at 
AVhite. South Dakota; Elmer S., born Au- 
gust 25, 1862, married to Etta Doughty, liv- 
ing at Milaca, Minnesota; Charles A., born 
December 1§, 1869, married to Estella Wil- 
cox, and has one daughter; he is Station 
Agent for the Chicago & North-Western 
Railroad at Afton, Wisconsin; Laura J., 
born January 27, 1874; Ira S., born March 
26. 1876; and Rena B., born February 1, 
1878. 

The political views of Mr. Parsons are in 
harmony with those of the Prohibition party, 
but he was a life-long (radical) Republican 
from the organization of the party until 1884. 
He is a stanch temperance worker and ab- 
stainer, and has been an active member of 
the Good Tem|)lars since 1855, being a char- 
ter member of the first lodsje in Oregon and 
has ever since maintained member.-jhip in the 
order, and is now a memi)er of Capital Lodge, 
No. 1, I. O. G. T., at Madison; lias held all 
of the offices of his lodge and was State Dis- 
trict and Lodge Deputy for years. He is also 



an ancient Odd Fellow and a member of 
the G. A. R., and has been a member of the 
Cadets of Temperance, Sons of Temperance, 
and Temple of Honor. For man}' years he 
was an energetic Sunday-school worker. 

HARLES W. NETUERWOOD.— Our 

subject, the Postmaster at Oregon, Dane 
county, Wisconsin, a prominent Repub- 
lican and a highly respected citizen of that 
county, was born at Watervliet, New York, 
January 14, 1848. He is the son of Joseph 
Netherwood, who was born at Iluddersfield, 
England, in February, 1817, where he grew 
up to the trade of a woolen manufacturer, 
becoming proficient in all its i)ranches. There 
he married Emma liarraclough, born in his 
native place and his companion when he 
crossed the ocean in 1842, and settled near 
Albany, New York. Employment was found 
by him in various mills along the Hudson, 
but chiefly at Troy. Ills skill was fre(]uently 
called into play to get new mills into opera- 
tion, there being but lew of tbcin when he 
first arrived. The great West attracted him, 
and taking his family he proceeded by way of 
the lakes to Detroit, thence by rail to Ciii- 
cago and to Footville, Wisconsin, and to Dane 
count}' by team. Here he bought eighty 
acres in the north half of the northwest quar- 
ter of section 34, adding forty acres adjoining, 
later. By industry he improved it into one 
of the finest farms in the county and sold it 
at a good price in 1883, when he removed 
tQ the village of Oregon, at which place he 
still resides. His worthy and beloved help- 
meet died in 1885, aged si.xty-nine yeai-s. 
Coming to the United States a very poor 
man, by haid work he has amassed a compe- 
tency. He was made a citizen at Troy, New 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



305 



York, and at once allied liiniselt" with the 
Whig party, being loyal to it as long as that 
party liad an existence, transferring his alle- 
giance to the Republican party at its birth. 
In no sense a seeker after public otiice, he 
had, none the less, an active interest in its 
success, doing all in his power for its success. 
Just as earnest was he in his Christian life 
and work, being a consistent member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. Six children 
came to bless his home, viz.: Edwin, a resi- 
dent of llolyoke, Massachusetts; Eliza, wife 
of J. H. Martin, of Chicago; Emma, a teacher 
in the public school at Oregon; Ada, wife of 
J. H. Richards, of Brooklyn, and two died in 
infancy. 

Our subject attended sucli parish schools 
as the country afforded in his youth, until he 
was ten years old, and then went into a fac- 
tory, subsequently attending one term in a 
parish school; and this is all the education he 
received in the State of New York. After 
coming West he managed to go to school in 
the intervals of farm work. He was moved 
by patriotism and enlisted in Company E, 
Twenty-third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry; 
went from Camp Randall to Cincinnati, to 
protect that city from the raid of John Mor- 
gan; saw service in Kentucky; joined Sher- 
man at Memphis and was attached to Creueral 
A. J. Smith's division of the Thirteenth Army 
Corps; made a great march on Christmas 
Day, 1862; participated in aa engagement at 
Haines' Bluff" and in the fight at Fort Hin- 
man, when the Federals captured 6,000 pris- 
oners. His regiment wintered at Young's 
Point, where disease made great ravages, 
large numbers dying as the soldiers patroled 
the river, only 250 of the entire regiment 
being able to carry muskets, the remainder 
being sick or wounded. Breaking camp in 
the spring of 1863 the regiment went to 



Vicksburtj, takinir part in that memorable 
campaign, participating in all the battles, in- 
cluding Champions' Hill. In that fight he 
was picked up for dead, after being struck by 
a piece of iron fii-ed from a cannon. The 
commander of the battery informed him after 
the war that he had loaded his guns with bits 
of a locomotive, broken up for the purpose. 
He di<i not go to the hospital for his wound 
and was present at the battle of Black River, 
although not able to tight. Misfortunes do 
not come singly. On May 23 he was twice 
wounded, with gunshots, one in the lower jaw 
and the other in the siioulder; was taken to 
the field hospital, and on .June 4 was sent to 
Memphis, where a portion of the lower jaw 
was amputated, and was sent home on a fur- 
lough in September. A surge(.)n at Memphis 
told him he could never do service again; but 
after reaching home a surgeon from Camp 
Randall ordered him to the front. He was 
not permitted to remain long, the surgeons 
in active work soon procuring his discharge, 
and he was sent home. After the war he at- 
tended a commercial college at Madison; then 
was clerk in a store at Edgertou one year; 
later tried farming unsuccessfully, not having 
the physical strength, so he returned to 
clerking, at Oregon. An attempt at broom- 
making was a failure, his poor health and 
disabled arm preventing; after which he went 
South, and obtained a jjosition as second 
clerk of a steamer, but being unable to per- 
form the duties of that position, on account of 
physical inability, he was compelled to resign 
and return home, when he was commissioned 
Postmaster, a position he has held continu- 
ously from 1869, except about nine months 
in the latter part of the administration of 
Cleveland. 

Our subject was twice married: first to 
Eva iiedford, in 1866, she being the daughter 



306 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



of William and Elna E. Bedford, and was 
born December 25, 1S4G, dying at Oregon, 
Wisconsin, October 28, 1867; was childless. 
His second wife was Mrs. Lucy H. Gilbert, 
daughter of Mordecai and Lucy P. Sayles, the 
ceremony occurring in 1868. Mrs. Lucy H. 
Netherwood was born January 29, 1841; the 
name of her first husband was Thomas Gil- 
bert. To her and Mr. Netherwood have 
been born six children, namely: Harry, born 
October 18. 1870. a bookkeeper in the Madi- 
son Democrat office; Eva, assistant in the 
post office; Lucy, Pearl, Bertha and Perry. 
Mrs. Netherwood has by her tirst marriage 
one child, Ada, the wife of A. V . Marvin, 
cashier of the bank of Middleborough, Ken- 
tuckv. The political faith of our subject is 
strontjly Republican, and he has been promi- 
nent in public affairs upward of twenty-tive 
years; was Town Treasurer four terms; has 
been President of the village, except about 
six months, ever since its organization, and 
Supervisor of the village on the County Board. 
He is connected with the following orders: 
The Blue Lodge and the Royal Arch Masons, 
having been Master of the former for a long 
time; and the G. A. R., he being Past Com- 
mander of O. E. Rice Post. No. 121. Mr. 
Netherwood is president of the Oregon Man- 
ufacturing Compau}-; is also owner of the 
chief business block of Oregon, which he 
built. 

SUNTINGTON TIPPLE, the subject of 
this sketch, was born in the town of 
Fenner, Madison county, New York, 
February 27, 1822, and was the son of Abra- 
ham Tipple, who was born at Schoharie, New 
York, and his father, Martin Tipple, was a 
former resident of Dutchess county, New 



York. lie was of German ancestry as far as 
known. He removed from Dutchess county 
to Schoharie county and frou) there to Oneida 
county, where lie was one of the pioneers, 
and there spent the remainder of his days. 
The maiden name of the grandmother of our 
subject was Margaret Osterliaut and she was 
of Holland ancestry. She reared seven chil- 
dren: George, Cornelius, Peter, Abraham, 
John, David and Jacob. 

The father of our subject was thirteen 
years old when his parents removed to Oneida 
county, and there he was reared. After 
reaching manhood he purchased forty acres 
of timber land in the town of Verona, Oneida 
county. He was industrious and possessed 
good judgment, hence was a successful busi- 
ness man. In connection with his farming 
he operated a stone quarry and conducted a 
store and meat market. He later purchased 
five other tracts of forty acres, making in all 
six farms extending along one street. He 
resided in Verona some years and then re- 
moved to what is now Verona Center, Oneida 
county. New York, where lie purchased a 
hotel, with quite a tract of land, which he 
platted and started a village. Here he re- 
sided until his death, in 1861. 

The maiden name of the mother of our 
subject was Almira Lounsbury, who was 
born in Fenn'M- and died in Verona, before 
her husband. These parents reared six chil- 
dren: Elias. deceased; Huntington; Andrew, 
deceased; Julia A., deceased; and Elizabeth, 
the youngest. 

Our subject was reared and educated in 
his native State and things were in a very 
primitive condition then. Simple ways pre- 
vailed, and although times were not as when 
his grandfather came to the State and found 
more Indians than whites, with no railroads 
and no means of travel except by the slow 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



•307 



canal routes, still, removed from the great 
centers, life went on very quietly and with 
little cliange. He reuieiubers when wheat 
was a luxury, corn and rye bread forming 
the staples of living, and nothincr in the way 
of groceries were bought for constant use. 
A few of what we now consider necessities 
were kept for severe illness or honored guests, 
but among the early life in most pioneer 
counties the sassafras bush furnished the tea 
and the maple the sugar on most tables. 

Our subject made the best of his oppor- 
tunities for obtaining an education, but he 
was reared to habits of thrift and at an early 
age began to assist on the farm and to make 
himself useful. Until 1843 he remained in 
Oneida county, then removed to Cliautauqua 
county, and in 1845 came to the Territory of 
Wisconsin. In company with Norman Sim- 
mons he started with one horse and wagon, 
intending to drive all the way, Init at Ashta- 
bula, Ohio, he drove into a shed to feed the 
horse and there the latter became fractious, 
broke the wagon, and, in consequence, they 
changed their plans. The second day tiiey 
were fortunate enough to secure a ride to 
Grand river, and there embarked on a steamer 
to Milwaukee, where our subject secured a 
ride with a farmer as far as Rock Prairie, 
where he visited a brother-in-law near by. 
In October he started out on foot to seek a 
home which would suit his ambitious ideas, 
puree and fancy, and came directly to Dane 
county. 

At that time Madison was but a hamlet, 
with only two small stores. The country was 
but sparsely settled and the land had not yet 
been purchased by the Government, and deer 
and other wild game was plentiful, roaming 
at will. He selected a tract of Government 
land in section 7, in what is now the town of 
Rutland, and on foot went to Milwaukee and 



purchased the land, paying $1.2-3 per acre. 
Being single and with limited means he 
worked for others a portion of the time to 
enable him to get his living, and the remain- 
der of the time he labored on his land. This 
did not continue, for in 1848 he erected a 
log cabin, married and Ijegan housekeeping 
in that hnmble abode. However, this state 
did not long continue either, for soon the 
land was cleared, a frame house took the place 
of the old one, and two barns were built. 
Here the family lived until 1864 and then he 
traded his farm for a home and twelve acres 
of land in the villajje of Orecjon. At this 
place he I'esided but a few months and then 
pui'chased a farm at Lake Harriet, in the 
town of Oregon. He has since bought, oc- 
cupied and sold several farms, being success- 
ful as a farmer and dealer in real estate. Our 
subject was active in all of his business in- 
terests until recently, when he settled down 
to the enjoyment of quiet comfort in the vil- 
lage of Oregon. 

In 1848 our subject married Hannah B. 
Kurtz, who was born in Northampton county, 
Pennsylvania, a daughter of Joseph Kurtz. 
Mr. and Mrs. Tipple have seven children, as 
follows: KomanusC, Horatio, Helen, Aman- 
da, Hattie H., PMna and Marian. Mrs. Tip- 
ple is a member of the Presbyterian Church. 
He has been a Repul)lican since the forma- 
tion of the party and attended the second 
constitutional convention, which convened in 
1848, at which he, with another gentleman, 
had charire of the mail distributed to the 
distincruished members at that time. 



tEWIS L. AUAMS, one of the brave old 
pioneers of this part of the State of 
Wisconsin and now a resident of Fitch- 
burg, was born in Charles township, Chester 



308 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



county, Peniisylvaiiiu. July 27, 1823. His 
father, Jolin Adams, as far as known, was 
born in the same place, but the grandfather 
was a Virginian, who had removed to the 
State of Pennsylvania and bought a tract of 
land in Chester county at an early day, and 
spent his last days there. 

The father of our subject learned the trade 
of stonemason and followed that trade in the 
Keystone State until 1825, when he removed 
to Ontario county, New York, bought a tract 
of improved land there and engaged in farm- 
ing until his death. The maiden name of his 
mother was Eliza L. iJavis and she was born 
in Chester county and her father, the grand- 
father of our subject, was named Llewellyn 
Davis, a farmer and a soldier in the Revolu- 
tionary war and died in Chester county. The 
mother of our subject survived her husband 
some years and died at the home of a son in 
Livingston county, New York, and had been 
the mother of eight children, as follows: 
James D., John S., Lewis L., Mordecai, 
Jesse F., Ezekiel IL, Eliza, Letitia and 
Mary W. 

Our subject was two years of age when his 
parents removed to Ontario county. New 
York, and he attended the district school and 
assisted on the farm, residing with his mother 
until 1846. In the spring of that year he 
started oi.t for himself, beginning work on a 
farm and receiving $13 per month, the highest 
price paid in those days. In 1847 be came 
to the Territory of Wisconsin by way of rail- 
road to JiufFalo and by steamer, the Baltic, to 
Milwaukee and then by stage to Madison. 
At that time Madison was a small place and 
the surrounding country was very little 
settled, the most of the land belonging to the 
Government. The following year he built a 
log house and when married there commenced 
housekeeping. There were no railroads and 



Milwaukee was 100 miles away and this was 
the principal market. He paid S150 for his 
land on which he now lives, and 650 for a 
pair of oxen and then had §30 left. Agricul- 
tural implements were needed, but that want 
did not interfere with the labors of our sub- 
ject. He went to work and made himself a 
harrow with wooden teeth and it did the 
work required. Truly he left no stone 
unturned to earn and to add to his store. 
His labor was given by the day or month as 
he seemed to be able to make the most and 
all the time he kept improving his land, 
splitting the rails and fencing forty acres of 
the land the first winter. Now he has 240 
acres and it is one of the nicest places in the 
country, with its neat buildings and good 
orchard and ornamental trees, all planted by 
the industry of its owner. In politics he is 
a Republican casting his first vote for Henry 
Clay. He has been Town Supervisor three 
terms. 

Our subject was married June 29, 1848, to 
Miss Mary Salisbury, who was born inCanan- 
daigua, Ontario county. New York, August 
18, 1880, a daughter of Russel and Susan 
(Uunnel) Salisbury. She died April 12, 1885. 
Mr. Adams has had a family of nine children : 
Mary L., Lewis L., Russel D., Elon A*., Win- 
nifred, Cora E., E. May, Arthur A. and 
Charlie F. Arthur died at the age of twelve 
years. 

Our subject now lives in the greatest com- 
fort after his busy life. He is one of the 
best representative pioneers of this section 
and possesses, as he deserves, the esteem of 
the community in which he has had his home 
for 80 many years. 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



309 



Igc^DWAKD C. SPRECHER, a member 
%. uf the County iJoard of Supervisors 
represeiitiiii^ the town of Burke, was 
born in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Ger- 
many, November 3, 1840. His father, John 

F. Spreeher, was born in same locality, son of 
Reinhard and Fredericka Spreeher. The grand- 
parents of our subject were natives of the same 

Duchy and spent their entire lives there. The 
fathei' learned the trades of brewer and cooper 
and followed those trades in Baden until 
1845, when lie came to America, accompanied 
by his wife and six children. They sailed 
from Havre in the summer on the sailinsr 
vessel, Utica, and landed in New York after a 
voyage of sixty-four days. The father bought a 
small farm in Eden, Erie county, New York, 
where he resided until 1852, when he made 
his way to AVisconsin and purchased a tract 
of partly improved land, in the town of Sun 
Prairie, and there engaged in farming until 
his death, Februai-y 16, 1859. The maiden 
name of the mother of our subject was 
Christiana Deichler, and she passed her last 
days in Sun Prairie. She bore^ her husband 
six children, namely: Fredericka, John, 
Christiana, Edward C., Charles and Will- 
iam. Charles served in the late war in 
Company A, Twenty-third liegiment of 
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He was 
killed at the l)attle of Sabine Cross Roads, 
Louisiana, aged twenty-two years. 

Our subject was five years of age when 
he came to the United States with his parents, 
so knows but little of any other country than 
his adopted one. He attended the public 
scliools in Eden, New York, and later in Sun 
Prairie. As soon as old enough Edward 
Spreeher began to assist his father on the 
farm, remained at home until 1861, when he 
enlisted in September of that year in Company 

G, Eleventh Wiscorisin Vcdunteer Infantry, 



remaining in this regiment for three years; 
was most of the time on detached duty as 
wagon master, remaining in this position until 
the fall of 1864, when he was honorably dis- 
charged on account of the expiration of Ins 
term. lie i-eturned home and resumed farm- 
ing and the following year purchased the 
land, where he now resides, on section 23 of 
ISurke township. On this land he has erected 
a nice set of farm buildino;s and has enriched 
the land until he how lias a farm of 174 
acres of good land. 

In 1866 he married Elizabeth Fessler, 
born in Baden, Germany, Ootol)er, 1842. 
Her father, George Jacob Fessler, was born 
in Baden, there reared, married and remained 
until 1853, when the same year he came to 
America, landing in New York city after a 
voyage of thirty-nine days. From New York 
city they came direct to Sun Prairie, where 
Mr. Fessler purchased land and he" and his 
remained the rest of their lives. The maiden 
name of the mother of onr subject was 
Barbara Spreeher. Mr. and Mrs. Spreeher 
have six children, namely: Matilda, Edward 
G., Carl, Otto, Frank and Jessie. The family 
attend the Baptist Church and Mr. Spreeher 
is independent in politics, but votes the 
Republican ticket in National and State elec- 
tions. He is treasurer of the C^ottage Grove 
Fire Insurance Company and a member of 
the Hamilton Post, G. A. R., No. 208. Both 
Mr. and Mrs. Specker are highly respected 
throughout their entire community for their 
many charming traits of character and are 
worthy of the good fortune they now enjoy. 



jLE H. FARNESS, a farmer of section 
23, Dane county, was born at Farness, 
Norway, November 28, 1826, a son of 
Herman Farness. The latter was a farmer 



310 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



of Norway, and came to Wisconsin at the 
age of seventy-five years. Our subject came 
to America before bis majority, immediately 
after his marriage, on the Lofoton, a Norwe- 
gian bark. May 22, 1847, and landed in New 
York city after a voyage of nine weeks and 
two days. They immediately took steamer 
up the Hudson river to Albany, by Erie canal 
to Buffalo, by steamer to Milwaukee, and then 
came by ox' teams to Dane county. There 
were then no roads, and the cattle had no 
feed but the pasturage of the prairie. Mr. 
Farness came to America in company with 
about l-tO emigrants, and their passage 
price to New York was §22, at which place 
they made a contract to ^lihvaukee for S14 a 
person, and having their own provision, they 
reached this county at an expense of about 
$50. These gentlemen were all stalwart 
young men, and were ready to meet any 
emergency and face any danger, as they 
demonstrated on two occasions. The first 
was in Albany, wiien the vesselraen were 
throwing their chests and trunks and in- 
juring them. They asked them to be care- 
ful, but they heeded not, and these young 
giants seized the men and threw them where 
the}' had thrown the trunks. Again, in 
Buffalo they were going to transfer them 
from the caiial-l>oat to a stern-wheel steamer, 
and their contract in New York city called 
for a side-wheel steamer. They could not 
converse with the men, but as they under- 
took to hoist their goods to this boat, they 
took off the hooks. The men, seeing that 
they were determined, sent for an inter- 
preter, and their goods were put on board 
the good side- wheel steamer. 

After arriving in Wisconsin, Mr. Farness 
purchased 110 acres of Government land in 
this neighborhood, for which he paid 8110. 
The farm ciuitained a small, rough log house. 



covered with shakes, but he soon hewed the 
logs on the inside, erected an addition a few 
years later, and they lived there for twenty- 
one years. In 1868 they moved into their 
present large frame dwelling. At one time 
he owned (320 acres of land, but he now has 
only 310 acres, where he raises about fifty 
head of cattle, about twenty head of good 
sheep, from fifty to eighty hogs, and from 
eight to ten horses, mostly of the heavy draft 
stock, but also a few good drivers. 

Mr. Farness was married in Norway, to 
Gertrude Esse, and they had six children. 
Mrs. Farness, who was born April 13, 1827, 
died January 2, 1859. The youngest daugh- 
ter, a babe of eight months, was buried with 
her in the same cofiin. She had buried one 
child previous, and at her death left three 
sous and one daughter. Herman, a furni- 
ture dealer of Madison, has a wife, three 
daughters and six sons; Lars, a farmer of 
Minnesota, is married and has six children; 
Randey, wife of Sven Gilbertson, a farmer 
near Appleton, Minnesota, has three children; 
and Ole, deceased, was a graduate of the 
Rush Medical College, of Chicago, and also 
of a school in Minneapolis. He was a well- 
known and successful practitioner at Rice 
Lake, Wisconsin, and his death occurred 
from exposure, at Prairie Farm, this State, 
at the age of thirty-six years, and at his 
death left a wife and two daughters. 

In 1860 Mr. Farness married Miss Anna 
Nelson, a native of Norway, and a daughter 
of Nels and Gertrude (Nelson) Knutson. 
She came to America with her parents in 
1852, at the age of fifteen years. Mr. and 
Mrs Farness have lost two infant sons, and 
one daughter, Sarah, at the age of five years. 
They have seven living children, namely: 
Gertrude, wife of Bower Bowerson, a promi- 
I nent farmer, residing in Primrose, Dane 



BANE COUNTY, WISCONklN. 



oil 



countv; Xels, a farmer of Minnesota, is 
married and has one son; Thomas, a graduate 
of the high school of Madison, is now em- 
ployed as salesman in a dry goods store in 
that city; IJetsy, wife of Iver Bovum, a 
merchant of Fillmore eounty. Minnesota, and 
they have one daughter; Joseph, aged seven- 
teen years; Simon, fifteen years; and Benja- 
min, twelve years. Mr. Farness is still 
enjoying good health, although he has done 
a vast amount of hard labor during the past 
tifty years, and the grand increase of the S-iOO 
with which he landed in New York has been 
produced only by hard work, lie is a firm i 
adherent to Republican doctrines, a consistent 
member of the Norwegian Lutheran Church, 
and an estimable and respected citizen. 

(HARLES F. ABBOTT.— It is a pleasant 
thing to meet in life's journey a good 
son of a wortliy sire; to see the virtues 
of the father reproduced in the offspring, as 
the case in the Abbott family. The father, 
Abijah Abbott, was am(.)ng the early settlers 
of Madison, and his death, which occurred 
March 23, 1886, was mourned by a large cir- 
cle of acquaintances and friends. Mr. Ab- 
bott, Sr., was born in Cornwall, Vermont, 
coming of an old New England family whose 
ancestry hailed from the Albion shores. His 
parents lived and died in V'ermont, but tiieir 
son, Abijaii, started out early in life as a 
merchant at Middlebury, later changing his 
business to that of marble arid granite dealer 
at Sudbury, Vermont, where lie remained 
until 1855, when he shipped his stock to 
Madison and established the business in 
which his son is now so successfully engaged, 
located on West Main street. He continued 
to manage his business until within a few 



years of his death. During his entire life in 
Madison he was known as a worthy citizen 
and a stanch member of the Republican 
party. The Congregational Church received 
his hearty support, as he attendeii the services 
of that religious l)odv. His wife, Eveline P. 
(^ Field) Al)l)ott. was also a native of Cornwall, 
Vermont, a member of the okl Field lamily 
that luis been identitied with the history of 
the country for so many years. Cyrus W. 
Field being a descendant of the same stuck. 
This good woman and true wife passed away 
from this life. January 28. 1886, in the 
membership of the Congregational Church. 

Our subject is the only remaining member 
of the family, and was born in this city, Au- 
gust 16, 1858, and on the same day the first 
cable message was sent to C^ueen Victoria by- 
President Huchanan. He was roared and 
educated in his native city, growing to man- 
hood with his two sisters, all now deceased. 
One of them, Ilattie, liied in Vermont in 
childhood, before the birth of our subject, 
while Helen M. and Martha A. died in Madi- 
son. Upon the death of his father, Mr. Ab 
bolt assumed charge of the extensive business, 
which retains the old name of Abbott it Son, 
and is now the oldest marble, granite and 
tombstone lu)use in the city, employing from 
six to eight men ail the time. 

Our subject was married in tiiis city, to 
Miss E. Estelle Ford, born, reared and edu- 
cated in this city, attending the ])ublic schools 
anti the State University. Her father, CJharles 
F. Ford, operateil a m.ichine shop in the city 
of Madison for many years, being a fine 
machinist, and tlu' family has resideil in 
Dane county for a long pi^riod (if time, beitig 
among the first settlers. The mother of 
Mrs. Abbott, Patience (Safford) Ford, was a 
native of New York State, as was iier hus- 
band. They came, while still young, to 



312 



BIOGRAPHICAL US VIEW OF 



Wisconsin, where tliey were married. They 
are yet living, and are worthy, prosperous 
people. Mr. and Mrs. Abbott have had 
three children, namely: George, deceased; 
Ellis P. and Eveline P. Mr. Abbott and his 
estimable wife are both members of the Con- 
eresational Church. Like his father before 
hini, Mr. Abbott is a stancb Republican. 
Socially, he is connected with the A. F. ct 
A. M., and is Vice-Chancellor of the K. of P. 
order. Owing to his menial, pleasant man- 
ners and strict integrity, Mr. Abbott has 
made a large circle of friends for himself, by 
whom he is hijjhlv resrarded. He is one of 
tlie rising young business men of the city, 
and promises to become one of her solid 
men iu the near future. 



UllLANDEii M. PRITCHARD, who 
during his life was one of the promi- 
nent residents of Fitchburg township, 
Wisconsin, is the subject of the present 
sketch. 

Our subject was born October 5, 1816, in 
Otsego county. Xew York, and was the son 
of Harvey Pritchard, who was born in New 
England, of early English ancestry. He 
followed the trade of foundryman in Canan- 
daigua. and Perry, Wyoming county, and re- 
mained there until 1S43, when he came to 
Wisconsin. He made the entire journey 
overland by teams, and bought a tract of 
Government land in the town of Dunn, 
where he improved a farm and resided there 
for some time, then moved to Green county, 
and died at the home of his youngest son, 
near Argyle, in that county, at the age of 
seventy-eight years. 

The maiden name of his wife was Lydia 
Kelsey, born in New England, and died on 



the home farm in the town of Dunn. She 
reared nine sons: Daniel, James, Reuben, 
Levi, Mark, Philander, Lorenzo, Rufus and 
Burton. Our subject was the si.vth of the 
family, and he grew up and was associated 
with his father in business, residing iu New 
York until 1843. In May, of that year, 
accompanied by his wife and two children 
came to the Territory of Wisconsin via team 
to Buffalo, then by lake and river to Racine, 
and then by team to Dane county. He had 
been here the year before, and selected a tract 
of Government land in section 33, in what is 
now the town of Fitchburg. There was a 
vacant log building near by iuto which the 
family moved. It ha^l no door, no floor nor 
chimney, but they hung carpet in the door- 
way. ' 

At this time there was but one house be- 
tween here and Madison, and much of the 
land was owned by the Government. Deer 
and prairie chickens were plentiful, and these 
were their chief diet as far as meat was con- 
cerned. For two or three years there was no 
railroad, and the grain had to be hauled to 
Milwaukee. He soon built a log cabin on 
his own land which the family occupied 
several years, when he built a brick house, 
and resided here until his death, February 14, 
1886. He was suct-essfnl as a farmer, and 
at the time of his death he owned 200 acres 
of land well improved. 

The marriage of our subject took place 
July 10, 1837. to Miss Lydia Guild, and four 
children were born of this union, tliree of 
whom are yet living: Helen, D. Hahnemann 
and Lydia. Helen married Edward Pal- 
mer, and resides in Verona, and has two chil- 
j dren, Levi and Delos. D. H., married Dru- 
I silla Tiramens, and lives in Toledo, Ohio, and 
i has two children, Adella and Fred. Cleora, 
I married B. McManus, but died November 



DANE COUNTT, WISCONSIN. 



313 



15, 1891. Lydia lives with her mother on 
tiie home farm where thev have a pleasant 
place filled with the comforts of life. 

Mrs. Fritchard was born in Otsego county, 
New York, March 12. IS 16. Her father, 
Felix Guild, was born in Middletown, Con- 
necticut, and was a sou of Samuel and Aba- 
gail (Doolitttle) Guild, aiicl a descendant in 
the sixth 'generation from John Guild. (See 
sketch of the Guild family in that of Charles 
Burleigh, of Portland, Maine.) Felix Guild 
was married in Connecticut, and went from 
there to Otsego county, and from there to 
Cattaraugus county, New York, where he 
was a pioneer settler. He purchased land of 
tlie Holland Purchase Company, improved a 
farm and resided there until his death, Janu- 
ary 7, 1839. The maiden name of his wife, 
the mother of Mrs. Fritchard, was Lydia 
Day. She was born in Connecticut, in 1708, 
and died at the town of Ferry, Wyoming 
county. New York, Septemlier, 1839. 

Among the interesting facts connected with 
the life of our lamented subject, we may 
mention the following: He was a natural 
musician, and became very proficient in the 
use of the (darionet. When he crossed the 
Rock river at Janesville, July 3, 1843, he 
paid the last twenty-five cent piece he had 
for toll. He had friends at Janesville, with 
whom he stopped. On July 4 he played in 
the band at the celebration in that city, and 
at an entertainment in the evening, and the 
following day went north to fill engagements 
he had made that day and evening, and in 
three days he returned home witli S45 in cash. 
He and three brothers formed the well-known 
Fritchard band that furnished music for the 
entertainments Ijetween the lake and Missis- 
sippi river. The money earned in this way 
was of the greatest help in their straightened 
circumstances. His mother had ol)jected to 



her sons joining the band, fearing tliat tliey 
might be led into intemperance by the asso- 
ciations, but they all pledged her that they 
Would never taste strong drink, and they 
were all total abstainers. He and wife were 
both liberal in their relitrious belief, and at- 
tended the Universalist Church wlien oppor- 
tunity ofi'ered. 

When the parents of Mrs. Fritchard set- 
tled in Cattaraugus county, there were no 
railroads, and consequently no markets, and 
the ])eople lived principally off the proilucts 
of the land. Her mother used to spin and 
weave, and the family were thus clothed. 
During life the subject of this sketch ad- 
hered to the principles of the Democratic 
party. He was a man well known in the 
community, and every where respected. 



ggSCAR SCHLOTTHAUEK, the County 
Clerk of Dane county, has l)een a resi- 

■^ dent of Madison, AVisconsin, all his 
life, having been born hereabout tliirty-three 
years ago and was educated in the private and 
public schools of the city. Later in life he 
became a railroad postal clerk, running from 
Chicago to Winona, Minnesota. After his 
father's death he assumed the management 
of his business until he was elected County 
Clerk. 

The father of our sulrject was a native of 
Hesse-Cassel, Germany, and was named 
George. He came to the United States in 
1850, when he was about twenty-six years of 
age. He spent two years in New York city, 
when he removed to New Orleans, where he 
resided about four years; then he married 
and came to Madison and remained here un- 
til his death, which occurred in 1880. His 
wife, who is yet living, was Miss Gertrude 



314 



BIOGHAPHWAL liEVIEW OF 



Bacbem, born in the Rhine province, Prussia, 
and came to the United States in 1855. One 
year later she married and removed to Madi- 
son, where she has since made her home, and 
where she and her husband were well-known 
German residents. Our subject is the second 
of three sons born to these parents, of whom 
one, August, the eldest, died in 1S76. The 
other son, Julius, is manager of the Lake 
City House iu Madison. 

Our subject is a strong and active Demo- 
crat, and has always e.xerted himself for the 
canse of his party and for the good of Madi- 
son. As a reward for his industry he was 
elected County Clerk in 1890, and re-elected 
in 1892, and has filled the position in a very 
satisfactory manner to all parties. 

Mr. Scblotthauer is very social in his 
nature and is a charter member of the Lake 
City Gun Club, and is very fond of hunting 
and fishing. He has never married, but as 
he is yet a young man bis friends hope to be 
introduced to a Mrs. Scblotthauer before 
many years have gone by. 



4^-^eN 




iRS. ELIZA BA(:o^", the widow of 
the late Ira P. Bacon, of Waunakee, 
Wisconsin, is the lady of whom this 
sketch is written. She is the daughter of 
Job J. and Eliza (Johnson) Ikin, both natives 
of London, England, where Mrs. Bacon was 
born. There she married George Flatmaii, 
in 1863, and two years later they came to 
America, directing their way to Vienna, 
Wisconsin, where they settled upon a farm 
with an aunt and uncle from Enghiiid, re- 
maining there a few years until Waunakee 
was first started, and in the fall of 1874 they 
removed to that village, which was then very 
email. They bought a lot and built a house 



upon it, intending to pass many happy years 
there. However, March 29, 1875, he was 
accidentally drowned in a spring flood of the 
mill-pond belonging to Mr. Paekham. Mr. 
Flatman was a young man, only thirty-tive 
years of age, and his sudden death was one of 
the sad things of life. Three children were 
left to the bereaved mother: William J., 
whose home is with his mother; George H.. 
a resident of Waunakee, married, and has 
one daughter; and Ernest, who died at the 
age of four years, of diphtheria, in 1877. 

In December, 1877, Mrs. Flatman married 
Judge Bacon. He was a native of New 
York, born atCanandaigua, a son of William 
and (Smith) Bacon. He first mar- 
ried, in New York, Miss Ellen Nettaway, of 
the same place, and soon after they removed 
to Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was a farmer 
boy, reared to farm life by his parents, who 
were in comfortable circumstances, and was 
one of seven children, of whom but one now 
survives. His parents died in middle life. 
Five children were born of his first marriage, 
with whom this notice is not concerned. 

Judge Bacon came to Baraboo, Wisconsin, 
at an early day, engaging in conducting a 
stage line from Baraboo to Milwaukee, there 
being no Madison at that time. Wild ani- 
mals were still numerous on his route and 
there were few white people; and Mrs. Bacon 
remembers the Judge telling how he once 
ran a bear down into a grove near her home 
in the village. He removed to this place in 
1864: and bought a farm. He was an active 
business man, engaged in building and con- 
tracting, using his means and energies to 
build up the town, being one of its founders. 
At his death he owned 300acres near the vil- 
lage, and al.«o lands in other townships and in 
Dakota. For twenty years he had been a Jus- 
tice of the Peace and had a wide reputation as 



DAlfE COUNTy, WISCONSIN. 



315 



a jurist, business coining to him froin distant 
points, parties feeling an assurance of having 
justice done them. A terror of evildoers, he 
meted out the penalty of the law without fear 
or favor. 

The death of Judge Bacon took [ilace at 
his home February 26, 1888, at the age of 
sixty-six years. He had not been a professor 
of any particular religious creed, but was a 
moral man, public-spirited, and liberal to 
all religious enterprises, helping along all 
schemes tending toward the welfare of hu- 
manity. He gave the land for the Roman 
Catholic Seminary and donated liberally to 
the erection of the church. His death was 
mourned by many beside his own family, of 
the latter leaving his widow and one daugh- 
ter, Agnes Victoria, a l)right and intelligent 
maiden, gifted in music, who will receive 
every educational advantage. 

Judge liacon had no advantages beyond 
the common school, but his ability and ac- 
curacy in all legal business was remarkable. 
The legal fraternity in Madison were always 
ready to endorse his every act. He had a 
fair financial start in life from his father, but 
had many vicissitude^; but at tiie time of 
his death was possessed of a fair fortune, 
which has been amical)ly settled among the 
heirs. In politics he was a stanch Republi- 
can, ever advocating what he lielieved to be 
right. 

Mrs. Bacon had the beloveil remaitis placed 
ten)porarily in tlie front yard of the residence, 
but a tine monument in the Vienna cemetery 
is to cover them, and there she desires to be 
laid by his side. She is a lady of much re- 
finement and culture, one of the social fac- 
tors of this little cit\'. 



':^L)S(:)X B. JACKSON, general agent of 
\Wa '•''^ Jackson Refrigerator Company ot 
^^^ Chicago, resides on section 11, in Ore- 
gon township, and his residence dates from 
1867. lie was born in Wyoming county, 
New York, September 20, 1843. His grand- 
father, Ebenezer Jackson, who had been a 
soldier in the war of 1812, born June 15, 
1786, became one of the early settlers of 
Sheldon, Wyoming county. New York, and 
married Betsey Pringle, of Otsego, New 
York, January 22, 1808. He owned a farm 
at Sti'ykersville and also kejit a store; also 
built a hotel at Sheldon Center, which he 
managed for a time, but subsequently re- 
moved to Albion, Pennsylvania, where he 
lived until he died, August 7, 1857, leaving 
these children: Lucy N., Cytitliia U., John 
Lyman, Charles Pringle, Sophia Jane, Kath- 
leen and Julius D. 

The father of our snbject, John Lyman 
Jackson, was born in Riclitield, New York, 
February 23, 1817, and removed with his 
parents to Wyoming county, where he en- 
gaged in farming, and May 13, 1840, he mar- 
ried Phcebe Eliza Turner, who was born in 
Naples, New York, January 16, 1816. After 
nnirriage he settled on a farm in Slieldon 
township, remaining until 1852, when he 
went West, where he engaged in |)eddling 
and also in teaching school, both in Wiscon- 
sin and Illinois. He selected a tract of 
land in Forest t()wnship, Richland county, 
Wisconsin, which he purchased and there 
erected a log cabin, and in 1854 he removed 
his family to Wisconsin, making the journey 
via the lakes from J'ulialo to Milwaukee, 
thence by rail to Madison, and at this place 
Mr. .lackson met his family with teams; and 
as they settled down in their new home they 
became one of the five pioneer families of 
Richland county inhabiting F'orest township. 



316 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



Mr. .rackson represented Riclilaiul county in 
the Assembly of 1860. 

In the spring of 18t)4 he removed to Dane 
county and first settled in Sun Prairie, where 
he purchased a farm, but in 1867 he removed 
to Oregon town.^liip and settled on section 11, 
where he purchased 120 acres of land and 
passed his hist days, dying February 20, 
1891. The mother of our subject died No- 
vember 15, 18'JO. Slie had been a member 
of the Presbyterian (Jhurcli. Mr. Jackson 
had been a member of the Masonic fraternity. 
Tl}ey had a family of two children: Helen 
Sophia, born in Strykersville, New York, 
May 14, 18-11, who married Dr. Charles N. 
Dunn, of Centralia, Illinois; both she and 
her iiusband are graduates of Hahnemann 
Medical College of Chicago, and both are en- 
gaged in practice in Centralia. 

Our subject, Edson 11, was but a boy 
when the family came to Wisconsin, celebrat- 
ing his eleventh birthday by assisting the 
family in removing into the new home. He 
was reared on the farm and attended only a 
part of two terms in school after coming 
West and this instruction was received at 
I3araboo. He continued to reside with his 
parents as long as they lived and now owns 
tiie old place, consisting of 120 acres. Upon 
September 3, 1864, our subject enlisted in 
the Union army and was mustered into 
service with Company 1>, Forty-second Wis- 
consin Infantry, an<l served until he was 
mustered out in July, 1865. The regiment 
wafe engaged in doing provost duty. 

In 1880 his uncle, Charles P. Jackson, in- 
vented a refrigerator and eng6ged in its man- 
ufacture, and in 1881 our suliject went into 
the ijusiness with his uncle as the ijeneral 
agent and so continues. The company builds 
all sizes, from those in iise in the family to 
those used in tlie largest packing houses and 



breweries. Our subject for some years was 
general agent for the whole United States, but 
gives the most of his time now to the State 
of Wisconsin. In politics he is a Democrat 
and is a member of the Oregon Lodge, No. 
51, A. F. & A. M. 

DOLl'U MENGEDOTH. a farmer of 
Dane county, was burn in (iermany, 
in I\>bruary, 1813, the si.xth of ten 
children born to Herman Frederick and Fred- 
erica Henrietta (Becker) Mengedoth. The 
father died at the age of seventy-nine years, 
and the mother at fifty years. Their eldest 
son, llenrv, lived to be an old man in Han- 
over, Germany. 

Adolph, the only one of the family now 
living, came to America and to Wisconsin in 
June, 1848, having been eight weeks from 
Hanover to New York city. In the old 
country he worked at the carpenter's trade 
and farming, but after coming to Wisconsin 
was lir.st employed at the milldam on the 
lake, receiving $12 per month. He then 
worked in a brick yard for tiie following four 
years. August 6, 1851, he married Meta 
Margaret Falkert, who came to America in 
1847, with her parents and one brother. 
The father died in Milwaukee, and the 
mother and her two children then can\e on 
to this place, where they purchased forty 
acres of land, ])aying $3 per acre. The 
mother died in I8s0, at tiie age of ninety 
years. The son, Edo Falkert, is now a 
farmer of Nebraska. After marriage Mr. 
and Mrs. Mengedoth began life on forty 
acres of land, which he purchased one year 
before. He erected a log house, 16 x 80 
feet, to which he brought his bride one year 
later. In 1887 they erected the comfortable 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



317 



frame house, in vvliirli the wife died in the 
winter of 1S88, aged sixty years. They were 
the parents of six cliildren, viz.: Fred, died 
May 22, 1878, aged twenty- tliree years; 
Mary, died April 7, 1880, aged twenty-four 
years; Wilhelin. May 30, 1882; August, 
January 10, 1887, aged twenty-one years; 
Henry, September 18, 1889; aged twenty 
years; and Ilattie, a young lady, resides with 
her father. Mr. and Mrs. Mengedoth were 
both members of the (Teriuan Lutheran 
Church. Our subject has now practically 
retired from hard labor. 



.(^■y. 



M-?i 



flMOTflY ]!R()WN.— In the death of 
fx. Timothy Brown, which, though it oc- 
^J curred more than a dozen years ago, is 
still fresh in the memories of the citizens of 
Madison, the entii-e community suffered a 
loss, which, perhap.s.has not yet been I'epaired. 
Mr. Brown was well known as one of the 
most successful, as well as one of the most 
wealthy men in central Wisconsin. He died 
at his beautiful home. No. 116 East Gilman 
street, IN'ovember 15, 1879. His death, like 
those of many others that had preceded it in 
this city, was very sudden. He had per- 
formed the regulai- routine duties of his daily 
business up to within a few days of his death, 
which was caused by apoplexy, and which 
could not l)e averted by all that human aid 
could do, and after lingering in an uncdii- 
scious state for forty-eight hours, the vital 
spark took its flight. His death was a sad 
shock, not only to his immediate family, but 
also to the pntire community with which he 
had been so long identitied, and by which he 
was so well known and so highly respected. 
He was always a near friend to all, and his 
death could not but cause general sadness in 
the capital city. 

22 



The prominent pciints in this biographical 
memoir have been extracted from a sketch 
written at the time of his death, by the late 
General David Atwood: Mr. Brown was liorn 
at Elbridge, C)nondaga county. New York, 
July 24, 1823. His father, M. Brown, Esrj., 
was a native of Hadley, Saratoga county. 
New York, and was the son of Timothy and 
Betsey (Monroe) Brown, both natives of 
Massachusetts, and both of Quaker ancestry. 
They removed from Massachusetts to Hadley, 
New York, at an early day, and were closely 
identified with the latter place most of their 
lives. They were prominent pioneer settlers, 
and lived at Hadley thi'ough the period of 
tlie Revolutionary war. Mr. Brown was a 
soldier in that war. He was by occupation a 
tiller of the soil, and died when full of years, 
highly respected by the entire community in 
which he lived. Both he and his wife died 
in the Presbyterian faith. Mrs. Brown was 
the daughter of Es(juire and Mary Monroe. 
M. Brown, Esquire, was born at Hadley, New 
York, in 1799, gi-ew to manhood an indus- 
trious farmer boy, and settled in Elbridge, 
Onondaga county. New York, when that 
county was new, and at once assumed a 
prominent position in the newly forming 
community. He frequently represented his 
town in tli§ County Board, and also his dis- 
trict in the Legislature. He was a practical 
agriculturist and died at an advanced age, 
highly respected by all who knew him. He 
was married in Onondaga county. New York, 
to Miss Lydia Parkman, who was also born 
and chiefly reared in Hadley. She was the 
daughter of Frederick and Hannah Parkman, 
of New lingland ancestry, and prominent 
people in Elbridge, where they spent their last 
years, also dying at an advanced age. They 
were prominent members of the Presliyterian 
Church. Their daughter, Ijvdia, after reach- 



31 H 



BIOGRAFUWAL HE VIEW OF 



inir womanhood and iiirtnyiiio; Mr. Brown, | 
was a i^ood wife and riiotlier, and a devoted 
Olirisfian, and tluis it appears that the ances- 
try of Timothy lirown, on both sides of liis 
faniii}', were all highly respectable and Chris- 
tian people. Timothy Brown, when a lad, 
worked on his father's farm and received an 
academic education. At the age of seventeen, 
he began life for himself. He had from early 
cliildhood manifested extraordinary business 
qualitications, was always ready to trade and 
always had somethinoj to sell. 

While yet in his 'teens he took a position 
in a country store as clerk, at Jordan, near 
Syracuse, which was owned by George A. 
Mason, who had married his eldest sister. In 
this position young Brown remained some 
two or three years, receiving but small pay, 
but saving his earnings with great care. He 
then acce])ted a position as bookkeeper in the 
Bank of Salina. llis strict attention to busi- 
ness soon won him promotion, and he became 
first, teller, and then cashier of that strong 
banking institution. P)y his frugality he ac- 
cumulated some means while in this bank, 
and in 1855, having received inducements 
from his life-long friend. N. B. Van Slyke, 
Esq., that promised a better return for his 
labor, he resigned his position as cashier of 
the Bank of Salina, and removed to Madison, 
Wisconsin, where he continued to reside un- 
til his death. Here he became cashier of tlu< 
(lid Dane County Bank, and a large stock- 
holiler in the institution. He remained in 
that position until 1864, when the aflairs of 
the bank were wound up, chiefly through his 
own ettbrts, though not without opposition, 
and the First National Haidc was organized 
upon its remains. Of this First National 
Bank Mr. Brown became cashier and one of 
its largest stockholders. He afterward sold a 
portion of his stock, resigned his position as 



cashier, and was for a few years vice-presi- 
dent of the institution, which was then, and 
is to-day one of the largest banking houses 
in the West. 

In his later years Mr. Brown devoted much 
of his time to his large outside investments 
in realty, of which he held large blocks in 
Madison, and at the time of his death he was 
one of the wealthiest citizens of the State 
capital. His business experience, wise coun- 
sel and broad ideas, were of great importance 
and value to the management of the bank, 
which had grown up under his fostering cai-e. 
In 187U Mr. Brown became the owner of a 
large proportion of the stock of the Gas 
Company, and from that time until his death 
he had almost exclusive control of the insti- 
tution. He took a deep interest in its man- 
agement, and built it up to be one of the 
most prominent enterprises in tlie city. For 
about twenty years he was a ilirector in the 
Madison Fire Insurance Company, lie was 
a member of the executive committee all the 
time, and its treasurer for many years. He 
was also connected with many other business 
enterprises in ^ladison, among them the 
Madison Manufacturing (^ompany, and was 
of material .'service in pron)Oting their pros- 
perity. Wherever extensive business ex- 
perience, sound judgment, and clear thought 
were necessary, Mr. Brown was always found 
efhcient and valuable. 
i He was of retiring habits, and was entirely 
free from ambition for political preferment. 
He always declined being a candidate for 
official position. The life of Mr. Brown was 
purely a business one, and he was remarkably 
rjuick and accurate in all the details of his 
work. Everything was kept in a clear and 
methodical manner, nothing being left to 
chance. Being of such careful and system- 
atic habits, Mr. Brown acquired a large for- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



31!) 



tune, which he left at liis dentli in the sliape 
of i)usiness bhjcks, dwellinij houses, stocks, 
bonds, etc., all of which is being carefully 
managed and made profitable by his widow 
and two sons, the latter of whom possesss 
much of the business ability, skill and tact 
of their deceased father. 

Socially, Mr. Brown was a remarkably 
pleasant gentleman. He was not what is 
generallv understood as a society man, as he 
rather shrank from crowded parlors and as- 
seinl:)lies, but in the midst of a small circle of 
intimate friends he was extremely agreeable. 
He was ever kind to all in distress or who 
needed assistance, and there are many in- 
stances in the city of Madison where his 
wealth has been the means of quietly making 
happy those in need. These services were al- 
ways performed without show or ostentation. 
In his charitable work he literally obeyed the 
Scripture injunction "to let not the left hand 
know what the right hand doeth." He was 
opposed to everything that looked like dis- 
play in doing good. He was a Republican 
in politics, and while not a member of any 
church, usually attended the Congregational 
Church in Madison. 



f HESTER SUTHERLAND, who, dur- 
ing a long and useful life resided in 
Dane county as a pioneer, is the subject 
of our sketch. 

Mr. Sutherland was born in Batavia, Gene- 
see county, New York, January 22, 1817. 
His father, Joshua, was, it is thought, born 
in Duchess county. New York, and from the 
best information at hand, emigrated to Can- 
ada with his brother Isaac in ISOl, and one 
year later removed to Genesee county. New 
York, where they were among the first set- 



tlers. He bought timbered land and cleared 
a farm and spent the last <if his days in that 
county. 

The maiden name of the wife of the above 
good man was Sarah Wolcott. who was born 
in Vermont. She survived her husband for 
some time and came West to spend her last 
years with her children in Dane county. 
She died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. 
Travis. The maternal grandfather of our 
subject was Erastiis Wolcott, who was born 
January 1, 1767, and he spent his last days 
in Michigan. The maiden name of his wife 
was Sally Dunham, who was born March 10, 
1767, and died in Michigan. 

(-)ui' suliject was reared on the farm and 
attended the common schools. He learned 
the trade of carpenter, and in 1841 he emi- 
grated to the Territory of Wisconsin. He 
then visited his farm of 160 acres which he 
had previously bought, but spent the winter 
in Milwaukee, then returned to Madison and 
worked at his trade until 18-15. lie then 
settled on his farm, where he enaacred in 
farming, and here resided until his death on 
June 9, 1889. When he first came here tiie 
country was very sparsely settled, and but n 
few miles from flie capital city land was for 
sale at ^1.25 per acre. Deer were yet plenti- 
ful, and thus the settlers were well supplied 
with meat. There were no railroads and the 
farmers liad to haul their grain to Milwau- 
kee. 

September 21, 1845, he married Miss 
Sarah A. Rood, who was born in Jericho, 
Chittenden county, Vermont, March 7, 1825. 
Her father, Orlin luiod, was boi-n in the same 
town, and his father, Thomas D. Rood, the 
eldest son of Asriali and Lydia (Drakley) 
Rood, was born in Lanesborouo-h, Massa- 
chusetts, December 15, 1767. He married 
Sarah, daughter of James Bradley, v\lio died 



320 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



January 28, 1838, aged seventy-four years. 
In October, 1838, he removed to Chicago, 
lived there until 1842, when he came to 
Wisconsin and resided with his son Orlin at 
Hazel Green and Monroe. 

Asriah Rood was born in Stafford, Con- 
necticut, in 1724. He removed to Wood- 
bury, Connecticut, about 1744. In 1750 lie 
was married to liuth Prime, who died in 
1765. He was married again, to Lydia Drak- 
ley, in 1766. In 1775 he emigrated into the 
the woods of Vermont with a large family of 
small children, locating at Jericho, on Onion 
river and the following year was driven out 
l)y Indians and returned to Woodbury, Con- 
necticut, where he remained for one year, 
thence removing to Lanesborough, Massa- 
chusetts. He remained here till March, 
1783, when he started again for the Onion 
river country. He proceeded to Rutland, 
Vermont, by o.x teams, where he built a raft. 
and drifted down Otter creek, to Middles- 
burg, Vermont, where there was then no 
house. He got his family into a log house 
at West Haven, where he left his wife and 
two daughters, and with his sons and the ox 
teams witiiout wagon proceeded through the 
woods by marked trees to Jericho, where his 
wife and daughters soon joined him. They 
built a cabin, cleared land and went to farm- 
ing. In 1791 a Congregational Church was 
formed. Asriah Rood was elected its only 
Deacon, which office he lield till his death, 
February 28, 1795, when his son, Tiios. D. 
was elected to succeed him, with Reuben 
Lee as assistant. Lydia, wife of Asriah 
Rood, died May 1. 1798. 

The father of Asriaii Rood was a resident 
of Statibrd, Connecticut; was a soldier in the 
French and Indian war, and died at the latter 
place, at the age of eighty-seven. 

The father of Mrs. Snthcrland was reared 



in Jericho and there married and resided un- 
til 1836, when he emigrated West and stopped 
awhile in .Michigan, and then moved to Illi- 
nois, where he took a contract on the canal 
then in course of construction, e.\tendincr 
from Chicago to Peru. During the year 
1837 his wife and four children joined him 
in Chicago. They came by way of teams to 
lake Chaniplain and the Chamjtlain canal to 
Troy and then via Erie canal to Putfalo and 
then by the lakes to Chicago. The family 
spent the winter in what is now the city of 
Chicago, and in the spring moved to Joliet. 
He continued at work on this canal for about 
four years, when the project failed and he 
lost very heavily. He then came to Madi- 
son. While his family lived here he was in 
the pineries engaged in the lumber business. 

Finally the family of our subject joined 
him and they lived there a few years, and then 
removed to Ohio and settled at Cambridtje 
where his wife had inherited a large estate. 
From there he went to Williamsburg, Calla- 
way county, Missouri, and died at the home 
of his youngest son there. The maiden name 
of his first wife, the mother of Mrs. Suther- 
land, was Abigail Geer, who died in the 
town of Jericho, Vermont. Three of iier 
children were reared: Sarah, Anson, and 
Galen. The father reared one son, Robert 
D., by his second marriage. 

Mrs. Sutherland still occupies the home 
farm. She has six living children: Henry 
J., Quincy ()., George G., Albert W., Frank 
M., and Anna E. 

Mr. Sutherland was a successful farmer, at 
one time owning 825 acres of land all in one 
body. Politically he was a Republican and 
filled various offices of trust. He was one of 
tiie three County Commissioners when 
Columbia and Sauk counties were combined 
with Dane. Me also served as Town Super- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



331 



intendent of Schools, as Collector and as Jus- 
tice of Peace. lie was an intelligent man 
and labored hard and spent freely of his 
means to educate his cliildren. All of them 
attended the "Wisconsin University and two 
of them graduated, and all hold his memory 
in reverence. 



^. 



^^•N 



^ 



au^EORGE F. BKOWN,the snl.ject of the 
present sketch, was born in Deerfield, 
Kockingham county, New llampsliire, 
November 20. 1822, and his father, Benja- 
min Brown, and his grandfather, Eni/ch 
Brown, were liorn in the same State, the latter 
at Poplin, November 4, 1753. The great- 
grandfather of our subject was Enoch iJrown 
and was born in the same town. August 8, 
1725; his father, Benjamin Brown, was born 
in Southhampton, New Hampshire, in De- 
ceinijer, 1685; his father, Thomas, in Sea- 
brook, in 1661, his father, John, havincr 
moved to America from Norfolk county, 
England. He was one of the tifty-one first 
settlers of old Hampton, in 1638, and died 
there in 1686; his son, Thomas, died January 
29, 1748; Benjamin died February 9. 17G6: 
Enoch died May 15, 1796; his son, Enoch, in 
1838. This was the grandfather of our sub- 
ject, and he removed to Deerfield and bought 
a farm and resided there until his decease. 

The maiden name of the wife of Enoch, the 
grandmother of our subject, was Abigail 
Stuart, and she was born in the same State, 
of Scotch ancestry. She died on the hotne 
farm May 16, 1840. The father of our sub- 
ject was reared and educated in his native 
town and has always followed farming, hav- 
ing inherited tlie old home farm, where he 
spent his whole life and died July 25, 1866. 
The maiden name of the motlier of our sub- 



ject was Nancy Evans, born in Allentown, 
^ferrimae county. New Hampshire, Novem- 
ber 15, 1785, and died on the home farm 
January 28, 1854, having reared three chil- 
dren; Florinda, George F., and Benjamin S. 
Our subject was reared and educated in his 
native town until he was ready for academical 
honors and then was sent to Pembroke Acad- 
emy. He resided with his parents until 1842 
and thefi went to Boston, Massachusetts, and 
engaged in thegrocery busines.s. In P^ebruary, 
1850, he formed a partnership with two others 
to go to California and engage in business 
there. They purchased a stock of general 
merciumdise, also lumber, had a store build- 
ing framed and ready to put up, shipped all 
aboard a sailing vessel and went by way of 
Gape Horn, arriving in September. They did 
not find a lot that would suit them and con- 
sequently sold their building, which had cost 
them about $400, for $2,600, and then rented 
another building. This building was built 
between two others and consisted of posts 
driven in the ground and boarded up in front 
and back, with sailcloth for a roof. They 
disposed of most of their stock at a ]irivate 
sale and in December auetioTied off the bal- 
ance, and at once started for home. At Pan- 
ama two of them hired three horses, one each 
to ride, the other to carry their baggage, and 
they made their way on horseback to the Cha- 
gres river and there hired a man with a dug- 
out to take them to Chagi-es, on the eastern 
coast, and from there they took steamship 
for New York. There our subject engaged 
in the produce business until 1855, and in 
1856 he came West, visiting Madison, Osh- 
kosh. Fond du Lac, Dubuque, Cedar Falls, 
Waterloo, Iowa, and thence to Illinois, and 
from there he returned to Boston. Our sub- 
ject in 1857 traded property in Waltham, 
Massachusetts, for the fai-m he now owns and 



323 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



occupies and located here the same year. lie 
has placed the land under cultivation, erected 
good buildings and otherwise improved the 
place. 

In 1852 Mr. Brown was united in marriage 
with Miss Meribah Greene Weare, who was 
born in Deertield, Mew Hampshire, her fa- 
ther Meshech Weare, was born in Hampton 
Falls, New Hampshire, March 21, 1757. Her 
great-grandfather, Hon. Meshech Weare, was 
boru June IG, 1713, and was the tirst Gover- 
nor of New Hainoshire. He died January 
14, 1786. This gentleman was married twice, 
his second wife being Mehitabel Wainwright, 
who was boru July 12, 1719, and died No- 
vember 20, 1781. The grandfather of Mrs. 
Brown was a graduate of Harvard College, 
and for nearly thirty years a Clerk in the State 
Legislature, and about the same length of 
time was Town Clerk of Deerfield; he died 
in 1827. The maiden name of his wife was 
Polly Locke, who spent her entire life in New 
Hampshire. The father of Mrs. Brown was 
reared and educated in his native State, and 
for some years taught school. After the death 
of his wife he went to Vermont, bought a 
farm, lived there for several years, and died 
at the home of his son, Meshech Gardner 
Weare. The maiden name of the mother of 
our subject's wife was Meribah Greene, born 
in Deertield, New Hampshire, and died Feb- 
ruary 14, 1822. 

Mrs. Brown was an infant when her mother 
died, and she then lived witii her paternal 
grandparents until their death, and then lived 
with an aunt until her marriage. Mr. and 
Mrs. Brown have two .sons, George Edward, 
and Preston Weare. Mrs. Brown anil tier 
son, Preston, are members of the Congrega- 
tional Church, which is One of the best 
churches in Madison. Mr. I>rown was for- 



mally a Whig, but has been a Kepublican 
since the formation of that party. 

AMUEL T. WORTHING, a successful 
farmer of Dane county, was born in 
New Hampshire, in 1822, a son of 
Moses Worthing, a native of Grafton, that 
State, and a farmer by occupation. His 
father, Samuel G. Worthing, was one of the 
early pioneers of New Hampshire, and had a 
severe struggle in clearing and making a 
home in that rough and sterile portion of the 
State. The privations and hardships endured 
by this grand man and his family would seem 
incredible to the present generation. His 
wife, the grandmother of our subject, was 
formerly a Miss Ingalls, and they had five 
sons and three daughters, who lived to become 
heads of families, Moses, the father of our 
subject, being the eldest of the children. 
The parents died on their large farm at an 
advanced age. Three of the sons chose fnrin- 
ing as their vocation through life, and the 
father cave each a large farm. Two became 
itinerant Methodist ministers. Kev. Jona- 
than Worthincr died in Illinois, and Ezekiel, 
died on his farm in this State. Moses 
Worthing was married in New Hampshire, 
to Anna Sanborn, a native of Uristol, that 
State. They resided on a farm there many 
years, and where their twelve children were 
born, eleven of whom grew to years of matur- 
ity and married. The family emigrated to 
Ohio in 1833, going by team to Buffalo, and 
by water to Ashtabula, but, on account of a 
severe storm, they were obliged to land at 
Fairport. They purchased 250 acres of land, 
which had a small clearing, and where the 
father died at the age of eighty-three years, 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



323 



and the mother tliree years later, aged eighty- 
three years. 

Samuel T. Worthiiii;, the voimgest son of 
his parents' eleven living children, remained 
at home until twenty-seven years, when he 
drove from Ashtabula county, Ohio, to Dane 
county, Wisconsin. His cash capital then 
consisted of a few hundred dollars, with 
which he purchased eighty acres of land two 
miles from his f)resent home. One year later 
he bought IGO acres in Roxbury township, 
going in debt for the same to the amount of 
$1,700, but which he soon paid, and later 
purchased eighty acres more, making him a 
farm of 2-10 acres. After a residence there 
of twelve years Mr. Worthing sold (lut, 
and in 1866, with two good teams and 
wagons, took up the line of march for the 
West, settling on 400 acres of land in Nod- 
away county, Missouri, for which he paid 
$4,000. On account of sickness in the fam- 
ily he remained there only six years, again 
sold out, and with his teams returned to Dane 
township, Dane county, Wisconsin, with less 
money, but more experience than when ho 
left, hi company with his two sons he now 
owns 260 acres of land in one body. At one 
time Mr. Worthing owned 1,280 acres of 
land in Texas, where he intended to keep 
stock. In his political views he was a Demo 
crat before tlie war, but since that struggle 
has been identified with the Republican party. 
Both he and his wife are earnest workers in 
the Methodist Church. 

Our subject was married at the age of 
twenty-four years, to Miss Belinda Sleeper, 
a native of Bristol, New Hampshire. They 
have had live children, as follows: Orilla, 
wife of Orson Martin, a farmer of Chase 
county, Nebraska, and they have four sons 
and one daughter; Ella, wife of William Fol- 
som, of Lodi, and they have one son and 



three daughters: Etta, wife of Giles Martin, 
a farmer of Westport township, Dane county, 
one son and two daughters; John F., a farmer 
on the old homestead, married Matilda Haw- 
ker; and (Miarles Edwin, who resides with his 
parents, and owns one-half of the farm. 
Kraidv went to Nebraska at one time, but 
afterward sold out and returned to his par- 
ents. Edwin irt now twenty-tive years of 
ao-e. 



4^ 



^ 



gLLJAH D. SHOLTS, one of the early 
pioneers of this county, was born in 
Barrington, Yates county, New York, 
August 10, 1821. The father, John, was a 
native of Germany as far as is known, who 
came to America and followed the callintr of 
teacher in Barrington, until he removed to 
Erie county, Pennsylvania, about 1833, where 
he resided on the banks of lake Erie, near 
Girard, wiiere he still followed his calling 
for about twelve years, and then went to 
Texas, bought land, and was one of the early 
settlers of that State. Later, while returning 
home for his family he died among the In- 
dians. The maiden name of his wife was 
Hannah Hanan, native of Rhode Island. She 
survived her husband some years and died at 
the home of her son, our subject, in Oregon. 
She had reai'ed ten children. 

Our subject received his education in the 
schools of New York and Pennsylvania and 
at the age of eighteen commenced farming 
on a tract of Moravian land, in Erie county, 
and lived there until 184(5, when he came to 
the Territory of Wisconsin, accompanied by 
his wife and her brother. The journey was 
made overland, with horses and wagon and 
consumed seventeen days. At that time 
Madison was a small village, and there were 



324 



BIOGRAPHICAL SEVIEW OF 



quite as many log as frame houses. The 
surrouiidiiig country was but little improved 
and the land belonged principally to the 
Government, selling for §1.25 an acre. Mr. 
Sholts remained one winter at Milton Junc- 
tion and in the spring of 1847 came to Dane 
county and bought forty acres of land that is 
now included in his present farm. On this 
land he built a small log house, which served 
as a shelter for the family. At different 
times he added to his farm until at one time 
he was the owner of 220 acres of land in the 
towns of Oregon and Rutland. There were 
no railroads, and he had to market his pro- 
duce at Milwaukee. The trip took one week 
and on the return journey he used to bring 
merchandise and salt for the merchants of 
Madison, and occasionally brought out a 
family of emigrants. 

Mr. Sholts married April 29, 1846, Miss 
Julia A. Searles, born in Lake county, 
Ohio. Her father, Philip, was born, as far 
as known in Canada, where he married Ann 
Minchler, a native of the same place. From 
Canada the J'oung couple came to Ohio, and 
were among the pioneers of Lake county, 
where they bought land, built a log-house in 
the wilderness and in that house Mrs. Sholts 
was born. Mr. and Mrs. Searles spent their 
last days in Lake county. Mr. and Mrs. 
Sholts have three children, namely: Hannah 
E., who married Amos Minger, and has one 
child, Minnie; William, who married Frankie 
Fisher, and has three children, Willie, Jessie 
and Ivy; the third child, Charles married 
Emma Davis, and they have one child, Ilallie 
Z. Mr. Sholts has been a member of the 
United Brethren Church forty-nine years, 
and he is a strong temperance man, and in 
politics Mr. Sholts is a strong Republican. 

Many changes have taken place since Mr. 
Sholts arrived in Wisconsin. Then wild 



game of all kinds roamed over the prairie and 
the Indians came to the doors begging for 
food. Although Mr. Sholts was a very poor 
man when he came to the State he has worked 
i his w'ay up until he is now of the most highly 
re.-pected citizens of Oregon, where he and 
ills wife are now enjoying the evening of their 
lives. 



^• #J "i" '^ '^ 



A N 1 EL I3ECIITEL, an extensive farmer 
of Rlooming Grove to wn.-hip, was born ni 
Laurel township, Lycoming county, Penn- 
sylvania, August yi, 1845. Ills father, John, 
was born near Reading, Purks county Penn- 
sylvania, and the grandfather, Peter, was born 
in the same county, althougli of Cjerinan 
ancestry. The Bechtels were among the first 
settlers of the State of Pennsylvania. He 
was a farmer by occupation and spent his 
last years in Buffalo Valley. The father of 
our subject was reared to agricultural pur- 
suits, but when a yong man commenced the 
business of freighting on the canal, carryintr 
both grain and lumber, later engaging in the 
lumber business, at one time operating two 
sawmills and a gristmill. In 1850 ho traded 
a irristmill for a tract of land, in the town 
of Pleasant Springs, Dane county, and in the 
fall of that year moved here with his family. 
They came via rail to New York, thence by 
canal and lakes to Milwaukee, thence to their 
future home by team. On his arrival Mr. 
Hechtel found that he had been swindled, 
that he had traded his mill for a piece of 
marsh instead of farm land. Therefore he 
bought a tract of forty acres, on which there 
was a log house, in which the family spent 
the winter. In the following spring he 
purchased the farm where the subject and 
his mother now reside. Here he biiilt a brick 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



325 



house and otherwise improved the place, 
residing there until his death, February 5, 
1876. The maiden name of the mother of 
our subject was Catherine Eyer, born in Dry 
Valley, Union county, Pennsylvania, May 6, 
1818. The great grandfather of our subject 
John Eyer, was born in Dry Valley, where 
his father was a farmer and spent his last 
days. The grandfather removed from Dry 
Valley to Lycoming county, settled near 
Henstown, wiiere he rented a farm and 
resided until his death. Tlie maideti name of 
his wife was Elizabeth Wise. She was a native 
of Pennsylvania, where she spent her entire 
life. The grandfather was a member of the 
Baptist Church, his wife of the Presbyterian, 
the father a Presbyterian and the mother a 
Lutheran. The father was a Detnocrat in 
politics. 

Our subject was five years old when he 
came to Wisconsin with his parents. He 
attended school quite steadily in his youtliful 
days, acquiring a gooil business education. 
He always resided with his parents, and 
since his father's death has managed the 
home farm, which he has greatly improved. 
He has purchased other land anil is now very 
well situated. He has always been identified 
with the Democratic party, having tilled 
various offices of trust. For three years ho 
has served as Town Clerk, and for fourteen 
years represented his township on the county 
Board af Supervisors. He was elected Sheriff" 
of Dane county in November, 1882, which 
ofKce he filled the succeeding two years. 

:-¥^.^ILLIAM A. FrrZGIBBON, is a 

\/\k fai-mer located upon section 20, 

l^=^Ki Westport township, and was horn on 

Staten Island, New York in 1850. His tVither 



was James Fitzgibbon, who was born about 
1810, in Ireland, near Limerick, county Cork. 
The grandfather of our subject was James 
Fitzgibbon also. He was a wealthy landower 
in Ireland, where he died at about the age of 
sixty years. He was thrice married and reared 
but three children, one son and two daughters. 

The son was reared well at home, having a 
good chance for learning, but at the age of 
fourteen he lost his fatiier and he had met 
witii losses and reverses. The son started out 
in life at the age of sixteen years, coming to 
America with a few hundred dollars saved 
from the wreck of his father's fortunes. He 
came to this country on a sailing craft, 
consuming six weeks in the journey from 
Liverpool to New York. He had many 
eperiences and traveled for a house which 
dealt in paints and felts, through the South 
in winter and the North in summer. 

At al)0ut the age of twenty-five years he 
married Miss Elizabeth Wilson, in New 
York. She was born in north Ireland aud 
was the daughter of Willian and Elizabeth 
(Clark) Wilson, of Donegal, and she was 
of Scotch ancestry. They came West to 
Wisconsin in 1851, with two children and 
when our subject was a babe. They caine by 
water to Milwaukee and by team to Madisou, 
and very sooti to Westport, where they 
obtained a half quarter section, eighty acres of 
Government latxl, and upon this he built a 
rough loe house 20x26, and an addition 
for a kitchen. They had a brick chimney 
and a large fireplace. 

Subsequently Mr. Fitzgibljon a<ided to this, 
and at the time of his death he had 400 acres 
well improved with a comfort able frame 
house, the same one in which his son now 
resides. He died December 8, 1885, in his 
seventy- second year. His wife survived him 
four years and died in January. 1889, near 



336 



BIOORAPHIOAL REVIEW OP 



her seventieth birth-daj'. They left all of their 
family of children still living, as follows: 
Edward E. is at Phoenix, Arizona; William 
A., of this State; James M. is a farmer on a 
part of the old farm; Elizabeth J. is a teacher 
and a social leader; Ella L. is the wife of 
George W. Taff, at Castle wood, Dakota, 
where he is real- estate broker; Catherine A. 
resides in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she has 
been a teacher and now is a milliner; John 
"W. resides in Woodland, Colorado; Mary T. 
is the wife of Williatn Cullen at Merimac, 
Wisconsin, and Joseph II. is a resident of 
Chicago. 

Mr. Fitzgibbon was reared on the farm, 
but had good edncational advantages at the 
district school and attended for two years at 
the University. He was for five years in 
Government employ on the river improve- 
ment. For fifteen winters he tautrht school 
and was in Kansas, Nebraska, Dakota, some 
three years all together and gathered up much 
experience of life in these places. 

October 23, 1888, he was married to Miss 
Nora Bowles, a daughter of John and Bridget 
(Kinney) Bowles, of Canada, and now are 
farmers of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgib- 
bon began domestic life on a part of the old 
homestead. They have 240 acres, all of which 
they bought of the heirs of the homestead. 
He has been Supervisor of the township, and 
since 1887 he has been Chairman. They have 
buried one son, named William, and now 
have one, James. 

Mr. Fitzgibbon is a straight-out Democrat 
and is a member of the Roman Catholic 
Cliurch and a temperate man. He carries on 
a mixed husbandry, growing mostly corn and 
oats, and keeps about lifty head of horses and 
cattle, and raises about 100 head of head of 
hogs per year. He has a fine range for his 
stock and a good orchard, and has been one 



of the leading farmers of the county, well- 
known and esteemed, and most especially at 
the capital of the State. 



,||OBEKT B. LIVESEY, a retired mason 
and plaster contractor of the city of 
Madison, has been a resident of this 
city for forty-three years. His excellent 
work is shown in most of the fine buildings 
of this city, where for so long lie has had an 
honorable l)usiness career. (Jur subject was 
born in Laucastershire, England, March 1, 
1827, a brother of the well-known contractor 
and builder, James Livesey of this city, also. 
He was not more than fourteen years of age 
when he first came to the United States and 
aftiM- living with the family, both in New 
York and later in Kentucky, he reached Mad- 
ison when about twenty-four years of age. 
He was at that time a practical workman, 
having learned his trade with Kimball &, 
Kingsley, of Rome. Oneida county, New 
Vork, remaining with them for a term of 
three years, and later remained one year 
lonrrer with them. 

Our subject has built many of the finest 
buildings in this beautiful city, among them 
being the Second Ward school house and the 
(lorn)itories of the State University. He was 
the superintendent of the building of the fa- 
mous Walker castle of this city and of the 
old Courteney castle seven miles east of the 
city. Ilis thorough work has been mucii no- 
ticed and has made him a most reliable man 
in his line. Among the old settlers he has 
been held in the highest esteem, as he has al- 
ways done much for the development of Mad- 
ison, being liberal with his means and always 
advocating all educational measures. 

Our subject was married in Utica, New 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



327 



York, to Miss Ann Wliomby, wlio was bom 
near Manchester, England, and came to the 
United States when very young with her 
parents. They settled in Utica, where the 
father, David Whoniby, was for years the 
superintendent of the Chadwick Cotton Fac- 
tory, remaining in charge there until his 
death, when about forty-five years of age. 
His wife came with her daughter to Madison, 
where she died. Her maiden name had been 
Ann Whomby. Both parents were members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Ciiurch, and were 
most excellent people, well i-emenil>ered yet 
for their many kinrl deeds. Mrs. Livesey 
had one brother, Thomas, who was a private 
in the Twenty-third Wisconsin Volunteer In- 
fantry, under Colonel Gutfy, and lost his life 
at the battle of Buzzard Bay, in Louisiana, 
when but twenty' years of age. His remains 
were brought to Madison by Mr. Livesey for 
interment. Mrs. Livesey was carefully 
reared and became one of the best and kind- 
est of neighbors, and was most tenderly 
loved by her family, but death called her 
from them, November 4, 1885, when fifty- 
four years of age. She had devoted her life 
to her children and was a firm believer in the 
faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
She had been the mother of ten children, as 
follows: Cislj J., who died in infancy; Sam- 
uel, a successful brickmason located at Wona- 
woc, Wisconsin, for a time, but now is en- 
gaged in putting in the boiler foundations 
for Pierce & Co., of Chicago, Illinois; he 
married Miss Nora White; Leonard J., is a 
plasterer and lives in Madison, marrying 
Miss Carrie Clemens, whose father was a 
member of the Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry, and after serving four years died on 
his way home; Robert Briggs, married, with 
wife and one child; Anna, married Leonard 
Pashley, of Marshall Field & Co., where he is 



one of the foremen in the big Chicago tirm; 
Lizzie, is the wife of Frank Gleason and now 
lives in Chicago, where he is the head engi- 
neer for the Pinkerton block; Ida is the wife 
of Earnest Schuloii', now train dispatcher of 
the Wisconsin Central railroad of the St. 
Paul line; John lives at home; Ilattie is at 
home and keeps house for her father, and 
Prentice is also at home. All of the chil- 
dren have been educated in the excellent city 
schools, and all of them are capable of taking 
care of themselves. 

Mr. Livesey is a prominet member of the 
I. O. (). F., having been a member foryeai-s, 
and is Past Grand and Past Patriarch of the 
Encampment, having been in all of the otEces 
of the Supreme Lodge and Encampment. 
During the war he entered the army at first 
as a mechanic, but later saw nine months of 
active service and assisted in driving (generals 
Hood, later Wheeler, and still later Forrest, 
back after their attempts to press North, and 
during four months he was Captain of his 
company, having built two six-gun batteries 
and having; ciuirge of §1,000,000 worth of 
commissary supplies and 100 railroad en- 
gines. He was made Captain of the com- 
pany, which was sent out by Governor John- 
son, of Tennessee. 

Mr. Livesey lives in peaceful comfort, af- 
ter a busy and useful life and enjoys the es- 
teem of all the citizens of this city, to wiiom 
his name is very familiar, being connected 
with 80 many of the pivmiinent buildings. 



J^UGENE EIGHMY, now living, retired 
°cBL ill a beautiful home in the city of 
bpi Madison, is our subject. He was born 
in Catskill, New York, in 1831, and came to 
the township of Oakiield, in Genesee county, 



3S8 



BIOGRAPUIOAL HE VIEW OF 



when a mere child with his parents. lie 
was educated at Cary Seminary. In 1855 he 
emigrated to Dane county, Wisconsin. He 
is the son of Jacob and Permelia (Dennis) 
Eichniv. His father was born in New 
Yorlv and by trade was a harnessmaker and 
saddler, but when he located in Genesee 
county he engaged a part of his time in agri- 
culture. He was an industrious and worthy 
citizen, a Whig in politics and a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died 
when some seventy years of age. He was 
married in the eastern part of the Empire 
State to Miss Permelia Dennis. She was 
born in New York of good parentage. Slie 
died a few years before her husband. She 
had been a good and worthy woman, a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Ohurch, a 
kind neighbor and friend. 

Our subject is the third in a family of 
eight children, seven of whom are yet liv- 
ing; three are yet in Genesee county, New 
York, and four are living in Dane county, 
Wisconsin, and all are married and prosper- 
ous. Our subject became of age after com- 
ing to Wisconsin, but later returned to his 
native State to marry. Mr. Eigluny first 
came to the State of Wisconsin and located 
in Madison in 1855, but in the spring of 
1856 he removed to Macfarland, Dunn 
township, where he engaged in the grain 
and lumber trade; he also improved large 
tracts of land near Macfarland. In 1872 he 
started a general merchandise store, carry- 
inc it on with success until 1890, when he 
retired from business and located in the city 
of Madison. He still owns some valuable 
property in the town of Dunn and vicinity 
of Macfarland. He was a social business 
man and has many friends there. In 1801 
and 1862 he was Treasurer of the town of 
Dunn, and has held other offices at various 



times. F'or eight years was Postmaster of 
Macfarland, resigning the position when he 
came to Madison. Here he built a tine resi- 
dence on one of the best streets of the city, 
and is located at 241 Lang-don street, where 
he enjoys the comforts of modern life. 

Our subject married Miss Sarah M. 
Johnson, who was born and reared in 
Batavia, Genesee county. New York. Her 
parents were Stephen and Rebecca (Palmer) 
Johnson; her father was born in Connecticut 
and her mother in New York and died when 
about seventy years of age. They were 
highly esteemed people and were known as 
pioneers of Genesee county. Mrs. Eighmy 
was one of a family of tliree sisters; was 
educated at Cary Seminary, and is a lady of 
intellect and fine education and culture. 
Two children have been born to our subject 
and wife. One, Nellie May, died at the 
age of twenty-two years. She had been 
thoroughly educated at Madison and was a 
sweet and charming young lady, whose death 
caused a pall to fall on relatives and friends. 
The living daughter is Eugenia Belle, edu- 
cated in this city, a bright and accomplished 
young lady. 

Mr. and Mrs. Eighmy are attendants of 
the Presbyterian Church. 

In politics our subject is one of the stanch 
Republicans, who take an active interest in 
public affairs without desiring any official 
recognition. Such men make up the bone 
and sinew of the party. Our subject is yet 
in the prime of life, genial and pleasant. 



-»i- 



•^S*^ 



G. KROGH, a hardware merchant of 
Mount Iloreb, isa son of Casper Krogh, 
** a native of Christiania, Norway. The 
latter was an expert mechanic, having been 



DANE COUNTY, WISGON'iTN. 



;«9 



engaged in intricate work from making a sur- 
geon's needle to a sword. His skill induced 
some of his friends to assist him with sufK- 
cient funds to commence business for himself 
and with their aid located in Drammen, cm- 
ploying six workmen. His reputation soon 
brought work long distances, and during five 
years there he received several ditiicult but 
valuable jobs from England. Wishing still 
to better his condition, at tiie age of thirty- 
one Years, in 1843, he came by sailing vessel 
to America, spending thirteen weeks on the 
voyage, and during that time they suffered 
greatly for the want of fresh water. He landed 
in New York. Having been well educated 
in both German and English, he acted as in- 
terpreter on his way to Milwaukee. He re- 
mained in that city a short time, then worked 
at his trade in Waterford, Racine county, 
Wisconsin, five years, at which time he con- 
tracted the ague. After his recovery Mr. 
Krogh bouglit the sawmill at Cloburn's Mills, 
JefEerson county, for which he went in delit 
about $2,500. He conducted this mill suc- 
cessfully twelve years, then erected a grist- 
mill and purchased a farm of 200 acres. He 
remained on that place until his death, which 
occurred in 1883. He was married in Norway 
to Katrina Nelson, whose father came three 
years later to America, where the latter after- 
ward died. To this union was born eleven 
childi'en, namely: Katrina Andrea, now Mrs. 
Anton Nelson, of Kimbrae, Nobles county, 
Minnesota; Barnard J., of (Jambridge, Wis- 
consin; Feterene, deceased in infancy; Peter 
G., our subject; Albert H., who died in Cam- 
bridge; Cornelius, of Hancock county, Iowa; 
Charlotte, of Blair, Nebraska; Carl ()., of 
Newman's Grove, that State; Herman, de- 
ceased in infancy; Caspara .T., of Minnesota; 
and Henrietta, now Mrs. Simon Christiansen 



of Bode, Humboldt county, Iowa. The motlier 
died in 1887. 

Peter G. Krogh, the subject of this sketcii, 
was born in Drammen, Norway, March 6, 
1843, and came to America witii his parents 
when eleven weeks old. During his early life 
he worked with his father and attended the 
common schools, supplemented by three 
terms at the high school at Waterloo. At 
the age of twenty-one years he entered the 
army, joining Company II, Forty-second 
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, having been 
the third of his family to enlist. He was 
first ordered to Indiana, tlien to Missouri, 
thence to Kentucky, engaged principally in 
guard duty. He took part in various guer- 
rilla warfare, i)ut participated in no noted 
battles, and during the latter part of the war 
suffered greatly from sickness. After return- 
ing home Mr. Krogh opened a plow shop at 
Kroghville, which place was named in honor 
of his father, and continued that business suc- 
cessfully for sixteen years. In that year he 
came to Mount Horeb and engaged in the 
hardware business, and also seiwed as Post- 
master until Cleveland's administration. In 
1889 he was unanimously elected as Chairman 
of the Board of Supervisors of the township 
of Blue Mounds, was re-elected in ISOt), and 
the following year refused to Ije a candidate 
for the office on account of not wishing to 
neglect his business. Socially he is a mem- 
ber of the G. A. li., and for tlie past five 
years has served as Post Commander of Rev. 
Di.xon Post. 

Mr. Krogh was married in the Western 
Church, at Koshkonong, Wisconsin, in 1871, 
to Christine Anderson, a native of Pleasant 
Spring township, Dane county. Her father, 
a native of Sweden, is now deceased, and the 
mother, a native of Norway, resides on the 
old homestead in Pleasant Spring township. 



330 



BlUUUAl'JllUAL HE VIEW OF 



Onr subject and wife liave one child, Clar- 
ence Alfred, aged seventeen years, who is now 
attending school at Black Earth. Mr. Krogh 
is a pleasant gentleman, and a respected citi- 
zen. 

fULIUS JOHNSON, proprietorof a meat 
market in Stougliton, Dane connty, was 
born in Crogry, Norway, December 2, 
1S40, a son of John anil Ellen Johnson, na- 
tives also of that country. In 1844 the par- 
ents came to America, locating in Albion, 
Dane connty, Wisconsin, where the father 
purchased a farm of sixty acres from the Gov- 
erntnent, paying $1.25 per acre. They were 
the parents of six children, our subject being 
the third child, and four are now livinif. One 
son, J. B. Johnson, was born in Dane county, 
Wisconsin, where he still resides. The fa- 
ther died in 1847, and the mother in 1887. 
Julius Johnson, the subject of this sketch, 
received only a limited education, and was 
engaged at farm work until twenty-eight 
years of age. He then engaged in buying 
stock, in which he lost all he had, and also 
§500 more. At the age of thirty years he 
opened a meat market in this city, in com- 
pany with a Mr. Emmerson, but since 1872 
lie has conducted the business alone. With 
the exception of one year, Mr. Johnson luis 
continued this business for twenty years. In 
181)1 he began buying live-stock and tobacco, 
liavins bought several thousand dollars worth 
of the latter article, of which he is now tend- 
ing a small field. Politically lie atiiliates with 
the Republican party, and has served as Al- 
derman and Constable of Stoughton. 

Mr. Johnson was married in December, 
1868, to Sophia Anderson, who was born in 
Norway, December 30, 1850, a daughter of 
Andrew Anderson, a farmer by occupation. 



Both he and his wife are now deceased. Mr. 
and Mrs. Johnson have had si.x children, viz.: 
Luvina and Alvina, twins, the former twenty- 
three j'ears of age, and the latter deceased at 
the age of ten months; Lettie, twenty-one 
years old; Willis, seventeen; Ellen, live; and 
Julius Harrison, four. 



^ 



1*^ILLIAM A. CLELAND, the subject 
•\/\T\ "f tl'is brief notice, is the son of 
i"~„^ William Cleland, who was the sixth 
child of his parents, and was born in Scot- 
land, December 30, 1805. In April, 1843, 
he left his native home. He had received a 
jrood education there, but decided that in 
America there was more chance for advance- 
ment; hence he set sail, and after a voyage of 
twenty-one days he reached this country. 
He bought eighty acres of land in Rock coun- 
ty, Wisconsin. This was all wild, but he built 
a shanty njion it, and began its improvement. 
Here he remained for four years, making im- 
provements, breaking the land and building. 
In 1847 he moved to the town of York, and 
that spring he bought a Government claim 
of 120 acres, twelve of which were broken, 
and there was a log cabin upon the place, 
which had a sod roof, built by the squatter. 
Into this shelter the father of our subject 
moved, and lived there for a number of years, 
and then built another log house, or block 
house, which still stands. 

This land is located upon section 'J, York 
township. After twelve years of residence in 
the block house, Mr. Cleland built the house 
now occupied by his son. The marriage of 
William Cleland took place in Scotland in 
1842 to Miss Barbara Cochran, wlu) was a 
native of Scotland, and seven cliildn'ii have 
been added to the family: Barbara F., de- 



DANK VOUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



331 



ceased; John C, a resident of Fremont, Ne- 
braska; Mary, deceased; Janet C, at lionie; 
William A.; James, deceased; and Francis, 
deceased. The mother died May 27, 1883, 
but the father is still spared and lives with 
his son, William A. 

William A. was the tifth child, and was 
born on the farm June 7, 1851, and received 
his education in the common schools, where 
he passed his time to good advantage, and 
has always remained with his father. The 
latter owns the farm of 280 acres, well im- 
proved, and William manages it with great 
success. At present he is Chairman of the 
Board of Supervisors, has been a member of 
this board for many years, and is now serving 
a second term. Politically, he is a Republi- 
can, although the town is Democratic. John 
C. is in the stock business in Nebraska, and 
is secretary of the Hoard of Trade there. 

Onr subject married Miss Fanny Cleve- 
land, whose people were from Ohio. l]eisa 
young man of promise. He has added to his 
farm a herd of Hereford cattle, and has some 
fine specimens of the breed. The place is 
among the most attractive in the neighbor- 
liood, having a park in front of the house, 
with a diveririntr circle full of beautiful trees. 



-^tte 



^^|RS. LYDIA L. EOYCE, widow of 
llfy/m Morgan L. lioyce, was burn in Liv- 
^^^' ingston county. New York, a daugh- 
ter of John C and Louisa (Latnotit) Wilkins, 
the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the 
latter of Schoharie county. New York. In 
1850 the parents came from Livingston 
county, New York, to Wisconsin. Mrs. 
i^oyce was then a young lady of si.xteen 
years. With their four daughters they set- 
tled on forty acres of land, one mile west of 



Dane station. Five years later they sold 
their little home, and came to what was then 
called 100-Mile Grove, where they purchased 
forty acres; afterward lived with their son- 
in-law near by: ami next moved to Lodi, 
where they are still living, the fatlier aged 
eighty-two years, and the mother, seventy-two 
years. They reared the following children: 
Mrs. Boyce, subject of this sketch ; Ger- 
trude, wife of Daniel McDonald, a retired 
farmer of Arlington townsliip; Cacendi'a, 
wife of Henry Bissell, of Morrisonville, 
Wisconsin; and Augusta, wife ol' Daniel 
Stanley, of Lodi. 

Mrs. Lydia Boyce received a common dis- 
trict school education. She was married 
to Morgan Boyce, in her nineteenth year. lie 
was the aext youngest of twelve or thirteen 
children, a son of Aliram Boyce, and a 
brother of Asa A. Boyce. (A sketch of the 
latter will be found in this work.) Mr. 
Boyce was a faithful servant of his township, 



having served as Justice of tiie Pe; 



ice many 



years, both before and after his nuirriaoe, 
and was a Democrat in his political views. 
His death occui-red January 7, ISSl, at the 
age of tifty-seven years. Our subject has 
resided on her farm of 280 acres since her 
marriage, but she lately disposed of a part 
of this tract, now owning only about 170 
acres. She has a fine orchard of apple and 
cherry trees, tiie most of which were planted 
by her husband. At his death she was left 
witii two sons and one daughter: Arthur W., 
born in November, 1802; Frank M., born 
in 1868, attended the Business College in 
Indiana, and is nciw residing in the South, 
where he enjoys better health; and Mary L., 
a young lady of thirteen years, who is at- 
teniling school, and also pursuing the study 
of music. Arthur has remained on the 
home farm, of whicli he now owns a part. 



332 



BIOORAPHJCAL REVIEW OF 



He was married in January, 1890, to Rose 
Patton, who was born in Columbia county, 
Wisconsin, a daughter of John and Juliette 
(Converse) Patton, the former a native of 
Scotland, and the latter of Wisconsin. Mr. 
and Mrs. Arthur Boyce have one little 
daughter, a year old, and the only grandchild 
of our subject. 



(HPJSTIAN R. STEIN, a leading Ger- 
man citizen of Madison, has been a res- 
ident of the city since 1854. He was 
born in the province of Baden, Germany, March 
8, 1829, and reared in the practical German 
way. When nineteen years of age he set 
sail for the United States from Havre de 
Grace, on the sailing vessel, St. Dennis, ar- 
riving in New York city after a voyage of 
thirty-two days. After spending some time 
in Rochester, New York, he came on to Mil- 
waukee. In 1852 he started out all alone 
for California, going via the Nicaragua 
route, landing in San Francisco, from where 
he proceeded to Ilangtown; thence back to 
Sacramento again, and finally to Weaver- 
ville. Trinity county, where he engaged in 
mining on East AVeaver creek, being very 
successsful, having the best mine on the 
entire creek. After about eighteen months, 
with his belts well tilled with glittering dust, 
he set his face toward home, but when he 
reached San Francisco he was attacked by 
highwaymen who were leading him to a sup- 
posed hotel. Taking in the surroundings he 
saw that he was being led into a trap, so 
made good use of a pair of strong arms, 
knocked down several of his assailants, made 
his way into the street, where he was sur- 
rounded again. lie had [)art of his money 
in a belt around his body, which they did not 



discover, and only five dollars in his pocket- 
book, and agreed to let them have that if they 
let him go, which they did. He made his 
way back to New York, thence to Milwaukee, 
reaching there in the fall of |1853. The fol- 
lowing spring he came to Madison. 

Mr. Stein is the first and only one of his 
family to come to America, his emigration 
being caused by the revolution of 1848, in 
which he was a volunteer. His father, God- 
fried Stein, was a well-to-do baker, who died 
in his native land, at about the age of three 
score and ten. His wife, Conigund (Weis) 
Stein, died about ten years before her hus- 
band, aged sixty years. They were both 
members of the Catholic Church. One 
brother of our subject, Conrad, is yet living 
in Germany, being the successor to his father's 
business. Another l)rother, Valentine, died 
about two years ago. He was a prominent 
lawyer in his native town. Four sisters, 
Teckla, Theresa, (ilara and Barbara, are all 
married arid have families in (iermany. Since 
Mr. Stein came to this country he has made 
five trips back to his native land to visit his 
old home. 

After coming to Aladison in the spring of 
1854, Mr. Stein l)e<ran tlie manufacture of 
soaj), but after several years he estab- 
lished a grocery store on East Washing- 
ington avenue, continuing to operate tiie 
same for about twenty years. At the same 
time he was engagetl in the lumber business 
under the firm name of Moore & Stein. 
After a few years Mr. Stein bought his part- 
ner's interest, continuing it on his own ac- 
count for about ten years, when he associated 
Mr. A. II. Kayser and William Woiskopf, 
his sons-in-law, with him, under the firm 
name of C. R. Stein ct Co. They carry all 
kinds of soft ami hard luml)er lor general 
house-furnishing supplies, and have one of 



UANE OOITNTT, WTSCONSTN. 



33! 



the large8t trades in the city. In adilition 
they have a yard in Paoli, Wisconsin. Dur- 
ing his residence here Mr. Stein has, heen 
one of the live, energetic Germans of the 
city, and a leader of the people of his 
nationality in the place. He takes an active 
interest in local matters that have for their 
object the betterment of the community. He 
is also the proprietor of a large elevator man- 
ufactory located at Milwaukee, under the 
nianagetnent of his son-in-law, P. H. Brod- 
esser, known as the Brodesser Manufacturing 
Company. This establishment employs from 
fifty to sixty men all tiie time. When our 
subject came to Madison he had lost nearly 
everything, and is now one of her wealthiest 
citizens. 

Mr. Stein has served one term as Aider- 
man in the (-ommon Council of the city; is 
a memljer of the Madison Business Club, 
the Freemasons and Knights of Pythias, and 
organized the order of Druids in Madison, 
known as Madison Grove, No. 4, in 1857; 
he was also a member of the old tire com- 
pany, when hand engines were used. 

Our subject was married in Milwaukee, 
about 1853, to Miss Frankie Baumann, who 
was born, reared and educated in Baden, 
Germany, coming to the United States in 
1853. She died at her home in Madison, 
in 1889, November 24, aged fifty-eight. 
During her lifetime she proved herself a true 
woman in every sense of the word. Xhe 
Catholic Church had in her a faithful mem- 
ber. To the several children liorn to her 
husband and herself she has proved herself 
a kind and indulgent mother. Their names 
were as follows: Teckla, widow of Fritz Ren- 
ter, who died eleven years ago in this city, 
successful business man; Iledwig, wifeof A. 
H. Kayserof the C. li. Stein Company, in the 
wholesale lumber business, and secretary of 

23 



the Madison Lumber Company ; liertlia, wife 
of William Weiskopf of the C. U. Stein 
Lumber C'ompany, in the retail lumber trade: 
Ottilia, wifeof P. IL Brodesser, manager and 
secretai-y of the Brodesser Manufacturing 
Company; Ida, wife of Emil Meyer, a 
wholesale liquor dealei- on East Chicago 
avenue, Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Stein enjoys 
the respect and esteem of all who know him, 
and his family of daughters are a credit to 
him. 

tAFAYETTE STOWE, one of the early 
settlers and most successful farmers of 
Dane county, was born in Chazy, Cliur 
ton county. New York, April 24, 1824. His 
father, Stephen Stowe, was born at Point 
Rush, New York, and liis father, cfi-aiidfather 
of subject, Abijah Stowe, was a farmer by 
occupation, who removed from New York to 
Ohio and spent his last years in that State. 
The father of our subject was reared to agri- 
cultural life and remained a resident of Clin- 
ton county, until 1850, when he came to Wis- 
consin and bought a farm in Windsor, Dane 
county, where he remained a number of 
years, and theri removed to Sun Prairie, and 
lived retired until his death. The maiden 
nan;e of his wife was Annie DeLong, who 
was born in Clinton county, New York, and 
her father, Francis DeLong, was formerly a 
resident of North Carolina, born of French 
parents or ancestry. He was a farmer and 
spent his last years in New York. The 
maiden name of his wife, grandmother of 
subject, was Polly Doody, who was, as far as 
known, a native of New York, where she 
spent her entii-e life. The mother of our 
subject died on the home farm in Windsor. 
As the parents of our subject wei'e in lim- 
ited circumstances he was obliged to com- 



334 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



iiiem-e life for liiinself very early, beginninj; 
when fourteen or fifteen years of age to work 
out by tlie (biy or niontli. At that time the 
iron mines of the country were worked very 
little, although labor was very cheap, men's 
wages ranging from forty to fifty cents per 
day. EncrJand supplied the country with 
nearly all its iron and that commodity was 
very expensive. Mr. Stowe relates that the 
irons for a wagon cost §(35 and this state of 
things existed under free trade. 

Mr. Stowe continued working by the day 
and month in Xew York, until 1847, when 
he concluded to emigrate westward, as it was 
very difficult to become rich on the meager 
wajres he was receiving. His first emigration 
was to Ohio, going via the St. Lawrence 
river, Lake Ontario, Welland canal and lake 
Erie to Cleveland. lie found employment 
on a farm near that city and remained in 
that vicinity until 1850, wlien he came to 
Wisconsin, via lake Erie to Detroit, thence 
via rail to Buffalo, on the lake, via Chicago 
to Milwaukee. He there loaded his goods 
on a wagon and drove to Dane county, ar- 
riving December 14, 1850. After he had 
been here about two weeks he bought a tract 
of land in the town of Bristol, at §2.50 an 
acre. The improvements on this place con- 
sisted of a small frame house, without lath 
or plaster, an<i twenty acres of broken land. 
Mr. Stowe marketed at Milwaukee, drawing 
his goods in an ox team. The journey con- 
sumed a week and he took his provisions 
along and slept under the wagon. He im- 
proved his land and occupied it until 1866, 
wlien he removed to Sun Prairie and engaged 
in the sale of agricultural implements and 
lumber, continuing for three years, when he 
removed to a farm, wiiich he purchased on 
section 14, of Burke townsliip. Here he re- 
resided until 1885 and then removed to the 



farm he now occupies on section 23, of the 
same township. Tiiis farm contains 190 
acres, well iin|)roved, with good buildings. 
In addition he is the owner of some 600 
acres in all. 

Mr. Stowe was first married, in 1844, to 
Diana Scott, born in Mooer's, Clinton county, 
New York, daughter of James and Amy 
Scott. She died June 5, 1855, and in No- 
vember 1858, Mr. Stowe married Ellen 
Abernathy, born in New Haven, Vermont, 
daughter of John and Permelia Abernatiiy. 
Four children were born of the first marriage, 
namely: Joel, Angeline, Jennie, and LaFay- 
ette, Jr. Two daughters have been born of 
the second marriage, namely: Minnie \i.\ 
and Permelia A., who died at the age i.>f ten 
days. 

Mr. Stowe is a self-made man, wlio started 
early in life with nothing and is now one of 
the wealthiest men in the county. He has 
been a Republican since the formation of the 
party, and is a worthy, good citizen. 



jLE K. T E I S 15 E II G, of Dane county, 
county, Wisconsin, was born in Telie- 
marken, Norway, December 8, 1840, a 
son of Knudt and Aase Teisberg, natives also 
of the same country, where tiieir ancestors 
have Hired for many generations. In 1843 
the parents located in Waukesha county, 
Wisconsin, having been three weeks in mak- 
ing the trip from New York to Milwaukee. 
In 1844 they began agricultural pursuits in 
Cottage Grove township, but two years later 
came to Pleasant Springs. The father died 
in 186G, and the motlier now resides in Min- 
nesota. 

Ole K. Teisberg, the third often children, 
received a district sciiool education, his first 



DANK COUNTY, ]yiSGONSlN. 



335 



teacher being Mary Stibson. He remained 
with his parents until twenty-six years of 
age, and then bought his fatlier's farm of 
130 acres on section 15, to which, in 1891, 
he added eighty acres more. He has made 
all the improvements on his place, and now 
raises large crops of tobacco and live-stock. 
Mr. Teisberg was engaged in the wagon 
business in Iowa and northern Minnesota 
about four years, m company with Gunder 
Edwards. He is a Prohibitionist in his 
political views; has served as Supervisor of 
Pleasant Springs township six terms, as 
Township Treasurer two terms, and also as 
District Clerk and Treasurer. He has served 
as Church Warden of the Lutheran Church 
about seventeen years. 

Mr. Teisberg was married January 1, 
18()8, to Anna S. Scolen, a native of Pleas- 
ant Springs township, Dane county, Wiscon- 
sin, and a sister of Jerome Scolen. To this 
union has been born seven children, viz.: 
Carl ()., died at the age of six months; Annie 
Louisa, Julia Severena, Caroline, a graduate 
of the Stoughton Academy; Samuel Henry, 
and Ella Maria. 



-^^^i^^-i^t^ 



jUSSELL A. SHELDON.— The life of 
M^ a farmer is an independent one. That 
he can exist without the aid of outside 
help was demonstrated thousands of times by 
tile hardy pioneers who lived year in and 
year out upon the produce of their own land, 
and it is certainly true in this day that the 
agriculturist gives more to mankind than he 
receives. Wei-e it not for our farmers the 
great land of ]ilenty would be turned into a 
howling wilderness in a very short time. A 
good specimen of this class of men is the 
gentleman whose name heads this sketch. 



Mr. Sheldon was born in Pittstield, Otsego 
county. New York, March 20, 1822. His 
great-i^randfather was a native of England, 
who, with two brothers, William and John, 
came to the new woidd in early colonial 
times and settled on Rhode Island. The great- 
grandfather ot our subject was Isaac Sheldon, 
and his son Isaac was the grandfather of Mr. 
Sheldon of this notice. The grandfather was 
a native of Rhode Island, but removed from 
that State to New York, settling in Saratoga 
county. After some time spent there he re- 
moved from Saratoga to Otsego county and 
finally settled in Sherburne, Chenango county. 
New York, where he finally died. The fa- 
ther of our subject, Gardner Sheldon, was 
born in Rhode Island, but removed from that 
State to New York when eighteen years of 
age. After his marriage he settled in Pitts- 
field, Otsego county, where he remained un- 
til 1833, then removed to the town of Perry, 
Wyoming county, purchased land and en- 
gaged in the improvement of the same for 
many years. At the time of his death he 
was living retired in the town of Bethany, 
Genesee county. The maiden name of the 
mother of our subject was Nancy Gorum. 
born in Ballston Springs, New York, daugh- 
ter of George and Sarah (White) (_Toruni. 
The latter died at her daughter's home in 
Middlebury, Wyoming county. New York, 
in 1885, at the age of eighty-five years. 

Our subject was eleven years of age when 
his parents removed to the western part of 
the State of New York antl he went to live 
with his nncle, Augustus Sheldon, in Otsego 
county. He made the best of the oppnrtu- 
nities offered him to attend school, in the 
meantime assisting on the farm, remaining 
with his uncle until he was sixteen years of 
age. At that time he went to Oneida county, 
^vhere he found employment on a farm at 



836 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



fSll.oO a iiioiitli. In 1840 he joined his par- 
ents in Wyoming county, making the trip 
by the niostconvenient and expeditions route, 
taking the stage to Madison, New York, 
wliere he boarded a canal-boat tor Rociiester, 
thence by stage to Moscow, and from tiiere 
on foot to Ferry. It was his intention to 
go farther west, but he remained there for 
some time, working by the month, until 
1846, and on shares until 1851, when, hav- 
ino- obtained sufKcient money he came to 
Wisconsin, via the railroad to Biiifalo, thence 
bv lake to Detroit, where he again took 
the railroad to New Buffalo, from which 
point he sailed on the lake to Milwaukee. 
He intended to walk from Afilwaukee to 
Madison, but found that his health would 
not permit of the exertion, therefore started 
by railroad to Waukesha, then the western 
tern)inu8. He then went by team to Sum- 
mit and started to walk from that point, but 
soon overtook a team and secured a ride to 
Watertown, from which place he walked to 
Milford, and from there secured a ride via 
Cottage Grove to Madison. Here he joined 
his brother, Daniel G. Here his aunt took 
care of him and his health rapidly improved. 
So much better did he become that he was 
able to look around for land on which to com- 
mence farming for himself. Very soon lie 
purchased eighty acres of land on section 32, 
paying $6.50 per acre. There was a log 
house on the land and forty acres were fenced. 
A little of the laud was broken. After about 
three weeks he returned to New York, but 
in the fall of the same year returned with 
his wife and moved into the log house, be- 
giiming at once his career as an independent 
fanner. In time he purchased eighty acres 
adjoining his first ])urchase and soon built a 
frame house and a granary, living on this 
property until 1885, wlicn he sold it and 



purchased his present home of five acres. On 
this little farm he has a good set of buildings, 
pleasantly located, about two and one-half 
miles from the State House. 

At La Grange, New York, in 1846, he 
married Mary A. Doane, l)orn in Washing- 
ton county, New York, November 18, 1824. 
Her father, Hiram Doane, was born in the 
same State, and his father, John Doane, was, 
as far as known, a native of the same State 
also. He spent his last years in Washing- 
ton county. He married a lady of Scotch 
birth. The father of Mrs. Sheldon learned 
the trade of tanner and shoemaker. In 1836 
he removed to Livingston county, where he 
lived two years before he removed to La 
Grange, Wyoming county. There he estab- 
lished a tannery and shoe shop, continuing 
the business there until his death. The 
maiden name of the mother of the wife of 
our subject was Melinda Dyer, born in Shafts- 
bury, Vermont, daughter of Benjamin and 
Mary (Clark) Dyer. She died in La Grange, 
New York. Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon have had 
five children: Edward E., Stuart D., Charles 
F., Walter W. and Hattie B. Edward mar- 
ried Clara Bell and live.s in Baltimore, Mary- 
land; Stuart married Mattie Eley and lives 
in La Crosse, and has one child, Minnie E. ; 
Charles F. married Mary Richardson and 
lives in Texas, having three children: Roy, 
Jessie and Maude; Walter married Alice 
P'iddler and lives in I'araboo, Wisconsin, 
having one child, Edna M. Mr. and ilrs. 
: Sheldon are members of the Bajitist Church, 
in which they are very prominent. In pol- 
itics lie is a stanch Republican, upholding 
party principles upon any and all occasions. 



^>i:i>^ii^r^ 



DANE COUNTY, WLSCONtilN. 



;j:;7 



IBENEZER JACKSON. 



The Jack- 



son family were among the early set- 
tlers in the American colonies, coming 
hither in 1700, two brothers of the name 
starting from Irelaml. It is not known in 
the family annals where they landed, but it 
is certain that one was employed on the Provi- 
dence plantation, and it is supposed that he 
was employed by the ship's company to 
work to pay the passaore of himself and 
brother from the old country to America. 
They separated and one was never heard 
from. The other was the father of Michael 
Jackson and became the progenitor of the 
Jackson family in this country. 

Michael Jackson was born March 28, 1735, 
■gnd married, June 4, 1755, Susannah Wil- 
cox, who was born April 15, 1732. They re- 
sided at Pownal, Bennington county, Ver- 
mont, and Michael Jackson served as an Or- 
derly under General Lyman at Fort Ticon- 
deroga in 1756. After the close of the war 
he retained his orderly book, and subsequently 
used it for a family record book. lie had 
the following children : Lyman, Esther, Jesse, 
Abigail, Ebenezer, Kesiah and Mindwell. 
Of these, Lyman was born February 29, 175ti, 
and married, January 3, 1782, Deidama Dun- 
ham, who was born P^ebruary 25, 1765, and 
the following children were born of this mar- 
riage: Kosana, Jesse Dunham, Ebenezer 
(our subject), Michael, Lyman, John J., Oba- 
diah, Abner, David B., Royal G., Norman L,, 
Susannah S. and Lucy D. Nearly all of the 
children were born at Pownal, but in 1801 
or '02 the family removed to Oooperstown, 
New York. Of the above family we are in 
this biograpliy concerned with the third 
child, Ebenezer. 

Our subject was born June 15, 1786, and 
January 22, 1808, he married Betsey Pringle, 
who was liorn in Riclifield, Otsego county. 



New York, January 26, 1788. They reared 
a family of seven children: Lucy N., Cynthia 
D., John Lyman, Charles Pringle, Sophia 
Jane, Kathleen and Julius D. Ebenezer 
died August 7, 1857, at the age of seventy- 
one years, and his wife May 13, 1842, aged 
fifty -four. 

Edson B. Jackson, whose sketch is given 
elsewhere, is a grandson of Ebenezer Jackson, 
of the above memoir. 

|m|DOLPIl BIRRENKOTT. a prominent 
|W| farmer of Dane county, Wisconsin, was 
'^^' born in this county, June 7, 1855, a 
son of Michael and Clara (Kalshauer) Birren- 
kott, natives of Kerpen, Prussia. The father 
was born September 7, 1830, a son of Adolph 
and Maroraret Birrenkott, also natives of that 
country. They came to Amei-ica about 1852. 
Michael, the father of our subject, came to 
this country with his parents^ and lie and his 
father first bought 120 acres of land in Dane 
county and erected a log house, 14x18 feet, 
later erected an addition, and remained 
there until the father's death. Mr. Birren- 
kott was a Democrat in his political views, 
served as Assessor and Supervisor of his 
township several years, and religiously was 
a meml)er of the Catholic (Church. The 
mother of our subject was born July 13, 1830, 
a daughter of John and Theressa Kalshauer, 

CI 

who came to this country about the same 
time as the Birrenkott family, and located in 
the same locality. Mr. Birrenkott died in 
this county January 12, 1874, and his wife 
February 26, 1884. 

Adolph, one of eleven children, eight now 
living, remained at home with his mother 
after his father's death until his marriage. 
He then settled on the old homestead in Dane 



338 



BIOORAPHWAL REVIEW OF 



county, later bought out the seven heirs, and 
now owns 346 acres of tine land, all of which 
is under a good state of cultivation. Mr. 
Birrenkott was married November 24, 1885, 
to Miss Anna Conrad, who was born in Lan- 
caster county, Pennsylvania, March 21, 1866, 
a daughter of John J. and Kate (Kherhen- 
voeder) Conrad, natives of Germany. They 
came to America in 1851, settling in Lan- 
caster county, Pennsylvania, but in 1868 pur- 
chased eighty acres in this township. The 
mother died April 25, 1885, and the father 
still resides in his uld home in Mount Joy, 
Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. IJirrenkott have 
three children: Margaret K., born May 1, 
1887; John M., May 21, 1888; and Maria 
K., February 6, 1892. Our subject served 
as Supervisor of the Township Board two 
years, and is Cliainnan at the present time, 
1892; was a member of the School Board 
many years. Religiously, both he and his 
wife are members of the Catholic Church. 

fOHN L. BECK. Our subject is one of 
the leading merchants of the city of 
Madison, being a member of the tirm of 
Krehl & Beck, hardware dealers and tin 
workers and jobbers. The firm is located at 
Nos. 121 and 123 East Washington avenue, 
the business having been established in Janu- 
ary, 1891, and although still in its infancy the 
enterprise has proven very successful. Mr. 
Beck was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, 
April 22, 1829, son of John and Felicias 
(Kreld) Beck, natives of Germany, of good 
old stock. The parents lived and died in 
their native city of Wurtemburg, the father 
dying at the age of tifty-nine, the mother at 
the age of seventy-three years. They were 
good, hardworking people all their lives, and 



earnest members of the German Lutheran 
Church. The father held a position all his 
life under Government, and was a faithful 
official. There were five daughters and one 
son, our subject, in the family born to these 
parents. 

Our subject grew to manhood in his native 
land, receiving his education in the good 
schools of Wurtenberg, and learning the trade 
of a baker, which he followed until 1854, 
when, March 1, he took passage on a sailer 
from Antwerp, landing in Xew York city 
after a voyage of eight weeks, lie came 
thence to Chicago, where he was married to 
Miss Mary Rauscher, a native of Germany, 
having been born in Wurtenberg, and came 
to America on the same vessel as Mr. Beck. 
In September of the same year Mr. Beck and 
his young bride came to Madison, where Mr. 
Beck obtained a position in a hardware store. 
So faithful was he in the discharge of his 
duties that he was retained by the firm for a 
a period of thirty-six years, when he went 
into business for himself with his present 
partner, ills handsome residence is situated 
at No. 421 West Main street. He and his 
wife are leading members of the German 
Lutheran Church, as are all their children. 
Mr. Beck is an independent Democrat in poli- 
tics and takes an active interest in local af- 
fairs. Mr. and Mrs. Beck are the parents of 
eleven children, nine of whom are daughters, 
three of whom are deceased, namely: Henry 
Louis and Alvina. Those living are: Mary, 
wife of Rev. F. Prey, a Lutheran minister, of 
Warner, South, Dakota; Eliza, wife of Jolin 
H uegel, a shoe merchant of Madison ; Louisa, 
wife of Julias Pfister, now living in Madison; 
Sophia, widow of Young Lawrence, who was 
an engineer on Chicago & Western railroad, 
now resides with her father; Fredericka, wife 
of Dr. William Mueller, a physician of Mad- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



339 



ison; Emma A. find Anna, at home, lioth 
photographic artists; and (Jlara, at home, a 
music teacher. All the children are accom- 
plished youncr ladies and a j^reat credit to 
their parents. 



ITIARLES RICHARD VAN IllSE, 

-jt- Rh. D., Professor of Geology at the 
University of Wisconsin, non-resident 
Professor of Pre-Cambrian Geolojjjy at the 
University of Chicago, and Geologist in 
charge of the Lake Superior Division of the 
United States Geological Survey, was born 
in Fulton township. Rock county, Wiscon- 
sin, May 29, 1857. 

His parents are William Henry and Mary 
Goodrich Van Hise, the former born and 
reared near Trenton, New Jersey, and the 
latter near Bangor, Maine. They were mar- 
ried in Rock county, Wisconsin. They had 
a family of seven children, four daughters 
and three sons. Mr. Van Hise was a farmer 
in early life, Init later became a merchant. 
He and his wife are now residents of 
Georgia. 

The subject of our sketch spent the first 
eight years of his life-on the farm. When 
he was eight years old the family moved to 
East Milton. He attended school at the lat- 
ter place two years, at Milton Junction three 
years, and at Evansville spent three years in 
the high school and one year in the Evans- 
ville Seminary, preparing himself forcoUege. 
He entered the University of Wisconsin in 
the fall of 1874, and graduated in the metal- 
lurgical engineering course in 1879. In the 
meantime he had remained out of college 
one year to engage in teaching. 

From the University of Wisconsin he re- 
ceived the follo\^ing degrees: B. Met. E. 



in 1879; B. S. in 1880; M. S. in 1882 and 
Ph. D. in 1892. He was an instructor in 
the University of Wisconsin from 1879 to 
1883; Assistant Professor of Metallurgy, 
ibid., 1883-1886; Professor of Metallurgy, 
ibid., 188G-1888; Professor of Mineralogy 
and Petrography, ibid., 1888-1890; Pro- 
fessor of Archtean and Applied Geology, 
ibid., 1890-1892. He was an Assistant, 
Wisconsin Geological Survey, 1881-1882; 
Assistant U. S. Geologist, Lake Superior 
Division U. S. Geological Survey, 1883-1888. 
He has been Chief of Lake Superior Division 
U. S. Geological Survey since 1888; Pro- 
fessor of Geology, University of Wisconsin, 
since 1892; and N on- Resident Professor of 
Pre-Cambrian Geology, University of Chi-" 
cago, since 1892. 

He is a Fellow of the American Associa- 
tion for the Advancement of Science, and of 
the Geological Society of America; a mem- 
ber of the Philosophical Society of Wash- 
ington, District of Columbia, and of the 
National Geogra]Jiic Society. He has fre- 
quently read papers before these societies. 
His chief work has been an investigation of 
the Pre-Cainl)rian rocks of America, and 
particularly the iron-bearing series of the 
Lake Superior region. The laws of occur- 
rence of the iron ores have been somewhat 
fully elucidated. His researches have re- 
sulted in the publication of tiie following 
articles: 

Crystalline Rocks of the Wisconsin Val- 
ley (with R. D. Irving): Geology of Wis- 
consin, vol. iv., 1882, pp. 623-71-4. 

On Secondary Enlargements of Feldspar 
Fragments in certain Keweenawan Sand- 
stones: American Journal of Science (8), 
vol. xxvii., 1884, pp. 399-403. 

On Secondary Enlargement of Mineral 
Fragments in Certain Rocks (with R. D. 



340 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OP 



Irving): Bnlletiti United States Geological 
Survey No. 8, 1884, p. 56. 

Enlargements of Hornblende Fragments: 
American Journal of Science (3), vol. xxx., 

1885, pp. 231-235. 

Upon the Origin of the Mica-schists and 
Black Mica-slates of the Penokee-Gogebic 
Iron-Bearing Series: Ibid., vol. xxxi., 

1886, pp. 453-460. 

Note on tiie Enlargement of Hornblendes 
and Augites in Fragmental and Eruptive 
Rocks: ibid., vol. xxxiii., 1887, pp. 385-388. 

The Crystalline Schists of the Lake Su- 
perior District (with U. D. Irving and T. C. 
Chamberlain): Etudes sur les Schistes 
Crystalline, International Geological Con- 
gress, fourth session, London, 1888, pp. 92- 
106. 

The Iron Ores of the Penokee-Gogebic 
Series of Michigan and Wisconsin: Ameri- 
can Journal of Science (3), vol. xxxvii., 
1889, pp. 32-48. 

The Pre-Cambrian Rocks of the Black 
Ilills: Bulletin of the Geological Society 
of America, vol. i., 1890, pp. 203-244. 

The Penokee Iron-bearing Series of Mich- 
igan and Wisconsin (with R. D. Irving): 
Abstract of Monograph xix.; Tenth Annual 
Report of the Director of the United States 
Geological Survey, 1888-1889, pp. 341-508 
(1890). 

An Attempt to Harmonize Some Appar- 
ently Conflicting Views of Lake Superior 
Stratigraphy: American Journal of Science 
(3), vol. xli., 1891, pp. 117-137. 

The Iron Ores of the Marquette District 
of Michigan: American Journal of Science, 
third series, vol. xliii., 1892, pj). 116-132. 

Observations upon the Structural Rela- 
tions of the Upper Hnronian, Lower Uuron- 
ian and Basement Complex on the JNorth 
Shore of Lake Huron (with Raphael Pum- 



peliy): American Journal of Science, third 
series, vol. xliii., 1892, pp. 224-232. 

Iron Ores of the Lake Superior Region; 
Trans. Wisconsin Academy of Science, Arts 
and Letters, vol. viii., 1892, pp. 219-227. 

Correlation Papers, Archaean and Algon- 
kian: Bulletin 86, United States Geological 
Survey. Twelve plates. 550 p. 

The Penokee Iron Bearing Series of Mich- 
igan and Wisconsin (with R. D. Irving): 
Monograph xix.. United States Geological 
Survey; quarto, 37 plates, 13 Figs. (In 
press). 

Professor Van Ilisewas married at Evans- 
ville, Wisconsin, December 22, 1881, to 
Alice Ring, a native of Wisconsin and a 
daughter of John and Janet (Bushnell) Ring. 
Mrs. Van Ilise com])leted her education at 
Oberlin College, Ohio, and is a lady of much 
culture and refinement. They have two chil- 
dren: Mary Janet, born July 26, 1887; and 
Hilda Alice, born June 8, 1891. 

— -"g ' ^ ' ^S 



RICK E. LADTi, County Treasurer of 
Dane county, was born in Sogn Ber- 
genstift, Norway, September 30, 1832, 
a son of Erick J. and Carry (Ludwig) Ladd, 
natives also of that counti-y. The family are 
noted for their longevity, the maternal grand- 
mother of our subject having lived to the age 
of ninety-nine years. The mother died at 
Stoughton in 1887, aged ninety-four years. 
The father, a farmer by occupation, came to 
the United States in 1852. 

Erick E. Ladd, the fifth of eleven children, 
seven sons and four daughters, was educated 
in the common schools of his native State, 
and came to America at the age of twenty 
year.-^. In 1852 he went to Janesville, where 
he was employed in hauling wood, receiving 



DANE COONTT, WISCONSIN. 



341 



25 cents per cord, ami furnished his own 
oxen; then worked in Caledonia, Wisconsin, 
twenty-two months; and next was success- 
fully engaged in lumbering. In 1S56 Mr. 
Ladd bought bis farm of 140 acres, where he 
has made many improvements, and he now 
makes a specialty of the raising of tobacco 
and live-stock. While living on his farm 
he was severely injui'ed by a runaway team, 
from which he was disabled eight weeks. 
Politically, our subject affiliates with the 
Democratic party, and in 1890 was elected 
County Ti-easurer of Dane county by a major- 
ity of 1,100 votes. He was re-elected in 
1802, with 706 majority, the largest in the 
county. Religiously, he is a member of the 
Lutheran Church of Stoughton. 

JMr. Ladd was united in mari-iage, Febru- 
ary 2, 1S56, with Bertie Nelson, a native of 
Bergen, Norway, who came to America at 
the age of tweuty-tive years. They have had 
siA children, namely: Bertha Maria, wife 
of Hans Iverson; Carrie, now Mrs. B. K. 
Fortan; Susan, wife of A. J. Lillisand; Julia, 
wife of Andrew Thompson; E. N., of St. 
Paul, Minnesota; and Nelson A., Deputy 
County Treasurer. They also lost one child in 
infancy. Mr. Ladd has served as a jndge of 
tobacco in Stoughton and Edgerton, owns 
two good i-esidences in the foruier place, and 
is one of the county's reliable citizens. 



jLBERT M. PARTRIDGE, a successful 
IISa% ^^.rraer of Dane county, was born in 
s^ Nova Scotia, April 22, 1841, a son of 
Joseph A. and Ruth Ann (Scott) Partridge. 
The father was born in Connecticut, was 
reared to farm life, and at the age of four 
years was bereft of his father. After reach- 
ing a suitable age he went to Nova Scotia as 



a peddler, also conducted a store there, but 
afterward lost the property he had made, 
through a partner. In 1845 he removed to 
Bostiin, and in the fall of 1840 came to Wis- 
consin, where he taught school near Mineral 
Point; next moved to Sauk City, then to 
Dover, where he farmed on rented land five 
years, and then purchased 138 acres of laud 
near Black Eai'th, Dane county. He erected 
a log house, 14 \ 16 feet, where the parents, 
ten children and eight boarders resided. The 
father died in 1863, at tlie age of fifty, two 
years, leaving seven small children, and the 
farm heavily mortgaged. Here they remained 
ten years. After selling the farm, the mother 
resided in Madison until 1883, when she 
visited her children and relatives in Ne- 
braska and California; from there she went 
to Montana to visit her sons, where she was 
taken sick in the spring of 188(). She then 
came to Minnesota, to her daughter, Sarah 
Lennon, where she died, September 4, 1886, 
at the age of sixty- four years and nine 
months. She was born, reared and married 
in Nova Scotia. 

Albert M. Partridge, our subject, was 
reared on a farm, and, like most farm boys of 
those days, received but a limited education. 
At nineteen years of age his father gave him 
his time, and he then worked out during the 
summer, giving his wages to his father, and 
doing chores for his board in the village of 
Mazo Manie, Wisconsin, and attending school 
in the winter. In the latter part of Febru- 
ary, 1862, an old lady passed through the 
village with a pair of horses and sleigh, on 
her way to the West. She employed our 
subject to drive the team, giving him his 
board, and his wealth then consisted of $2 of 
old Wisconsin money, a quilt and one extra 
shirt. At Dubuque, Iowa, he sold iiis money 
for $1 of good money, which he invested in 



343 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



thread, needles, etc. Mr. I'artridge remained 
with tiie old lady until Omaha was reached 
when leariiintj that Colorado, hi.H objective 
point, was not as good as he expected, he 
made different arrangements. H earing of 
the gold excitement in Washington Territory 
he determined to go there. A man at Omaha 
going there told him if he would get $5 to 
buy provisions with, he would haul them for 
$50, to be paid after they got through and as 
soon as earned. It looked like but little to 
buy provisions to go upon a trip of that 
kind. At that time bacon could be bought 
in Omaha tor 3 cents per pound, and flour at 
§1 per 100 pounds; these with a little dried 
fruit and beans constituted their fare. He 
then had not a dollar, but met two old 
neighbors from his Wisconsin home, and 
they each loaned him $2.50. He imme- 
diately purchased his provisions, and soon 
after the party started for their new home in 
the far-off Washington Territory. After a 
perilous and tiresome journey of four mouths 
the party landed in Auburn mining camp, 
near the Powder river valley, in the eastern 
part of Oregon, nearly starved, Mr. Part- 
ridge's weight having been reduced fifty 
pounds. He then worked at anything he 
could find to do until February 1, 1863, 
when with a companion he packed two ponies 
and a cow, and started on a journey of over 
200 miles on foot, across valleys and over 
mountains, to Idaho City, Idaho. While 
there lie followed teaming, minir.g, etc., in 
which he was fairly successful. Hearing of 
his father's death, he immediately commenced 
sending money home to pay off the mortgage 
and for the support of the family. In the 
summer of 1S64 Mr. I'artridge returned to 
his old home in Wisconsin. After remain- 
ing one year and a half at home, he again 
went West, working in Montana until the 



spring of 18(57, when he went to Leesburg, 
Idaho Territory, and engaged in miiung, 
where he lost all that he had. He again 
went to work for wages, and on the Ist of 
November, the same year, in company with 
two other men, started for the Sweetwater 
mines, GOO miles distant, near the summit of 
the Ivocky mountains, in Wyoming. At one 
time he made !?50 per day in the gold mines. 
He next began railroading, making a trip of 
100 miles alone, through the most dangerous 
part of the Kockies, in order to reach the 
construction part of the old Union Pacific 
railroad. He was soon at the head of a 
railroad outfit, and made money rapidly. In 
1870 our subject returned to the States and 
remained until the spring of 1871, when he 
went to the silver mines in Utah, but finding 
nothing that would pay, he returned to the 
States in 1872. In 1873 he bought his 
mother's old home, where he remained until 
the fall of 1S76. He then sold the place and 
moved to the village of Black Earth. Two 
years later he was obliged to move on a farm 
to satisfy a mortgage; afterward sold that 
place and again came to Black Earth with 
his family. He then went to Montana, but 
finding nothing satisfactory, he again re- 
turned to Black Earth and purchased a farm 
near the village of Cross Plains. Mr. Part- 
ridge now owns 340 acres of as fine land as 
there is in Wisconsin, where he is engaged 
in general farming. In his political views 
he was formerly a Ilcpnblican, but now votes 
the Democratic ticket. 

On the 0th day of January, 1873, the sub- 
ject of this sketch was united in marriage 
with l^Iiss Sarah Roberts, a native of Berry 
township, Dane county, Wisconsin, and they 
hail one son, Albert M., born September 15, 
1874. The wife and mother died December 
31, 1876. and December 4, 1877, Mr. Part- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



343 



ridse married Miss Emma Meltzer, who was 
born in Cincinnati, Ohio, April 27, 1858, a 
daughter of William and Caroline (Ferp;e) 
Meltzer, who canae from Germany to this 
country in 1848. Mr. and Mrs. Partridge 
have five children, as follows: Henry C, 
born October 22, 1878; William E., Febru- 
ary 14, 1880; Elvie I., January 15, 1883; 
Edward J., September 7, 1887; and Adaline 
C, March 7, 1891. 






^i^ 



tR. HENRY VALENTIN E BAN- 
CROFT, a practicing physician of Blue 
Mound, was l)orn at Lodi, Wisconsin, 
on yt. Valentine's Day, February 14, 1860. 
His paternal grandfather was born and reared 
in Massachusetts, was a farmer by occupation, 
and his death occurred in that State at the 
age of sixty-four years. The father of our 
subject, Henry Lawson Bancroft, was born in 
Massachusetts in 1824, was early inured to 
haljits of industry, and worked at farm labor 
until fifteen years of age. He was then ap- 
prenticed to learn the carpenters' trade, at 
which he was engaged five years, then taught 
school for a time, and next worked at his 
trade. Early in the '50s he came to Madison, 
Wisconsin, but shortly afterward began work 
at his trade in Lodi, where he remained many 
years. In 1888 he removed to Woodburn, 
Oregon, where he still resides. Mr. Ban- 
croft was married first in Lodi, to Emily 
Kingsley, a native of McHenry county, Illi- 
nois. Her people removed from Connecticut 
to that county in an early day, but both par- 
ents are now deceased. To that union four 
children were born: II. V., our subject; 
Charles F., a druggist of Dodge county; 
George, telegraph operator at Beloit; and 
Herbert A., attending the Decorah Normal 



Scliool in Iowa. The mother dieil in 1867, 
and the father was afterward married to Anna 
Stewart, who is still living. They had three 
children, two of whom are now deceased, and 
the eldest, Ida, resides in Woodburn, Oregon. 

Henry V. Bancroft, the subject of tiiis 
sketch, attended school during the winter 
months, and worked on his fatlier's farm 
during the summer. His mother died when 
he was seven years of age, and he was in a 
great measure thrown on his own resources 
in early life. At the age of sixteen years be 
went to live with an uncle. Porter Kingsley, 
a farmer of Lodi, who took an interest in the 
young man anil <lesired to give him a com- 
plete education. The uncle died one year 
later, and our subject was thus deprived of 
the intended benefit. He continued woi'k on 
the farm at that phice until twenty-one years 
of age, taught school the following winter at 
Arlington, Columbia county, then resumed 
farming during the summer, and again taught 
school at the same place. Mr. Bancroft next 
entered the Rush Medical College, at Cliicago, 
having formerly studied medicine at Lodi 
with Dr. Whitelaw, jrraduated two years la- 
ter, and then began the practice of his chosen 
profession at Blue Mound, Wisconsin. One 
year later he established a drug store in this 
city which he still continues. In addition to 
^ is other business interests, Mr. Bancroft is 
also general manager and local eilitor of the 
Blue Mound Press, a weekly, seven-column 
paper, independent in politics. The Doctor 
was an ardent Republican until the late elec- 
tion, when he supported the Democratic plat- 
form. He served as Deputy Postmaster un- 
der Cleveland's administration, as Justice of 
the Peace four years. Town Clerk two years, 
Notary Public, and is now holding the ])Osi- 
tion of Health Officer. 

He was married November 25, 1885, to 



344 



BWGHAI'UICAJ. REVIEW OP 



Christie Ilelmenstein, who was born in Iowa 
county, Wisconsin, ller parents came from 
Germany in 1848, landing in New York after 
a long and tedious voyage. They settled in 
Iowa county, Wisconsin, near the Dane 
couity line, where they both still reside. The 
father is one of the prominent old settlers of 
the county, and has served as Postmaster and 
Township Clerk. Mr. and Mrs. Bancroft have 
three children: Henry Irving, born October 
10, 1886; John Albert, March 25, 1888; 
Mabel Emily, November 26, 1890. Although 
a young man. Dr. Bancroft is properly consid- 
ered a leading man in the community, and 
his advice is sought in all matters of public 
interest. He is a genial gentleman, and 
worthy of the respect and contidence of the 
people among whom he has cast his lot. 



lICHOLAS HAIGIIT, a farmer, resid- 
ent of Fitchburg, Dane county, Wis- 
consin, was born in Bedford, West- 
chester county. New York, July 10, 1818. 
Hie father, Caleb Ilaight, was born in Rye, 
Westchester county. New York, August 27, 
1785, and the grandfather of our subject was 
David Ilaight, a native of the same town; 
and his father, who wa.s the great-grandfather 
of our subject, was also named David; and his 
father, who was the great-great-grandfather, 
was also David. Tracing the family still 
farther back, the father of the last named 
was Samuel, born in 1647, and his father bore 
the name of Nicholas Hoyt, born in 1624 or 
'26. From the best information at hand the 
latter was a son of Simon Hoyt, who was the 
first ancestor of the family in America. 
Little is known of the history of Simon 
Hoyt, but Nicholas was a resident of Wind- 
sor, Connecticut, and married Susan Joyce. 



Samuel, son of Nicholas, moved from Wind- 
sor, Connecticut, to Eastchester, New York, 
and from there to Flushing, Long Island, 
and there the spelling of the name was 
changed. 

Mr. Ilaight, as he now became, was one of 
the five original purchasers of the town of 
Harrison, and was a leading man among the 
Quakers. David, the son of Samuel, was 
born in 1670, and lived and died in the town 
of Harrison. David Haight, his son, was 
born about 1701, and first married Milicent 
Lane and then Abigail J'urdy. He resided 
in Kye, where he died about 1798, and the 
grandfather of our subject was born in 1748 
and married Elizabeth Wetmore. He re- 
moved from Rye to Bedford, bought a farm, 
reared a family and died there in 1836. 

The father of our subject was but an infant 
when his parents moved to Bedford, and there 
he was reared and educated. He was taught 
agriculture, and after he had attained his 
majority he engaged in mercantile business 
in the locality known as Cherry street, in the 
town of Bedford, and continued there for 
several years, and then went to New York 
city and conducted the business there for a 
few years. He then returned to Bedford and 
engaged in farming there until he was seventy 
years of age. He then went to reside with 
a son at Pleasantville, Westchester county. 
New York, and lived with him until he was 
eighty-eight years of age, and then came to 
live with our subject, where his death occur- 
red in 1875, wht>n lie had reached the age of 
nearly ninety years. The maiden niune of 
the mother of our subject was Sarah Maria 
Jackson, who was born in North Salem, West- 
chester county. New York, a daughter of 

Jabez and (Dibble) Jackson. Siie 

died in Westchester county in 1833, and the 
three children that survived her were Nicho- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



345 



las, Caleb W., and John J. Caleb W. grad- 
uated fi'tim Columbia Colloire and l)ecanie a 
physician. He practiced at Pleasantville, 
where he remained his entire life. John J. 
taught school in Westchester county and 
Stamford, Connecticut, and about 1855 en- 
gaged in the drug business in New York city. 
He died at tlie home of our subject in 1872. 
The father of our subject reared one daup;!!- 
ter by bis first marriao;e, named Betsey W., 
and she married Dr. John Q. Harris, of 
Ontario. 

Our subject received his early education in 
the public schools, and was advanced by at 
tendance at North Salem Academy, where he 
fitted himself for a teacher and commenced 
teaching in Westchester county. He taught 
one term of school at Pelham, Ontario, twelve 
miles west of Niagara Falls and also in Stani- 
ford, Connecticut, where he commenced teach- 
ing in the stiburbs, and was promoted to the 
Center school. Failing health compelled him 
to seek outdoor employment; therefore he 
resigned and engaged in gardening and farm- 
ing until 1853, when he went to New York 
city. There be engaged in the Inisiness of 
carman, or the business of draying, as it is 
called here. The most of his work was for 
the New Brunswick Rubber Company. lie 
remained there until 1857, then came to Dane 
county, bought eighty acres of land in the 
southwest part of section 31, in the town of 
Blooming Grove. This was a tract of wild 
land at that time, and he bought it for $11 
an acre. He built, improved the land and 
resided there eleven years, then sold out and 
bought where he now resides. Here be has 
a well improved farm of 190 acres. 

Mr. Haight was married October 8, 1845, 
to Catherine E. Williamson, born in I^edford, 
Westchester county. New York, July 10, 
1823. Her father and irrandfather were boi'n 



in the same town, and as far back as the geneal- 
ogy can be traced the ancestry resided here. 
Her grandfather was a farmer and spent his 
last years on the farm. He died attiie home 
of a son in ('henango county. New York, while 
there on a visit. The maiden name of his 
wife was Ann Keynolds, probably bora in the 
same county and died on the home farm. 
The father (jf Mrs. Haight was reared and 
married in his native town. He came into 
possession of the home farm and spent his 
entii'e life there. The maiden name of tlie 
mother of Mrs. Haight was Sarah Carjienter, 
born in the town of Harrison, Westchester 
county. New York. Her father, Nathaniel 
Carpenter, was priibably born there alsn, 
where he became a farmer ami spent his entire 
life. The maiden name of his wife was Doro- 
thea Carpenter, of the same name, but no 
relation. She spent her whole life in Harri- 
son. The mother of Mrs. Haight died on the 
home farm in Westchester county. Mr. and 
Mrs. Haight have reared six children, namely: 
James C, born November 8, 1840, in Stam- 
ford, Connecticut, married to Ida A. John- 
son, liorn in Genesee county. New York, 
daughter of Chauncy A. and Angeline (Prin- 
dall) Johnson, a resident of Fitchbnrg, and 
has four children: John L., born May 10, 
1874; lienjamin E., born April 9, 1870; 
Edward C, born November 27, 1878; and Ella 
J., born February 12, 1882. The next son 
of Mr. and Mrs. Ilaight is William ,1., born 
September 6, 1848, who resides on the home 
farm, is a deaf-mute, and has attended the 
school for deaf-mutes at Delavan, Wisconsin, 
for six years; Sarah M., born February 21, 
1850, is the third child, and she married II. 
J. Sutherland, and they reside in Fitchliurg; 
six children have been added to their union: 
Catherine A.. Adda I., William C, Harry N., 
Sadie A. and Gladvs. Thomas W. is the 



346 



BIOGHAPHICAL UK VIEW OF 



tbiirtli child of our subject, was bom January 
11, 1860, grail uateil from the univu'rsity of 
Wisconsin, in tlie class of 18S2, and died July 
25, IS84. Mary Josephine, born January 6, 
1863, married Charles (i. Carpenter and re- 
sides in Omaha, Nebraska, and has three chil- 
dren: Inez H., Marion I. and Milton J. 
The younorest child of Mr. and Mrs. Haight 
is Lizzie M., born September 5, 1867, who 
resides at home with her parents. 

fRANKLIN HIRAM KING, Professor 
of Agricultural Physics in the Univer- 
sity of Wisconsin, dates his birth in 
LaCirange township, Walworth county, Wis- 
consin, June 8, 1848. His father, Edmund 
King, was born in North Pomfret, Vermont, 
the son of a Vermont farmer. He grew up 
on the farm, and spent his life in agricultural 
pursuits. In 1842 he came west to Wiscon- 
sin, located in Walworth county, and tliere 
was subsequently married to Deborah 
Loonier, a native of Nova Sjotia. They had 
nine children, four sons and five daughters, 
the Professor being the oldest son. 

His early life was spent on the farm, and 
until he was nineteen his only education was 
that received during the three winter months 
in the little log schoolhoiise near his home. 
In 1868 he entered the State Normal School, 
at White Water, where he completed a normal 
ctiurse, anil graduated in 1872. He then 
took post-graduate work in the same school. 
During three of his summer vacations he 
was connected with the State Geological Sur- 
vey of Wisconsin. After leaving the normal 
liH? taught natural science in the high schoo 
of Berlin, Wisconsin, till 1876. From 1876 
t(; 1878 he was a student at Cornell Univer- 
sity, taking a special course in natural 



science. In 1878 he was called to tlie State 
Normal School, at River Falls, Wisconsin, 
where he was Professor of Natural Science 
ten years. While there he spent one summer 
at the Johns Hopkins Seaside Laboratory, at 
Beaufort, North Carolina, and one summer 
with the United States Geological Survey in 
North Dakota. He was called to the Chair 
of Agricultural Physics in the University of 
Wisconsin in 1888, and has been connected 
with this institution ever since. 

Professor King was married June 30, 
1880, to Carrie H. Baker, of l^erlin, Wis- 
consin, daughter of Hiram T. Baker, a man- 
ufacturer of that place. They have four 
children, namely: Anna Belle, Max Werner, 
Clarence Baker and Ralph S. 

Professor King is the author of numerous 
scientific works. He has two reports in 
geological surveys: one, " Economic Relations 
of Wisconsin Birds;" the other, " Geology 
of the Upper Flambeau Valleys." In con- 
nection with Professor Alphonso Wood (au- 
thor of Wood's Botany), he published a plant 
record. He has also published "Elementary 
Lessons in Ph^'sics of Agriculture." While at 
River Falls Normal School, he and his wife 
prepared a series of relief maps — -two of the 
world, three of the United States, one of 
Yellowstone Park, and one of the State of 
Wisconsin. The one of Wisconsin and two 
of the world are at Harvard Museum, and he 
has sent one set to the Sandwich Islands. 
The Professor has frequently lectured in this 
State on agricultural physics, on which sub- 
ject he is authority. 



4^ 



4©^ 



^ 



ERMAN SCIIUERMANN, a widely 
known and highly esteemed German 
citizen of Vienna township, Dane 
county, Wisconsin, was born in Germany in 




DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



Ml 



1830. He is descended from a siilistaiitial 
family of the Fatherland, who owned and 
conducted their own store and tavern in that 
country. Mr. Schuermann was the only one 
of their immediate family to come to Amer- 
ica, and now has one brother, John, residing 
in Germany. 

The subject of this sketch received a good 
education in his native land, studying.' French 
and Latin and mathematics. In 1852 lie 
came to America, and on arriving in New 
York city was employed as a clerk in a gro- 
cery for two years, and later in a hotel. He 
afterward went to Montour county, where he 
did farm work for a year. In 1855 he came 
to Wisconsin, and worke<l by the month on 
farms until the outbreak of the war. He 
then enlisted as a private in Company H, 
Ninth Wisconsin Infantry, and served four 
years and a half, being mustered out at Lit- 
tle Kock, Arkansas, January 30, 1866, with 
the raidi of Second Lieutenant, to which posi- 
tion he had advanced in regular order. All 
of tliis time, with the exception of ten 
months passed in a rebel prison at Camp 
Ford, near Tyler, Texas, was spent in active 
service on the field. He was taken prisoner 
at Jenkins' Ferry, Arkansas, April 30, 1864, 
haviuij been wounded in the riijlit leg and 
left on the lield. The wound was serious, 
the small bone of the lower limb liavino; been 
broken. The ensuing march to Texas and 
imprisonment at Camp Ford are indelibly 
stamped on his meiriory, as exemplifying the 
depths of brutality still inherent in the 
human soul. One poor fellow from New 
York, who was uiuible to keep up, had a i'0])e 
put around his neck, which was fastened to 
the rebels' horses, and he was thus dragged a 
part of One day, but death mercifully released 
him that evening! A soldier of an Iowa 
regiment received similar treatment, but had 



strength enough to take hold of the rope 
with his hands; yet he carried the mark of 
this halter on his neck for a loiip- time. Al- 
though lame, Mr. Sclniermann was ol)liged 
to march; he was allowed, howe\-er, during 
part of the way, to take hold of the tail of 
his escort's horse, which in a measure facili- 
tated his progress. Arrived at (^anip Ford, 
he was to witness how human beim-i-s could 
be situated and still live. His daily I'atioiis 
during that long ten months, which seemed 
interminal)le, were a jiint of corn meal, 
cooketl the best way he could in the mess 
kettle or skillet, with occasionally a piece of 
fresh beef. Seven thousand men were incar- 
cerated in this place, the sanitary condition of 
which was horrible, causing scurvy and body 
lice. Upon his release Mr. Schuermann re- 
turned to Wisconsin, and was for two years 
employed at the Madison State Hospital. 
Since then he has been entrao-ed in t'armino- 
in this State and in Dakota. In 1880 he 
took a homestead of a quarter section in 
Lrown county. South Dakota, situated near 
the thriving town of Aberdeen, which he 
sold for 11,600 in 1884. He and Mr. De- 
Bauer, with whom he has made his home, 
ai'e lifelong friends, having known each (jther 
in Germany. 

Politically he is a Republican, his first vote 
having been east for John C. Fremont, in 
1856. Socially he belongs to the G. A. li., 
Irwin Post, of Lodi, Columbia county, Wis- 
consin. 

America owes a debt of gratitude to her 
sturdy German inhabitants, than whom none 
are more industrious, sober and law abidintr; 
none more sensitive of her honor, or tnore 
quick to defend it. On the other hand, 
America offers them a home, a voice in her 
laws, and a guaranty of protection under her 
rtaff. 



34S 



mOORAPBWAL REVIEW OF 



■ UBERTINE WOODWARD MOOKE 

the subject of this sketch, was born 
^ near Phihidelphia, Pennsylvania, Sep- 
tember 27. 1841. In attempting to write 
tlie biography of such a person one is some- 
what confused at the Ijeginuing, not for lack 
of materia!, but in consequence of the ai)und- 
ance of it. Tlie majority of lives are meager 
in incidents that are of interest to the world at 
large. Many people whose histories possess 
attractions for those who know them person- 
ally, can furnish but little to hold the attention 
of people in general. A notable exception to 
this rule is A[rs. Moore. Her life has in- 
deed been full of endeavor, the results of 
which make history that strikes the keynote 
of universal harmony, so as to awaken a re- 
sponsive chord in every human breast. She 
seems to have led a full and coniplcte exist- 
ence as wife, home-maker, hostess, church- 
worker, musician, author, philanthropist and 
friend. On the maternal side she is of 
Swedish descent. Her father and grand- 
father were puldishers in the Quaker City, 
and she can say, with Dr. Holmes, that she 
was born among books, and they became her 
daily food and drink. Indeed, from earliest 
years she was surrounded by a literary and 
musical atmosphere. 

Mrs. Moore's earlier efforts appeared over 
the nom de plume of "Auber Forestier," the 
first two syllables of the given name being 
retained, while the surname was rendered in- 
to French. She gave many vears to the 
study of music under the best masters, among 
whom was Carl Gaertner, the famous violin- 
ist and composer, who held that music was 
the key for the development of the spiritual 
nature. This interest in an enthusiasm for 
music has never been lost, and she has 
always been the center of a circle of musical 
people capable of understanding and appre- 



ciating all that was brightest and best in the 
art. 

There are enthusiasms which flame fiercely 
in the youth, only to gradually burn low and 
die out with the years, but Mrs. Moore's love 
for music is not one of them: rather was it 
developed and perfected with womanhood. 

Her first attempts in the literary field were 
translations of musical sketches and criticisms, 
published both in America and Germany. 
Early in life she spent some time in Califor- 
nia, from which State .she wrote very enter- 
taining letters to various Philadelphia publi- 
cations. These letters contained so much of 
practical value that most readers thought the 
writer must be a man, and numerous missives 
addressed to Mr. Forester, seeking further 
knowledge of the resources of the Golden 
State, were received by her. Upon her re- 
turn to the East she published the following 
translations of (ierman novels: " Sphinx," by 
Robert I5yr (1871); "Above Tempest and 
Tide," by Sophia Verena (1873); "Struggle 
for Existence," by Robert Byr (1873). The 
translation of that brilliant work of Victor 
Cherbuliez' "Saml. P,rohl & Co.," which 
appeared as No. 1 in Appletou's series of 
" Foi-eign Authors," was also the work of 
"Auber Forestier," althouch the translator's 
name does not appear on the title-page of the 
series; the nubjishers wished to make the 
name of the foreign author prominent, rather 
than tliat of the English translator. Stories, 
sketches, translations of poetry for music and 
original songs occupied the time until the 
attention of this busy lady was attracted to 
the "Niebelungen Lied;'' the result was 
that in 1887 she published her " Echoes from 
Mist Laud" or the "Niebelungen Lay Re- 
vealed to Lovers of Romance and Chivalry." 
This is the prose version of the famous 
old heroic poem, with an elaborate iutroduc- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



349 



tory account of its discovery by Bodiiier in 
1757. as well as the history of the material 
of which it is composed. This was the first 
American edition of the Lay, and it was dedi- 
cated to Rasmus I^. Anderson, professor of 
Scandinavian languages in the University of 
Wisconsin, as an acknowledgment of the 
valuable suggestions offered by him in the 
composition of the introductory pages. The 
book received laudatory notices from the 
press all over the country, besides calling 
forth favorable comment from the leading 
periodicals and prominent journals of Ger- 
jnany. The supplement to Meyer's " Con- 
versations Lexicon,'' published in 1880-'81, 
contains a biographical sketch of "Auber 
Forestier," in which flattering mention is 
made of this particular work. 

In 1879 Mrs. Moore went to Madison to 
continue her researches in Scandinavian 
literature under the direction of Prof. E. 
13. Anderson, in whose family her home was 
made until her marriage to Samnel XL Moore, 
formerly of Pennsylvania. As an author, 
Mrs. Moore has a style of her own. Iler 
translations from the Norse and German 
have been almost numberless, and the range 
of subjects limitless. With wonderful adapt- 
ability she lias rendered into English the 
poetic gems, such as "Over the Lofty Moun- 
tains," "On the Hill of Glass," "The Erl 
King;" and it is needless to say they lose 
none of their meaning from passing under 
her pen. It would take a long time to tell 
of the works that she has assisted in giving 
to the world, but among them are "Spell- 
bound Fiddler," " Eminent Authors," "■ The 
Norway Music Album," and some of Bjorn- 
son's novels. 

The introduction to the " Music Album," 
which the title-page tells us is "a selection for 
home use from Norway's folk-songs, dances, 

24 



etc., national airs and recent compositions 
arranged for piano-forte, and also singing," is 
wortliy of more than passing notice. It is 
really a critical survey of the music of Nor- 
way, giving biographical sketches of fifteen 
leading coniposers. Three editions of this 
work were l)rought out in a short time. The 
songs are given in the original Norwegian 
and also in an English translation. The 
music is erand and soul-stirring, the kind 
that Ole Bull associated with the fiords and 
gloomy pines of Norway. Tiie national airs 
and dances have a weird though fascinating 
movement which cannot fail to ciiarm all 
lovers of music. The words of some of the 
songs are written by Bjornson and it is need- 
less to add are poetic gems. These are trans- 
lated by Mrs. Moore in such a perfect man- 
ner that one can be sure they have lost none 
of their freshness l)y the change, for they are 
as sparkling and clear as the mountain 
streams of the land from whicli they come. 
Her delitrht in fiction is writing musical 
stories, and in this field she is without a com- 
petitor. 

There is a demand for the class of litera- 
ture she seems well qualified to furnish. 
Among the periodicals to whicii she is a 
valued contributor, are The Weekly Wiscon- 
sin, the Woman's and Youth's departments of 
the New York World, and the New York 
Home Journal. Mrs. Moore is a resident of 
the city of Madison. Here she has a beauti- 
ful and happy home that overlooks the lovely 
lake Monona, and has many attractions. 
Over this she presides with womanly grace 
and characteristic hospitality. 



^^'^^i^V?:?^-^- 



350 



BIOQRAPUWAL REVIEW OF 



JEORGE THOMSON, a prominent 
'^ farmer and carpenter, resides in the 
eastern portion of the village of Oregon, 
where he has one of tlie finest homes in the 
town. He was born in Hamilton, Canada, 
January 19, 1847. His grandfather, George 
Thomson, was a native of Scotland and mar- 
ried Miss Elizabeth Fair there. He reared 
his family of children there, of whom three 
sons and two daughters grew to maturity and 
all came to America. The grandfather was a 
merchant in his native land, where he died 
before his wife and the children emigrated 
for this country. The names of the children 
were as follows: Robert, James, George, 
Elizabeth and Alice. Of these James was 
the first to come to the United States, and 
located in Dodge county, Wisconsin. He 
later returned to Scotland and married Mar- 
garet Law, a sister of Professor Law, of Cor- 
nell University. Since his return to this 
country he has resided in Dodge county, 
where he has a good farm. Robert emigrated 
first to Canada, but about 1845 came to Wis- 
consin, and entered 160 acres of land, which 
is now included in the eastern portion of the 
village of Oregon. He built a log cabin, 
which was the first in the place, and resided 
there until his death. The|_father of our sub- 
ject, George, was born October 18, 1811, and 
in early life became a sailor, pursuing his 
calling upon the high seas for ten years. He 
made bis first voyage, at the age of thirteen 
years, to Davis Straits, in a whaling vessel. 
After coming to America he sailed on the 
great lakes. He also married in Canada, 
March 15, 1842, and first settled at the head 
of lake Ontario, where he served as light- 
bouse keeper for twenty-nine years. Later 
he retired and lived in Hamilton, Canada, 
until his death, April 11, 1886. The mother 
of our suliject died July 20, 1847, leaving 



two children, our subject and a brother,Will- 
iam C, who died in Hamilton. Canada, in 
1886, having been a patternmaker by trade. 

Our subject was only one month old when 
his mother died; he was brought to Dodge 
county, Wisconsin, where he was reared by 
his aunts. Like many other farmer boys, he 
worked upon the farm in the summers and 
attended the common schools in the winters, 
but he also had the advanta<;e of attendin<£ 
the State University at Madison during the 
year of 1865-'66. His aunt, Elizabeth, with 
whom he lived, died in 1866, and afterward 
he worked at the wagon maker's trade for one 
year. At that time he drifted naturally from 
that calling to that of a carpenter, and pur- 
sued it in Dodge county many years. In 
1870 he went to California, remained four 
months, when he returned. He also made 
various, trips to Canada and spent two win- 
ters there. February, 1882, saw him in 
Florida. November 7, 1886, he moved to 
Holly Hill, where he owned an orange grove. 
Here he worked at his trade of carpenter, but 
in 1889 he returned to Wisconsin and settled 
at Oregon, and purchased forty-two acres of 
the land entered by bis uncle. There were 
only log buildings on the place, but he at once 
put up a fine residence, doing the carpenter 
work himself. In addition to his residence 
Mr. Thomson has built a set of good build- 
ings, as fine as any in the village. 

Mr. Thomson was married in Dodge county, 
April 19, 1871, to Cynthia Ellen (ioodenough, 
born in Pelham, Canada, daughter of Aaron 
and Cynthia (Durbin) Goodenongh. Five 
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Thomson, namely: George Francis (died Sep- 
tember, 1874), Ethel Alice, Janet Elizabeth, 
Fannie leabelle and (ieorge Aaron. In poli- 
tics our subject is a Prohibitionist, and takes 
a great interest in temperance work. For 



D.INE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



351 



merly he was a Republican, but his opinions 
on the liquor question compelled liini to es- 
pouse tlie cause of the party tluit promised to 
rid the land of that curse. lie has served 
very creditably as a member of the village 
board. The religion of the ancestors was 
the faith of the Presbyterian Churcli. Mr. 
Thomson is a member of Neosko Lodge, 
No. 108, A. F. and, A. M., and lias been a 
member of the I. O. O. F. for twenty years. 
He is regarded as one of the substantial 
farmers of Oregon, where he has some very 
valuable property. In addition to his other 
interests, Mr. Thomson retains his orange 
grove in Florida. He and his pleasant family 
are regarded by all with feelings of extreme 
regard, as they are worthy, upright citizens, 
well deserving of the good fortune that lias 
attended their efforts in life. 

f»jICHAEL A. DOYLE is a prominent 
ffvl' farmer, residing on sections 17, and 18 
-rt(^^ in Verona township, and has been a 
resident of Dane county since 1845. He 
was born in Cleveland, Ohio, Decemlier 24, 
1844, being a son of Patrick and Elionor 
(liroderick) Doyle, the former a native of 
Detroit, Michigan, and the latter of Ireland. 
They were married in Detroit, and after mar- 
riage went to Cleveland to live, remaining 
there until 1845, when they came to Wiscon- 
sin and settled at Sun Prairie, in Dane 
county, where the father of our subject en- 
tered 2(13 acres of land, on which he resided 
thirteen years, making numerous impro\e- 
ments. The parents then removed to the 
town of Wpstport, Dane county, where the 
father engaged in keeping a hotel until the 
time of his death in 1872, at the age of sixty- 
seven years. The mother died in 1865 at 



Westport, aged forty-eight yeai's. They 
reared a family of eight children, as follows: 
Frances, who n:arried Hugh Summers, re- 
sides in Davenport, Iowa; John, who is an 
Engineer at the State House in Madison; 
James, who was an engineei', and was killed 
by a boiler explosion in 1868, at the hospital 
for the insane at Mendota; our subject; Han- 
nah, who resides at Milwaukee, Wisconsin; 
Thomas, who died in 1870 at Westport, aged 
twenty-two; Ellen, who resides in Chicago; 
and Frank, who is an engineer in Chicago, 
Illinois. 

Our subject was in his first year when his 
parents settled in Wisconsin, and his boy- 
hood was passed on a farm. His father was 
a blacksmith, and at the aye of thirteen he 
learned the trade, serving an appenticeship. 
In 1862, although onlj' then a boy, he en- 
listed, and was mustered into the army in 
August, entering Company G, Twenty-ninth 
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served 
bravely until the close of the war, jiarticipat- 
incr in all of the battles, marches and skir- 
niishes in which liis company took pait. The 
leading battles where he endangered his lite 
for his country were: the siege of Vicksburg, 
Jackson, Mississippi; Cham]iii>n Hills, I'oil 
Gibson, Sabine Cross lioads, Spanish Fort and 
Fort Plakely. He was a Corporal of the 
company, and passed through the whole 
struggle without wound or capture, and with 
no otlier misfortune than a short sickness in 
the hospital after the battle of Jackson. 

After the war our subject I'eturned home, 
but at once went to ('hicago, where he 
worked in a macliine shop for three years, at 
the expiration of which time he returned to 
Wisconsin to till the position li'ft vacant liy 
the death of his brotlu^r in the insane hospi- 
tal at Mendota, and at that place he served 
as engineer for thirteen years. He then went 



352 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



back to Chicago, anil was a groceryman there 
for a tew months, but then returned to Mad- 
ison and went on a steaml)oat on Lake Mo- 
nona. He then was made Under-Sherifl of 
Dane county, and served as such for eighteen 
months. 

At tliis time he went to Oregon, Dane 
county, where he purchased a hotel, which 
he conducted for a few months, but in 1886 
he bought his present farm of 420 acres. 
Here our subject has erected a good farm 
house and two large barns, and has nowa 
well-improved farm. The buildings are 
located near the center of the farm, on an 
eminence which commands a view of the sur- 
rounding country, a most beautiful location. 
lie is is now engaged in stock dealing and 
feeding. 

Our subject was married in 1872 to Miss 
Margaret Malone, who died in Westport in 
1881, leaving no children. In 1884 he mar- 
ried Mrs. Charlotte Martin, daugliter of John 
Mason, born in Middleton, Dane county, in 
1856, and widow of Patrick Martin, of Perth, 
Scotland, who died in 1879, leaving one 
daughter, Emily D.,born in 1877, in Verona, 
who with the daugliter of Mr. and Mrs. 
Doyle, Ella C, l)orn in Verona in 1886, con- 
stitutes their family. 

In politics, he is a Democrat, and is Chair- 
man of the Town Board of Verona; also is a 
member of A. O. U. W., and of C. C. Wash- 
burn Post, No. 11, G. A. K. He is a well- 
informed man, and one who is well kixiwn 
and esteemed. He has made his own way in 
the worlil, and has won his success unaided. 
His military record is one to be proud of, 
and among her citizens, Dane county has no 
more honest citizen than Mr. ^^ichael Doyle. 



|\ERMAX SACHTJEN, a prominent 
German-American resident of Westport 
township. Dane county, Wisconsin, was 
born in north Germany in 1821. His father, 
Thomas, having been born at the same place 
September 20, 1792. The latter was a 
farmer on his own little farm, consisting of 
fifteen acres. The maiden name of the 
mother of our subject was Cliiistie Mario, 
and they were the parents of two sons and 
two daughters, whom they brought to Amer- 
ica with them in the fall of 1846. The 
family took passage in a sailing vessel from 
Bremerhaven to New Orleans, where they 
arrived January 3, 1847. The vessel was a 
small three-master and the journey consumed 
seventy-two days, as they encountered two 
severe storms with heavy seas. Their first 
location after leaving New Orleans was 
Louisville, Kentucky, where they remained 
four years, the father working on a rented 
farm and his son, our subject, in a brick- 
yard for $18 a mouth, boarding himself the 
first year, but the second year he had $40 a 
month and his board. The family had started 
for Illinois, but on account of the river being 
frozen they could get no farther than Cairo, 
hence they went to Louisville, but in the 
spring of 1851 they came to Wisconsin and 
to Dane county, where our subject bought 
eighty acres near the asylum of B. Furger- 
son, where the asylum stables now stand. 
For this he ])aid $480, ami in the spring of 
1852 sold it for the same and b(iu<rht the 
farm where he now resides, this place con- 
taining 8i,\ty-nine acres, for which he paid 
$6 an acre. This was wild land and nuuiv 
Indians were still here. He built a rnuidi 
log house, 16 X 18, one story, with two 
small wiiulows and one door. His (U'llar 
was a hole in the grouml. lie set u]i a 
stove, but had ru> chimney. He paid foi- this 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



353 



when he bought it, and this has been the 
rule of his life, to buy something if he had 
the money and if he had no money to do 
without, and since he has been seventeen 
years he has never been without money. 

Our subject was married in Germany at 
the age of twenty-five years, just before com- 
ing to America. The name of liis wife was 
Geske Coleman, and she became the mother 
of five sons and one daughter. One son died 
an infant. George ilied in 1875 at the age of 
twenty-two; Gesina Marie died at the age of 
twenty-tive years, in 1882, unmarried; John 
E. died in May, 1892, aged forty-three, leav- 
ing no family, but some money; Henry, a 
farmer on sixty-live acres which his father 
sold him, is thirty-three years of age; John- 
son is thirty-tive years of age. lie has sixty- 
two acres of land; also a portion of tlie old 
home farm. These two brothers live together 
in the brick house which the father built in 
1862, having lived in the first log house ten 
years. William married Paulina Hartkopf, 
of Minnesota. lie is thirty years old and is 
farming on sixty-two acres of the old home- 
stead. They have four children born in five 
years, two sons and two daughters. The 
mother died in 1880, aged about sixty years. 
Our subject bought his 360 acres of land 
in different pieces, between 1852 and 1880, 
when he bought his last thirty acres, on 
which he now resides. This last purchase 
cost $1,000, with no buildings. He has built 
three dwelling houses on these parcels of 
land, including the log house of 1852. He 
was married to his present wife in 1883, 
the widow of William Leir, a near neighbor 
in Germany. She came to America in 1857, 
and has six children by her first marriage 
and one son by this, named Edward, a youth 
of eight years. The family are German 
Lutlieraiis, and our subject votes the Demo- 



cratic ticket and does a general farming on 
a small scale, altiiough he used to keep from 
thirty to forty cows, six to seven horses and 
from twenty to forty hogs. He did not go 
to the war of the Kebellion, although lie was 
drafted and paid the bounty. He is still 
healthy and vigorous and is working yet. 
Had he been brought up and educated in 
this country he would no doubt have been 
wealthy and influential, as Nature has en- 
dowed him with possibilities and capacities. 
As it is, his life so far has been very suc- 
cessful. 

fA M E S R. O'M A L L E Y, a successful 
farmer of Dane county, Wisconsin, is a 
son of Patrick and Mary (Welsh) 
O'Malley. The father was born in county 
Mayo, Ireland, in 1819, a son of Michael 
O'Malley, a farmer of that county. The 
latter reared a family of seven sons and two 
daughters, and his death occurred in Wis- 
consin at the age of sixty-three years. In 
1846 Patrick O'Malley, the father of our 
subject, purchased eighty acres of land on 
section 14, Dane county. Three years later, 
in 1849, he went with his brother, Martin, 
to California, but returned one year after- 
ward, via the Isthmus, having made con- 
sideralde money. He then added to his 
original purchase in this county until he 
owned 280 acres, where he remained until 
1880, and in that year removed to the farm 
our subject now occupies. At his death he 
left an estate of about 700 acres of land and 
a large amount of personal property. He 
was entraired in general farniinij and stock 
raising, but gave his attention principally to 
the erowiue of short-horned cattle. He sold 
large numbers every year, and also kept 



354 



BIOGIIAPUIVAL HE VIEW OF 



many on his farm. Mr. O'Malley was a 
prominent and respected citizen, was a Demo- 
crat in his political views, was a member of 
the School Board for twenty-seven years, a 
leading member of the Catholic Church, was 
one of the fonnders and builders of the St. 
Marys of the Lake, and was buried on the 
family lot in the cemetery there. lie was 
first married to Elizabeth O'Keefe, and they 
had six children, namely: Mary, now Sister 
Mary Alfonzo, at Plattsmouth, Nebraska; 
Catherine, now Sister Mary Dominic, of 
Washington, District of Columbia; Ellen, 
formerly a teacher, died at her home at the 
age of twenty-three years; Cecily, formerly a 
pupil of St. Clara's Academy, of Grant 
county, Wisconsin, is now a teacher of Green 
liiver, Wyoming; Michael ()., is one of the 
most extensive farmers and perhaps the most 
successful of this county. He is married 
and has two children; and Francis, a grad- 
uate of the St. Clara's Academy, has taught 
for the past six years, and is now at 
home. The mother died in March, 1865, 
at the age of thirty-six years, and the father 
afterward married the mother of our sub- 
ject, nee Mary Welsh. She was born in 
county Wexford, Ireland, and came to Amer- 
ica with her parents in 1849, at the age of 
twelve years. After a long and stormy voy- 
age they landed in New York, and came at 
once to Wisconsin, where the father died, at 
the age of sixty, and the mother at sixty-five 
years. Mr. and Mrs. O'Malley lost one child 
by death, a daughter, Hannah, an infant. 
Their children that grew to years of maturity 
are: James li., our subject; Charlotte, a 
pupil at Sinsinawa, Wisconsin; William, at- 
tending the St. Thomas Seminary at St. Paul, 
Minnesota; and Dominic K., aged sixteen 
years, is at liome. The father died December 
21, 1882, aged sixty-three years, and the 



mother November 27, 1890, at the age of 
fifty- three years. 



4^ 



=£t.. 



fOSEPH O'MALLEY was born in West- 
port, Ireland, in December, 1841, a son 
of Michael O'Malley, who was born in 
the same place, and there his grandfather 
was also born. Our subject was less tlian 
four years of age when his parents came to 
America, in 1845. They settled on 160 acres 
of Government land, being a part of our 
subject's present farui of 320 acres. 

The town of Westport was named by 
Michael O'Malley, in honor of liis native 
town. They first built a rougl; log cai)in, 
into which they moved with their children, 
the brothers and sisters of our subject being 
named as follows: Thomas, John, Patrick, 
Ellen, Catherine, Michael, Martin, Domin- 
ick, Mary, Hannah; James, who died when 
an infant; James, who is now a Catholic 
priest; and the subject of this sketch. 

Our subject was reared on this place, and 
it has been his pleasant home ever since. He 
has had good school advantages, starting at 
the age of seven years to the common schools 
taught in the rude log houses, with rough 
slabs for seats, and where the desks were 
merely slabs fastened against the wall, upon 
wooden pins driven into augur holes in the 
logs. At the age of nineteen he quit the 
district school which lie attended from two 
to four weeks in each year from his seventh, 
and then went to Sinsinawa Mounds College, 
then a college for young men and later to the 
college of the Lady of the Sacred Heart, at 
Niaijara. 

Although our subject has never engaged 
in any business except farming, he has seen 
much of the world. In the summer of 1878 



DA2fE COUNTW WISG01S8IN. 



355 



he tookii trip to Europe and visited liis na- 
tive land, Ijeing well pleased with his old 
country. lie traveled through Scotland, 
England, Ireland and Wales, and bought a 
fineyoung Clydesdale stallion in Scotland from 
Gloucestershire, and also a large Cotswold 
ram for his farm. Previously he had trav- 
eled in Canada and importeil from there in 
1870, three Cotswohl rams, which were the 
first hrought to this county. lie has en- 
gaged extensively in the breeding of line 
horses, sheep and cattle since that time. A 
fine Durham bull is always kept. For the 
past ten years he has rented his tillable land, 
and during the sunimer he keeps a herd of 
cattle on his range, and sells in the fall. 
Formerly he fed stock for the market, ship- 
ping to Chicago, taking to market several 
carloads per year. 

The parents of our subject died on the 
farm, the mother surviving the father some 
ten years, dying at about the age of seventy- 
six years. His brothers and sisters have be- 
come good people, all of theltrothers embrac- 
ing agriculture except James, who was edu- 
cated for the priesthood. He was a student 
at Sinsinawa Mounds and also Milwaukee 
and Toronto, Canada, then atteuded college 
at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and lastly at 
Niagara Falls. Father O'Malley has been 
very successful in his calling, is a leading 
temperance reformer, and is the beloved and 
popular priest of St. Peter's Church at Osh- 
kosh, where he has a congregationjof 400 Ro- 
man Catholics, and also many Protestants 
who admire him. Drunl<enness is unknown 
in his parish. lie was president of the 
Catholic State Temperance Society, of Wis- 
consin, for years, and the cause of temperance 
among the Irish is very strong. Father 
O'Malley is Vicar- General of the Green Bay 
Diocese. 



Our sul)ject has traveled some in the 
LTnited States, having spent the winter of 
188r)-'8G in New Orleans. He has a tine 
home in Waunakee, where he spends his 
winters, closing tlie farm house, l)Ut wlien 
summer comes he goes back to the old farm. 
He has no family, having never married, but 
contrives to make himself very comfortable 
with plenty of hired help. The farm house is 
an unpretentious cottage, but is most delight- 
fully situated among the native trees, which 
form a beautiful driveway from the door to 
the main road. 

^^HARLES HUDSON, a prominent mer- 
f|K chant of West]iort, was born in Leices- 
^■^' tershire, England, in 1833. His father, 
William Hudson, a merchant of the same 
place, died when his son was a small child. 
The mother of our subject was Eliza Taylor, 
a native of the same place as lier husband, 
and the daughter of William Taylor, also a 
merchant. After the death of her first hus- 
band, Mrs. Hudson married again, and her 
second husband was James Clarke, of Leices- 
tershire. In 1856 Mrs. Clarke came to 
America and settled in this county with her 
daughter, Mrs. Richard i'oiner, where she 
died in 1889, aged seventy years. By her 
first husband Mrs. Clarke bad two children, 
our sul)ject and Mrs. Poiner, whose Christian 
name was Rosanna. By her second marriage 
she had two sons, James and Alfred. 

Our subject was reared to his father's 
business, and in May, 1800, came directly to 
this county, upon arrival in America. One 
year after arrival here he commenced a small 
business at Leicester post oiBce, where he 
became the Postmaster in the course of three 
or four years, and continued to hold that po- 



356 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OP 



sitiori for about twenty years, until another 
was put in his place early in the administra- 
tion of Grover Cleveland. Mr. Hudson, with 
a partner, A. P. Goodclap, in 1879, built a 
store in Leicester, but in 1871 or 1872 they 
removed it to this place, where they started 
the second store. Mr. Hudson dissolved 
partnership in 1873, and has since continued 
alone. His business is a general merchan- 
dise one, including drugs and medicines. 

When our subject came to America, he 
was accompanied by his wife, formerly Sarah 
Osborne, daughter of John Osborne, and 
one child, Eliza, which afterward died, at the 
age of six years. Mr. and Mrs. Hudson 
have two living children: Charles Will- 
iam, a single man at home in the store; and 
Fred O., who married Johanna Stuffel, daugh- 
ter of Joseph Stuffel, and has one child, 
Harry, a bright pleasing little fellow of three 
years, the pet of his grandparents. 

Mr. Pludson served as Justice of the Peace 
for one term. He is a worthy, good citizen, 
and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who 
know him. 

|BRAM ASA BOYCE, a prosperous far- 
mer residing on section 6, in Vienna 
township, where lie has resided since 
April, 18-47, was born in Fort Ann township, 
Washington county. New York, June 12, 
1821. His father, Abram Boyce, was born 
in February, 1772, in the same county, and 
the grandfatherof our subject, Abram Jioyce, 
known as " Brom Boyce," of the Hudson, 
engaged in the Revolutionary war very ac- 
tively as Captain of a company of scouts, at- 
tached to Washington's headquarters. He 
proved himself very efKcient to the com- 
mander-in-chief. Mr. lioyce, our subject. 



has a most valuable treasure of those times, 
the regalia of masonry, that is, the sasli, 
apron and rosette worn by his grandfather in 
the lodge of which General Washington was 
the Master. This was a military lodge and 
the regalia was not as line as that of modern 
masonry. This relic has been handed down 
to the male descendants of Abram Boyce and 
will continue in tiiis line as long as it may 
last. The paternal grandmother was Mary 
Cowan, who was a cousin of Judge Cowau, 
whose common-law commentaries (Cowan's 
Treatise) is still a standard work. The 
Boyces were pioneer settlers and farmers of 
Washington county. New York. They lived 
and died near Fort Ann villaire, haviuo- 
reared three daughters and two sons, wiio be- 
came heads of families. The grandfather 
was accidentally killed at the age of sixty-three 
years, l>ut his wife lived to be eighty-six years 
old. She was one of the heroines of tlie Rev- 
olutionary struggle and had some most heroic 
and trying experiences with the enemy. Her 
husband was away from home, with tiie army 
under General Gates and she at the farm, 
which lay in the path of tlic British forces. 
For days when the enemy was, expected, en 
route to Heights and Stillwater, she kept 
two good horses saddled with some of their 
valuables tied in packs, ready to swing across 
the horses at an instant's notice. One of the 
children was on the lookout for the expected 
foes and when the alarm came just as a meal 
was ready, with her babe in her arras, who 
was the father of onr subject, and with some 
provisions, pewter platters and the other ciiil- 
dren she rode away toward the fort, from the 
advancing marauders, but found that they 
were in the path in front of them, and Mrs. 
Boyce took to the forest and evaded them in 
that way. It was a frosty October night and 
the only shelter they had was an uprooted 



DANE COUNTY, WTSCONSIN. 



357 



tree. The next day tliey made their way to 
a stockade fort, just ia time to escape the 
enemy. They found tiiemselves prisoners in 
this beleaguered fort, which had only a small 
garrison. The brave little band kept the 
enemy out during the day, but when night 
came it was found that both shot and balls 
were gone, although plenty of powder re- 
mained. Then it was that these heroic wo- 
men took grandma's pewter plates and run 
them into bullets for the defense and in this 
way the garrison held out until relief came. 
Grandma used to relate this chapter in her 
life and tell how heavy became her heart, 
when she saw the burning of their home. 
How sacred should we rejjrard tiiis noble an- 
cestry, while we preserve their history and 
cherish their memory. The mother of our 
subject was Sarah Town, of Chittenden 
county, Vermont, born in January, 1782. 
Her father was Captain Elijah Town, com- 
mander of a company under General Stark, at 
the battle of Bennington. She became the 
mother of thirteen children, all of whom 
reached adult age and all married but one, a 
daughter, who died at the age of sixteen. 
The mother of Sarah (Town) Boyce was Susan 
Dickenson, of Delilield, Massachusetts, and 
her grandfather was one of the slain in that 
Indian massacre. 

The mother of our subject was a cousin of 
Salem Town, of educational fame. The fa- 
ther of oar subject died in Fort iVnn, New 
York, April, 1831, aged iifty-niue. He left 
a comfortable estate to his widow. He was 
twice married, his first wife being Pine be Suth- 
erland, of that place, born January, 1775, and 
died April, 1801. after l)ecoming the mother 
of four sons, all of whom have passed away. 
The father of our sul)ject had seventeen chil- 
dren, and of his ten sons our subject is the 
only survivor, although there are three sis- 



ters living; Lydia M., born July 3, 1817, re- 
siding at Pleasant Grove, Minnesota; So- 
phronia L.,born April 19, 1819, living with 
our subject, is the wife of David Gilbert anil 
has two sons; and Harriet E., born August 
6, 1826, is the widow of Ira Simmons, of 
Kirkwood, South Dakota. She has four sons 
and four daughters. Lydia married George 
Iv. Patterson and has four sons and one 
daughter. The aged mother spent her last 
days at the home of our subject in Vienna, 
Wisconsin, where she died in 1862 in her 
eighty-tirst year. 

Mr. Boyce was brought up to farm life and 
at the age of seventeen years took charge of 
his mother's farm in Genesee county, New 
York, where she had moved after the death 
of her husband. He had a partial academic 
course of schooling. 

At the age of twenty-tive he was married, 
in Hock county, Wisconsin, Octolier, 1816, 
to Miss Charlotte W. Bemis, the daughter of 
Daniel and Charlotte (Wheelock) Bemis, 
both of Massachusetts. He was the grand- 
son of Captain Edmund Bemis, of colonial 
fame, was at the battle of Louisbni-g and 
was the first man who could, or did unspike 
the cannon, which he did by heating them 
redhot and driving the spike into the cham- 
ber. 

Our subject came West, to Wisconsin, in 
April, 1844, and was the first of his family 
to come, except his sister, Polly, the wife of 
Harvy P. Wheaton, who came in 1842. He 
came from Buffalo by lake to Detroit, by 
railroad to Jackson, Michigan, which was 
tiien the terminus of the old line of the Mich- 
igan Central railroad, and thence to St. 
Joseph, Michigan, by stage, from which place 
he crossed the lake to Chicago, with Captain 
Eber Ward, on the little steamer Champion, 
and from Chicago, early in April, came on the 



358 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



sailing craft and schooner Pocaliontas, land- 
ing at Ilacine. 

iiis first purchase of land in Wisconsin was 
a quarter section claim, but his first purchase 
in this vicinity was of eighty acres, wiiere he 
has lived since 1847. From time to time he 
has added to this eighty acres until he now 
owns 480 acres of good, arable land, the 
most of which is under cultivation. He has 
done a general or mixed husbandry and his 
made a specialty of dairying for the past 
twelve years, and for some years has engaged 
in tiie growiiio^ of tobacco, sometimes raising 
as mucii as 30,000 pounds a year. He has a 
herd of sixty cows, some of them .Jerseys, 
has now eighty acres in corn and a hundred 
in oats, and keeps about ten work horses. 
He has turned off about a hundred hoes a 



year. 

Mr. l>ojce has served as Justice of the 
Peace for eighteen years and was Chairman 
of the Hoard of Supervisors. During the 
war of the Rebellion he was in this county 
and helped to fill the quota of troops. He 
has served two terms in the State l>egislature. 
Mr. and Mrs. Boyce have one daughter, a 
charming young lady of seventeen years. He 
is a Master Mason and was a delegate to the 
first Republican State Convention, and has 
been an unswerving Republican ever since. 

Morgan L. Boyce, tlie brother of our sub- 
ject, came to Wisconsin in 1845 and settled 
with our subject on a quarter section of land 
in Dane township, one mile from our sub- 
ject's home. He was born in Fort Ann, 
Is'ew York, July 24, 1823, and died January 
6, 1881, leaving a widow, two sons and one 
daughter. One of tlie sons, Arthur W., is a 
farmer, residing on the homestead of his fa- 
ther, and with him lives his mother, whose 
maiden name was Lydia Wilkins, of Livings- 
ton county, New York. 



RED KREHL, of the firm of Krehl & 
rl lieck, dealers in all kinds of stoves, hard- 
^."" ware and tinware, is the subject of this 
sketch. The firm of Krehl & Beck carry a 
large stock in their line of business and 
have a large and flourishing trade, especially 
in the job work in the tin department. This 
prominent partnership was started in Janu- 
ary, 1891, succeeding the old firm ofScheibel 
& Krehl, which was organized March 1, 
1883. The business has always been located 
at No. 121 and 123 East Washington avenue, 
where the members of the firm have carried 
on a very successful business since the start. 

Our subject has been a resident of Mad- 
ison for the past twenty-five years, having 
come to the city in 1867. After his arrival 
Mr. Krehl began work at the tinners' trade, 
which he had learned in his native land, Ger- 
many. He was a skilled workman and re- 
ceived good wages for his work; these wages 
he saved and finally built a fine home for 
himself at the corner of Williamson and 
Jenifer streets. He has been a very hard- 
working man all his life and all the property 
that he now has has been accumulated by his 
own hands. 

Mr. Krehl was born in Wurtemberg, Ger- 
many, July 17, 1839, and here he was reared 
and educated. At the age of fifteen he be- 
gan to learn the trade of tinner, following an 
apprenticeship of four years. At the age of 
nineteen he was engaged as a journeyman 
for a short time, after which he took a good 
position in a first-class hardware establish- 
ment in Studtgart. Here he worked until he 
married, when he started into business for 
himself in Miinsingen, Wurtemburg. Here 
he remained for four years and then came to 
America, with hopes of doing better, and he 
has not been disappointed. The parents of 
our subject, Ludwig and Anna M. Krehl, 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



359 



were natives of the saiue place, where they 
have lived hardwurkiiig lives. They were 
the parents of seven children, three of whom 
are still living, although our subject is the 
only one living in this country. 

Mr. Krehl was married to Mrs. Fredrica 
Ileiiikel, in Wurtteniberg, Germany. Mrs. 
Krehl was born and reared in Wurtemburg, 
where her father lived and died. She has 
three brothers now living in the United 
States^ namely: Fred, editor and publisher of 
the Workman's Courier, in Florida, at Tampa; 
I'hilip, in Iowa; and Christ, in Nebraska. 
Mr. and Mrs. Krehl took passage on a 
steamer from Hamburg, (Terraauy, in 1867, 
and upon landing in New York city, came to 
Madison. At the time of their arrival in 
this city they were very poor, but as they 
have been hardworking people they have 
managed to work their way to the top of the 
ladder of social prominence among their 
many good friends, by whom they are uni- 
versally respected. Mr. and Mrs. Krehl are 
the parents of five children, namely: tienry 
L., foreman in his father's tin shop; August 
W., a manager of the East Madison Phar- 
macy, is a successful young man and was 
educated in the University of Wisconsin; 
Pauline, wife of August Cunradi, a druggist 
of Chicago; Fred, who died when thirteen 
years of age; and Ida, who died when eight 
years of age. 

fOHN M. ESTES, a successful farmer of 
Dunkirk township, Dane county, Wis- 
consin, was born in ]\Iilwaukee county, 
this State, March 1, 1842, a son of Elijah S. 
and Z. W. (Wentworth) Estes, natives re- 
spectively of North Carolina and Maine. The 
father became a resident of Wisconsin in 



18H5. Tlie mother's people removeil to Illi- 
nois and Wisconsin when she was very young. 
The parents of our subject died in Milwaukee, 
in 1887. 

John M. Estes, the third of nine children, 
was reared on a farm in what is now the 
Seventeenth ward of Milwaukee. He spent 
thi'ee years in Beloit College and one year in 
the Uiiiversitj of Wisconsin. August 15, 
1862, he enlisted as a private in Company 
A, Twenty-third Wisconsin Regiment. He 
followed the fortunes of his regim(>nt, partic- 
ipating with it in all of its marches and bat- 
tles for two years and eight months, when 
he was promoted to a lieutenantcy in the 
Forty-seventh Wisconsin Regiment, serving 
with this regiment until it was mustered out 
at the close of the war. 

Soon after the war he began farming and 
is now the owner of one of the many com- 
fortable homes in Dunkirk township. Polit- 
ically he affiliates with the Republican party,* 
has served ten years as Chairman of the 
Township Board, has also served as Chairman 
of the County Board, and in 1886, was 
elected to the office of Sheriff of his county. 
During his incumbency of this office he ob- 
tained considerable renown by following the 
murderer, Kuhni, to England, where he se- 
cured his extradition and brought him back 
to suffer tlie extreme penalty of the laws of 
the State of Wisconsin. 

In 1891 he was appointed to a place in 
the United States Department of Agriculture. 
He is a special agent for the Columbian Ex- 
position in the branch of leaf tobacco. Mr. 
Estes also travels extensively over the United 
States, where he is engaged in lecturing and 
attending conventions. lie has attended 
meetings of the State Board of Agriculture 
in various States; is the chief tobacco expert 
of the Government, also its special agent, has 



360 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



made a study of the subject, and after the 
World's Fair will reduce his knowledge to 
print. 

ilr. Estes was married September 8, 1869, 
to ^[artha A. Martin, a native of Willshoro, 
New York. To tliis union has been born six 
children, namely: Pauline M., Rollin L., 
Lulu May and three deceased. 



[E R T D K R O W E K, a resident of 
Vienna, Wisconsin, was born in Ger- 
many, in 1828, reared to farm life by 
his father, and worked out by the month when 
he was fourteen years old. For the first few 
years he worked for very small wages, and 
never received more than $50 a year. For 
three years he was in the German army, and 
at twenty -eight received a discharge and came 
to America, having a pass. He came with 
his brother, Sim De Bower, on a sailing craft, 
and they were six weeks on the ocean, land- 
ing at New York, and came directly to 
Madison by the railroad tliat had just been 
finished. They both hired out very soon to 
farmers and had the highest wages then paid, 
which was $15 a month. He worked thus 
for about two years, when the brothers bought 
eighty acres of land at S8 an acre, on new 
prairie. Here they built a siianty, where our 
subject's woodhouse now is, and which is the 
remains of it. He and his l)rother continued 
here for another year. Tliey iiired thirty-five 
acres of their land broken tiie first summer, 
but our subject moved into his shanty that 
fall and bought a yoke of cattle. That win- 
ter they lived there all alone and drew fence 
posts. In the spring he put his thirty-five 
acres in wheat, and this yielded over thirty 
bushels per acre, for which he re<^eived forty- 
live cents a bushel. After getting his wheat 



in he dug out and picked stones off' his land, 
made a fence, and then with his own team and 
another yoke of oxen, he did prairie breaking 
for himself and others. He broke over forty 
acres of tlieir land and the same for others, 
for which he was paid $3 per acre. He drove 
these oxen four abreast. Tlie next year he 
and his brother had seventy-five acres in 
wheat and two yoke of cattle, and lived and 
worked together. This was in 1862. They 
then felt as independent as they have ever 
done since, although our sulyect now has 178 
acres and a large number of horses and cattle, 
and his brother has 240 acres. About 1868 
they separated. 

In 1867 our subject was married to Mary 
Buffmire, a native of Germany, daugiiter of 
Wallace and Mary (Welling) Buffmire, wlio 
came to America in 1849. Her father dieil 
in Camp Douglas, in 1872, in the prime of 
life. Her mother died in 1891, at the age of 
sixty-seven, having reared six sons and six 
daugliters to adult years. Nine of these are 
still living. Mr. and Mrs. I)e Bower have 
buried one daughter, Adaline, who ilied at 
the age of nine years. They now have four 
children, namely: Frances, wife of Joseph 
McChestney, a farmer near by, and they 
have two daughters and one son; Edwanl 
Wallace is single, and is keeping books for a 
Madison lumber company; Gertrude is a 
young lady, at home; and Herbert, a very 
bright young man, now attending a high 
school in l^odi, preparing for the study of 
law. Mr. I)e Bower is a member of the 
Lutheran Church, and while his wife is a 
Catholic she attends her husband's church the 
greater portion of the time. In politics Mr. 
Ue Bower is independent and votes as he 
chooses, regardless of parties. He has served 
the township in minor offices; has been Dis- 
trict Clerk for ten years. Assessor ami School 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



361 



Director. Oats and corn are his principal 
crops, and he cuts many tons of hay, keeps 
cattle, liorses and hogs, turning off ahout 
thirty of the latter, per year. lie keeps from 
twenty to thirty head of cattle and raises a 
half dozen a year; keeps eiujht to ten horses 
a year, and raises two colts per year, more or 
less. 



^. 



fAMES TRAVIS, one of the pioneer of 
Fitchburg, was born in Greene, Chenatigo 
county, New York, Marce 25, 1825 His 
father, Stepiien, lived in Westchester, New 
York, and the grandfather of our subject, 
David formerly lived in New York city, and 
then settled near Peekskill, in Westchester 
county, where he bouglit a farm and resided 
there until his deatii. lie became a soldier in 
tiie Revolutionary war, but the farm where he 
spent his last years is still retained by his 
family. The maiden name of his wife was 
Miss Birdsall, who lived in England, Init 
spent her last years on the home farm in 
Westchester county. She reared nine chil- 
dren, four sons and live daugiiters, namely: 
Stephen, Henry, William, David, Ann, 
Esther, Sallie, Mary and Rachel. 

Tlie father of our subject was reared on 
the farm, but learned the trade of cooper, and 
went to New York city when a young man, 
where he was engaged as carman, until 1812, 
when he removed to Chenango county, and 
settled in the town of Greene, where he pur- 
chased a tract of lumber land, turned his at- 
tention to farming and resided there until 
1846, when he emigrated to the Territory of 
Wisconsin, and settled in Fitchburg, Dane 
county. Here he bouglit alarm, on wliich he 
spent his last days, dying in 1860. The 
maiden name of the motlior of our subject 



was Mary A. Tinison, who was born in New 
York city, and died in 1855. The father was 
a soldier in the war of 1812. The parents 
of onr subject reared six children, five sons 
and one daughter, namely: I'enjamin, AVill- 
iam II., David, John, James and Catiierine, 
the latter married John McWilliams. 

Onr subject was reared and educated in liis 
native town. In iiis early day there were no 
railroads near his liome, and Binghamton was 
the principal market for all that part of the 
State of New York. His l)rothers used to 
riift lumber down the Susquehannah river, 
and each year used to build what tliey called 
an ark on the raft and till it with potatoes and 
other farm pi'oduce, and thus take these 
things down to the Chesapeake bay and thence 
to New York city. When the Chenanco 
canal was completed, that became a great 
highway of comtnerce. The first i-ailway 
train our subject ever saw, was when he was 
sixteen years of age, and the train was on the 
Erie railroad. In those days farming was 
conducted in a very different manner from 
the present. All grass was cut with the 
scythe, and all grain with the sickle. Wlien 
the cradle was introduced it was considered a 
great invention. Wages were very low, farm 
hands receiving fifty cents a day or $12 a 
month. 

Our subject came to the Territory of Wis- 
consin with his parents in 1816. They came 
via Erie and Chenango canals to Buffalo, and 
thence via the lakes to Milwaukee, and from 
there by team to Dane county. At tliat 
time Madison was but a village and the sur- 
rounding country was sparsely settled, and 
but little improved. He remained here, 
working by the month, working for ,S12.50 
and board, but after a time iie and another 
party bought some cattle and took jobs of 
breaking ground for the settlers, which 



362 



BIOORAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



proved quite remunerative. About tlie same 
time he rented land and euiiafjed in raising 
grain, wliicii he marketed at jMilwaukee, 
drawing it there with oxen. It took seven 
days of good weather to make the round trip. 
He took provisions with him and cooked and 
camped by the way. In 1849 he bought 
his tirst land, a tract of wild land that is 
now included in his present farm, and for 
this he paid $7 per acre. In 1854 he 
built on the place and has since placed 
it all under cultivation, erected good biiild- 
inijs, and planted fruit, shade and other 
ornamental trees. He has bought other 
huid and now owns 200 acres, seven miles 
from the capital. 

In 1852 he was married to Miss Laura A. 
Sutherland, born in Genesee county. New 
York, August 15, 1826, daughter of Josiah 
and Sarah (Woolcot) Sutherland. Of this 
union four cliildren have been born, namely: 
Julia A.; Artliur L.; Sarah M., wife of 
Howard Sigglekow; and Mary A. Mrs. 
Travis died November 17, 1878. Our sub- 
ject is a meihber of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church and is a Prohibitionist in politics. 
He lias tilled various offices of trust and for 
two years served as a member of the County 
Board of Supervisors. 

|EUBEN BOYCE, one of the prominent 
citizens of Or('(ron,was born in Grafton 
county, now Hampton New Hampshire 
November 26, 1826. His father, lieu ben 
Boyce, was a native of the same State, and a 
natural-born mechanic, who learned the trade 
of carpenter, which lie followed in his native 
place. In 1829 he removed to Onondatra 
county. New York, accompanied by his wife 
and si.\ children, making the entire journey 



by team, taking the household goods along 
and camping by the way. He bought a tract 
of land in Manlius and engaged in tanning 
there until 1844, when he again started 
westward and came, via lakes and ox teams to 
Dane county, where he bought a squatter's 
claim to a tract of Government land, that is 
now included in the subject's farm. There 
was a log cabin on the land, 16 x 18, into 
which the family moved, and eighteen persons 
resided there the following summer. Soon 
after this the townships of Oregon, Dunn 
and Fitchburg were set off as one town and 
named Koine and he was elected Chairman of 
the Board, which position he retained until 
his death, in 1847. The maiden name of his 
wife was Polly Wadleigh, was born in New 
Hampshire, and died in Wisconsin in 1S46. 
She reared eight children, as follows: Sarah 
A., William, Benjamin, Polly, Reuben, Jessie, 
Ira and Ruth. 

Our subject was three years old when his 
parents moved to New York and eighteen 
when they made the trip to AV^isconsin, so 
he remeinliers well the incidents of pioneer 
life. The country was but sparsely settled and 
land was owned by the Government and sold 
at SI. 25 an acre, but cheap as it was the 
most of the citizens were too poor to buy it, 
so formed claim clitlis to protect themselves 
from speculators. Deer were very plentiful 
and were seen in large droves. There were 
no railroads for many years and Milwaukee, 
ninety miles away, was the nearest market. 

After the death of his father our subject 
bought the interest of the other heirs, and, 
with the exception of a few years spent in 
Madison to fjive his children school advau- 
tages, has lived here ever since. He has added 
to his real estate and now owns a fine farm 
of 400 acres, on which he has good buildings. 
He has improved his land until it is now 



D^\IiE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



363 



one of the finest farms in tlie coniity. He 
also owns a farm on sections 31 and 32, town 
of Oregon, consisting of 200 acres and also 
lands in McCook county, Dakota. 

He was niai-rie<l, in 1849, to Anna Maria 
McLauglilin, born in Clark county, Ohio, 
and her father, William, was born in Oham- 
paign county, Ohio, of Scotch ancestry. He 
resided in Clark county for a while after liis 
marriage, but in 1836, removed to La Porte, 
Indiana, and remained there until 1842, when 
he emigrated to Wisconsin, and made the 
removal, overland with teams, driving the 
stock. He was one of the first settlers of 
Brooklyn, Green county, where lie bought 
Government land and improved a farm. He 
was a man of much enterprise. He served as 
Chairman of the Town Eoard many years 
and was sent to the State Legislature for 
several years. He resided on his farm until 
his death. The maiden name of the mother 
of Mrs. Boyce was Sarah Ilobiuson, born in 
Clark county, Ohio. Mr. McLaughlin was a 
farmer and a Repulilican from the formation 
of the party. 

Mr. and Mrs. Boyce have seven children, 
namely: Llewellyn, Willis C, Frank, Nellie, 
Jesse, Annie and Fred. Frank and Jesse 
graduated from the law department of the 
University of Wisconsin and are engaged in 
practice at Sioux Falls, Dakota. Fred is 
interested in his father's farm in raising tine 
horses. 

|U G U S T U S G. E S T E S, a prominent 
farmer and dealer in tobacco, was born 
in the town of Lake, Milwaukee county, 
Wisconsin, March 10, 1844. His father, 
Elijah S. Estes, one of the earliest settlers of 
the Territory, was born in the eastern part of 



North Carolina, while the grandfather of our 
subject, Langston Lorenzo Estes was, as far 
as known, born in the same State. 

The grandfather of our subject was a 
farmer, spentjing his entire life in North 
Carolina. The maiden name of his wife was 
Mary Elizabeth Moore, a native of Virginia. 
The father of onr subject was reared in his 
native State and lived there until about 1833, 
when he came westward, journeying on horse- 
back. He arrived in Indiana with empty 
pockets, conse(piently sohl his horse and 
proceeded on foot to Chicago, which at that 
time was only a village. He found em])loy- 
.ment there of various kinds and remained in 
that city for two years, then with his wife 
emigrated to the Territory of Wisconsin. 
LTpon arrival he secured a tract of Govern- 
ment land, bordering on Lake Micliigan, now 
included in the Seventeenth Ward of the city 
of Milwaukee. As it was timber land he had 
plenty of material with which to erect his 
little log cabin, which he liuilt in the woods 
on the border of the lake, and here it was 
that the subject of this sketch first saw the 
light. At the time of the father's settlement 
here Milwaukee was but a small rilace and 
the Territory of Wisconsin practically un- 
inhabited except by the Indians who were 
numerous. He continued to live on that place 
until 1852, when he removed to Dane county, 
purchasing a farm from his brother near 
Stoughton, where he resided until 1869, 
then returned to his old home in Milwaukee 
and remained there until his death in 1887. 
He had married, while a resident of Chicago, 
a lady by the name of Zebiah Walker Went- 
worth, born in the State of Maine, daughter 
of Elijah and Mary Wentworth. The former 
was one of the first settlers of Chicao-o and 
kept the first hotel in that city. The mother 
died in July of the same year as her husband. 



364 



BIOGRAPHIVAL REVIEW OF 



Our sul)ject was only nine years of age 
when his parents moved to Stoughton, where 
lie was reared. His education was received in 
tlie public schools and advanced by attendance 
upon the Albion Academy. At the age of 
twenty-one he commenced teaching and 
continued to pursue this calling for win- 
ters, engaging in farming the remainder 
of the year. At the time of his marriage he 
located on his father's farm, remaining until 
1886, when he purchased the farm he now 
owns and occupies, including the northwest 
quarter of section 11 in Blooming Grove 
township. This is a well improved farm of 
160 acres and contains a stone quarry, which, 
has been operated for many years. On this 
farm he is engaged in general farming and 
stock raisinrr, and in 1891 commenced 
dealing in tobacco. 

Mr. Estes has been twice married, the first 
time in 1869, to Martha A. Roach, born in 
Willow Springs, La P^ayette county, Wis- 
consin, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth 
Roach, and died in October, 1876. In 1878, 
he was again mai-ried, his second wife being 
Helen (Mitchell) Wright, born in Connect- 
icut, a daughter of Allen Mitcliell and a 
widow of John E. Wright. Mr. Estes has 
two children by his first marriage: Fred K., 
now a member of the senior class of the 
University of Wisconsin; and Jessie L., who 
married Henry E. Slu^ldon and is living in 
Tucson, Arizona. The two children of the 
second marriage are Mabel G., and Mary M., 
both living at home. Mrs. Estes had three 
children by jier first marriage: William W., 
who died in 1887; Arthur A., living in 
Spokane; Washington; and John J., with 
the Chicago College of Dental Surgery. Mr. 
Estes has always been a Republican in 
politics, supporting the candidates of his 



party upon all occasions. He is a member of 
Cottage Grove Fire Insurance Company. 



iAUL TANNERT, a dealer of tobacco in 
Dane county, Wisconsin, was born in 
Breslau, Province of Silisia, Prussia, 
December 4, 1852, a son of Carl and Louise 
Tannert, both born and reared in that coun- 
try. The father, a machinist by profession, 
died in Prussia. They were the parents of 
five children, four sons and one daughter, all 
of whom reside in the old country but our 
subject and his brother Carl. 

Paul Tannert was taken by his uncle, 
William Schefer, to Berlin at the age of 
three years, where he was given a collegiate 
education and received the privilege for the 
one year volunteer service in the army, but 
at the age of twenty years took out a fur- 
lough to come to America, locating in New 
York. His uncle having been one of the 
largest manufacturers of tobacco in Prussia, 
Mr. Tannert gained a knowledge of that 
business, and after locating in New York 
was employed as otHce boy in the tobacco 
house of C. H. Spitzner. He soon rose to 
the position of bookkeeper and cashier of the 
concern. In January, 1882, he came to 
Stoughton, as a buyer for the tobacco firm of 
N. Lachenbruch & Bro., wholesale dealers of 
New York, and has acted in this capacity 
ever since. 

Mr. TaiuuM-t was married October 1, 1884, 
to Carry Keenan, a native of Dunn town- 
ship, Dane county, and a daughter of George 
Keenan, a farmer by occupation. She was 
educated at the University of Wisconsin at 
Madison. Our subject and wife have two 
chililreii: Eliza M. and Georgia E. They 
lost one child, Cathleen M., deceased at the 




V- 



^ ^J^^' 



<~Li^ 7 



S^ C C <. u^Crr- V . .' ,• ^ , — ^-~-,/, 



DANE COUNTY, W1S00N8IN. 



30r) 



age of twij years. Afr. Taniinrt utKliates witli 
the Democratic party, but lias never l)e(!ti an 
office sc^eker. lie was honored with tlie 
nomination of Assemblyman of Stoiiirliton 
in 188(i, but, ovvini^ to his disti-ict havin;^ a 
Re]>nblican majority of 1,400 he was de- 
feated. 

apENERAL DAVID ATWOOD, late 
\IVir editor-in-chief and jirdprietor of tlii^ 
"l^- Wisconsin State .Journal, was one of the 
earliest, as well as oih; of the most prominent 
of the Badger State jinirnalists. (icnuiral 
Atwood came of good English Puritan stock. 
He could trace his ancestry back to John At- 
wood, who settled at plyinonth in 1643. By 
the time David was born, at Bedford, New 
Hampshire, December 15, 1815, this English 
strain had become mixed with Scotch-Irish 
blood. A New Hampshire farmer's boy, he 
was from the first trained in the school of 
industry. At the ilistrict school one of his 
companions was Horace Greeley. He was 
somewhat older than David ami left the 
school and the town befure the latter, but 
they were warm friends and maintained cor- 
dial relations throughout (ireeley's life. The 
late Zachariali Chandler, afterward United 
States Senator from Michigan, was also one 
of David Atwood's boyhood friends and a 
classmate of liis in the old Preebyterian Sun- 
day-school. 

At tlieageof sixteen, with only such learn- 
ing as the Bedford pedagogue could impart, 
but well groundeil in tlie virtues, in the pi-iii- 
ciples of integrity and frugality and in practi- 
cal views of life, David set out from the old 
homestead upon a career (juite foreign to that 
of his ancestors, who had been tillers of the soil. 
He became apprenticed to the firm of Tred- 

25 



way & Atwood, of which his brntlicr .lohn 
was the junior member. They were print(M-s 
and publishers of law books at Hamilton, 
New York, and at the close of his live years 
apprenticcsjiip David was familiar with the 
trade in all its dep;irtnents. During 1838 
and 183'J our 8ul)ject travi^led with a horse 
and wagon some ten thousand miles through 
New Yoi'k, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Vir- 
ginia, Ohio and other States as far w(^st as 
Missouri, endeavoring to sell a work in eight 
viilunies entitled, 'I'he Amcu'ican ('ommon 
Law. The young agent, as a matter of course, 
suffered mu(!h privation, espt^cially in the far 
West, and oftentimes met with narrow es- 
capes when storms had blocked the forest 
roads, and bridges had been carried away by 
swollen streams; but in all that time, despite 
his youth and slender ligure, and tlii^ wiill- 
known fact that he (jften carried considerable 
sums of money, he never I'eceived even a 
threatening glance. Much of the country 
was then in a state of nature, the small settle- 
ments were few and tar between, but the 
])eople were good-hearted, and the stranger 
was ever welcome!. General Atwood was al- 
ways glad to tui'ii back in memory to those 
pionier experiiiuces, and it was a rare treat 
to hear iiitn relate incidents of his remark- 
able wagon journeys, which were admirable 
pictures of the times. 

In September, 1839, being now twenty- 
lour years of age, he united with his brother 
John in the publication of the Hamilton 
Palladium, a weekly Whig newspaper. In 
Cincinnati, David liad frecjuently met witli 
General Harrison, and he returned to Ham- 
ilton imbued with enthusiasm for " old Tip."' 
He was long known as " Tlie original Harri- 
son man" in Aladison county, and was much 
in demand at cami>aign meetings as a leader. 
Although in charge of the mechaincal de- 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



partinent of the paper, he also wrote vigorous 
political articles. In 1844 he entered into 
the campaign for llenrj Clay witli intense 
enthusiasm, and from that date until his 
death he was actively engaged in political 
management, but ho ever looked back to the 
Clay campaign as the one in which he had 
made the greatest personal exertions of his 
life. So seriously had these labors under- 
mined his health that he withdrew from the 
Palladium, moved to Stephenson county, Illi- 
nois, and went into sheep raising. He re- 
gained his health, but lost his Tnoney, and 
tinancially liroken he resolved to return to 
his trade. 

The desire had for years been strong 
within him to establish a newspaper at some 
State capital. The neighboring Territory of 
Wisconsin was then experiencing somewhat 
of a boom, it was engaged at the time in 
seeking entrance to the Union, and for many 
reasons public attention was being attracted 
to this Territory in a marked degree. Madi- 
son, the capital was merely a name to Col. 
Atwood, but he resolved to go there, confi- 
dent that the village must grow with the 
common wealth. lie arrived in Madison, 
October 15, 1847, and at once engaged with 
William W. Wyman, the publisher of the 
Madison "Express," at a salary of $6 
a week, with board and lodging thrown in. 
During the winter of 1848, he accurately re- 
ported, not only the doings of the Legislature 
but the debates and transactions of the im 
portant and protracted convention that 
drafted the constitution, under which Wis- 
consin became a State May, 1848. Col. At- 
wood was never aljsent from the sessions of 
that convention for a moment. He wrote 
all the editorials in the "Express," set some 
type on the tri-weekly edition, made np the 
forms, often working until niidnight in or- 



der to fully meet the pressing demands of 
the day upon one, who was editor, reporter, 
foreman, compositor and all hands. 

In October, 1848, with Royal Buck, Col. 
Atwood purchased the "Express" and the 
name was changed to the "Wisconsin Ex- 
press," and it appeared on the sixteenth of 
November following with many improve- 
ments. In the fall of 1851. the Whigs, for 
which the "Express" had fought elected their 
condidate for governor, but, as all the offices 
were still in the hands of the opposition it 
brought no patronage to the "Express." In 
the spring of 1850 a new Whig paper called 
the "Statesnum"" had appeared, and in June, 
1852, a consolidation was effected, with (ien. 
Atwood as one of the new start", but the en- 
terprise failed and out of the wreck the Gen- 
eral single-handed reared the "Wisconsin 
State Journal," daily and weekly, issuing 
his first number on September 28, 1852. 

The "State Journal" continued as the only 
Whig paper in the place, until the organiza- 
tior of the Republican party, in 1854, since 
which time it has been the sole (•ham|)ion of 
the latter at the Wisconsin capital. 

In the spring of 1853 Oen. Atwood asso- 
ciated with him Horace Rublee, a vigorous 
editorial writer, who was appointed Minister 
to Switzerland in 1808, and is at present 
the editor-in-chief of the ^Milwaukee "Senti 
nel." He was succeetled l>y Major J. O 
Culver, who remained with the -State Jour- 
nal" until January, 1877. Ever since (tcu. 
Atwood has been sole proprietor. 

In 1841 Gen. Atwood was appointed Ad- 
jutant on the staff of Col. James W. Nye, 
afterward United States Senator from Ne- 
vada, who was then in command of the 
Sixty-fifth New York Militia. In 1842 he 
was promoted to be Major of the regiment. 
On Nye's promotion Major Atwood sue- 



DANE COUNTY, WTSCONSIN. 



3C7 



ceeded him, and in 1851, tiien a resident of 
Wisconsin he was appointed liy tiio Governor. 
Quarterniaster General of the State, and in 
1858 he was ajipointed Major General of the 
Fiftli Division of tiie State Militia. In 18()l 
Gen. Atwood represented the Madison Dis- 
trict in the State Assembly, and was a very 
active worker in the business of raising and 
tilting troops for the front, and was an en- 
thusiastic and efficient manager. In 1802 
President Lincoln made him Internal Keve-- 
nue Assessor, but in 18tjG lie was removed 
by President Johnson, as an offensive parti- 
san, being the first Wisconsin officer to be 
thus sentenced. He was the valuable Mayor 
of Madison in 1868-'69, and during the latter 
year the whole state press urged his nomina- 
tion as Governor, and the vote he received in 
the convention was a flattering evidence of 
his personal popularity. 

In January, 1870, Benjamin F. Hopkins 
died and within the following month General 
Atwood was elected as his successor in the 
Fortieth Congress, taking his seat on the 33d 
of February. He was placed on the then im- 
portant committee on the Pacific railroad and 
in Congress he soon established a reputation 
as an industrious and eminently useful man, 
his name being connected with some of tlie 
best of the successful bills of the session. 
From 1872 until the close of the Centennial, 
in 1876, the General was Commissioner from 
Wisconsin, appointed by President Grant and 
executed his important trust with signal 
ability. He was for a time the President of 
the full body, which included some of the 
most distinguished men of the nation. 

General Atwood held numerous offices, of 
a public, or a semi-public nature. In 1849 
he was a Justice of the Peace. In 185-1: a 
Village Trustee. For thirteen years, after 
1857, he was Treasurer of the Wisconsin State 



Agricultural Society. For sixteen years, after 
1866, a member of and President of the Pxiard 
of Trustees of the State Insane Hospital. For 
many years a member of the City School 
Board, and for a time its president. For 
thirty years a Trustee and member of the 
E.xecutive Committee, for five years the sec- 
retary and for along series of years president 
of the Madison Mutual Insurance Company, 
which did a large business in the u])per Mis- 
sippi valley; for a long time he was president 
of the Madison Gas, Liu-lit and Coke Com- 
pany. He had been a director in several rail- 
road enterprises and from 1849, one of the 
most active members of the State Historical 
Society. For eight years, previous to 1876,, 
he was the Wisconsin member of the Repub- 
lican National Committee and he had attended 
every national convention of his party since 
the nomination of Lincoln, in 1860. 

On the 23d of August, 1849, Mr. Atwood 
was married at Potosi, Wisconsin, to Mary 
Sweeney, formerly of Canton, Ohio. They 
had born to them two sotis and two daughters, 
the eldest of these being Charles David, who 
was Vice Consul at Liverpool, from 1872 to 
1876 and afterward an accomplished associa- 
ate editor of the Wisconsin State Journal; in 
1874 he was married to Elizabeth, daughter 
of Dr. A. J. Ward, one of the leading physi- 
cians of Madison; Charles died in 1878, in 
the twenty-eighth year of bis age, at a time 
when he appeared to be about entering a dis- 
tinguished career, and his son David is of the 
fourth generation of David Atwoods. Harry 
F. and Mary L., other children of the General 
reside in Madison; Elizabeth G., lives in 
Milwaukee, having in 1877 mai'rieil Mr. Ed- 
ward P. Vilas. 

Physically General Atwood was of a me- 
dium stature, with expressive eyes, which 
always beamed with a kindly light. He was 



SfiS 



mOORAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



a cliariiiiiii; eonversationlist and his fine regu- 
lar features were well set off by a full head 
and flowing Iteard of snow-white hair. 1^'g- 
nified and impressive in bearing he was even 
tempered, frank in manner, hopeful in tem- 
perinanent and noted throughout Wisconsin, as 
a public-spirited man of rare political sagacity 
and good executive ability. He was a cor- 
dial host and under the roof of his spacious 
mansion they have been welcomed, in the 
past forty years a long line of politicians, 
journalists, statesmen and scholars, represent- 
ing many sections and countries. His capacity 
for editorial work was something marvelous, 
in it he displayed remarkable facility in com- 
position, possessed a simple style and was a 
rapid thii-.ker. A politician in the best sense 
of the word he never allowed partisan bitter- 
ness to poison his intercourse with men of 
every political creed. To all he was the same 
affable gentleman, considerate and kind. He 
is a fine representative of the best class of 
western pioneers and although he was for 
many years a patriarch in appearance. Ids 
mind was as agile as his step. His editorial 
associates sadly felt the loss of his inspiriting 
presence and to his devoted family it seemed 
as though a bright and shining light had gone 
out. All who knew him were his friends and 
in social, newspaper and political circles few 
"Wisconsin men have filled so large a space. 
In his later life General Atwood, with his 
white hair and flowing beard, bore a striking 
resemblance to the portraits of the poet Bry- 
ant. 

At half-past three o'clock, on the afternoon 
of Wednesday, December 11, 1889, the life 
of this well-beloved and useful man ended in 
calm, as profound as the sleep of a child. 
His illness had been of short duration and 
the shock of his death to friends and family 
was great. On the following Saturday after- 



noon tlie funeral services were held at the 
family home on Monona avenue. The 
casket rested amid a great profusion of floral 
offerings, and Dr. J. J). Butler, in a feeling 
tribute spoke in a touchingly beautiful man- 
ner of the life of the departed one. He re- 
lated many particulars regarding the relig- 
ious environment of the deceased in child- 
hood and the cumulative influence of early 
impressions on his last days. The sermon 
closed with prayer and the choir gently sang 
" Nearer My God to Thee," and the remains 
were conveyed to their flnal resting place, at 
Forest Hill. During the service flags 
floated at half mast, from both the capitol 
and city hall. Had General Atwood lived 
four days longer he would have completed 
his seventy-fourth year. He was euiinently 
a man of to-day, progressive in tone, and 
confident that the things of the present are 
necessarily an improvement on the past. In 
honoring such a man we indeed honor our- 
selves. 

K. T I P P L E, a liveryman of Dane 
county, Wisconsin, was born in Ver- 
** non, Oneida county, New York, July 
16, 1839, a son of John and Jeannette 
(Grant) Tipple, luitives also of that county. 
Our subject spent his early life on a farm, 
where he had the advantages of good schools. 
At the age of seventeen years he took a 
course at the State Normal, at Albany. New 
York, where he graduated in 1857, and was 
then engaged in the hotel business in Oneida 
county three years. In the spring of 1858 
he came to Wisconsin, traveling through 
Kansas and Nebraska, and going as far west 
at Fort Kearney. He traveled from Ne- 
braska City with Mayor Waddle and Rus- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



3G9 



sell's wagon train, wliicli was carryiii<i; sup- 
plies to troops stationed at Salt Lake and 
vicinity. This company was the only means 
of transportation west of the Missouri River 
at that time. After locating a quarter sec- 
tion of land in Nemaha county, Nebraska, 
Mr. Tipple returned to Rutland, Wisconsin, 
and engaged in farming, breaking land 
througli the summer and threshintr throuixh 
the fall and winter. 

In the summer of ISHl he enlisted in 
Company D, Seventy-seventh Wisconsin In- 
fantry, which regiment afterward formed a 
part of the famous Iron I5rigade of the 
West. After followiuo; this command throuijh 
its numerous' engagements until the spring 
of 1864, Mr. Tipple re-enlisted as a veteran, 
and during the memorable campaign of 1864 
he participated in every battle and marched 
every mile which n)ade his command so 
famous for its brilliant fighting and unparal- 
leled marches it endured from the Rapidam 
to Appomattox. During the above campaign 
our subject carried the colors of iiis regiment 
throuirh most of its engagements, receiving 
several slight wounds, but none severe 
enough to untit him for duty. Probably no 
man in Dane county can show a better war 
record or a more thrilling experience of suf- 
fering than can Mr. Tipple. He was cap- 
tured by the rebels in the fall of 1864, at 
which time his usual weight was 165 pounds, 
and when paroled in the spring of 1865 he 
weighed seventy-one pounds, having spent 
six months ot his prison life in the prison 
pen of Anderson ville. He is a fluent talker, 
and has frequently entertained large audi- 
ences with his graphic pictures of military 
and prison life. 

After the close of the war Mr. Tipple mar- 
ried Eunicy E. Davis, of Stonghton. Since 
that time he has been engaged in the livery 



business in this thriving little city. In 
about the middle of June, 1891, his livery 
barn and dwelling was destroyed by fire, 
and as he was carrying no insurance was 
somewhat financially crippled. The leading 
citizens of Stoughton, recognizing his ability 
as a business man, came forward with their 
money and encouragement, and, coupled 
with Mr. Tipple's untiring energy, soon 
erected the finest livery barn in Dane county. 
And of this building lioth Mr. Tipple ami the 
citizens of this thriving little city are justly 
proud. 



fAMES W. VANCE, M. D., a physician 
practicing in Madison, Wisconsin, was 
born October 15, 1832, in Wilminifton, 
Ohio. His father, Elisha Vance, was born 
in 1809, in Pickaway county, Ohio. His 
grandfather, George Vance, a pioneer, moved 
from his native State (Delaware) to Ohio 
and settled on a farm, which he cultivated 
until his death, when Elisha was a small boy. 
The father of our subject was apprenticed 
to the trade of a tin and copjier smith. After 
learning his trade he located in Wilmintrton, 
Ohio, and established himself in business, 
where he was very successful. lie was en- 
dowed with a very considerable mechanical 
genius. The first of his many inventions 
was the first propeller wheel, which he 
neglected to patent. Subsequently he in- 
vented a new and ingenious force-pump, for 
which he obtained a patent. lie enrraged 
for some years in the manufacture and sale 
of the pump and in the sale of county and 
State rights, traveling extensively throuo-h 
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. He disposed of 
his pump business and engaged in the mer- 
cantile business for many years, during 



370 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



which time lie invented and patented two 
cooking stoves — a self-acting premium and 
double oven stoves. lie moved to Cincin- 
nati, Ohio, in 1847, to carry on the manu- 
facture of his improved stoves. 

About ten years afterward he removed to 
North Bend, Ohio, where in 1872 lie died 
from a sunstroke. lie was one of tlu; orig- 
inal abolitionists, casting his vofe for the 
first anti-slavery candidate for the presi- 
dency, James G. Birney. On the formation 
of the Republican party in 1856 he became 
an earnest sujiporter of its policies. The 
maiden name of his wife was Rachel Ward, 
a native of Maryland, daughter of William 
Ward. She died at College Hill, Ohio, at 
the home of her son. Dr. Vance, in 1875. 
They had three children, James W., Mary 
A. and George D. 

The subject of this brief sketch received 
his education chietly in the Wilmington 
Academy. On removing from Wilmington 
to Cincinnati he spent some years in school, 
graduating from a niercantile school, after 
which lie took the position of bookkeeper in 
his father's store. He was fond of science, 
and especially that part bearing upon medi- 
cine and surgery, and while in his father's 
service he devoted a considerable portion of 
his leisure to that branch of study, being 
actuated l)y an earnest ambition to become a 
physician, much against his father's wish 
that he should devote himself to the law. 

In 1851 he became a student under the 
preceptorship of A. Whi[)ple, M. D., in Cin- 
cinnati. He attended two full courses of 
medical lectures in the Eclectic Medical Insti- 
tute in 1853, coiitiiining with Dr. Whijtple 
until 1855, when ho entered upon the duties 
of his profession. He practiced ahout one 
year in Lawrencehurg, Indiana, when he 
was offered an interest in a mercantile busi- 



ness in Chariton, Iowa, by a gentleman who 
wished his brother to learn bookkeeping and 
the rules and principles of commercial life. 
The Doctor took charge of the business and 
conducted it for about a year, when, owing 
to failure of crops that year, the business 
was sold out and Dr. Vance put out his 
" shingle " again. He subquently removed 
back to Cincinnati, where he practiced three 
years and then returned to Lawrencehurg 
Indiana, where he practiced for fourteen 
years. In 1875 he moved to College Hill, 
Ohio, and in 1881 he came to Madison, Wis- 
consin, wiiere he has since been doing an 
office practice. 

During the winter of 1880-'81 Dr. Vance 
entered Pulte College, Cincinnati, and was 
at the close of the course graduated. He 
was once elected to fill the chair of Materia 
Medica in Pulte, but, owing to sickness in 
his family, was unable to accept the chair. 
The Doctor is an earnest medical student and 
possesses a large medical library. His prac- 
tice is quite extended, patients coming to 
him from every section of Wisconsin, as well 
as from other States of the Union. 

Dr. Vance was married twice, the first 
time in 1856 to Carrie E. Floyd, who was 
born near Louisville, Kentucky. Her 
parents were William and Sarah (Moore) 
Floyd, the former a native of Kentucky and 
the latter of I'ennsylvania. They spent 
many years in Kentucky, and later in Illi- 
nois, residing on the, then, called Floyd's 
Island, after which they removed to Cincin- 
nati, where soon afterward Mr. Floyd died. 
Four daughters were born to Dr. Vance and 
his wife Carrie: Carrie Floyd, Annie Mary, 
Sarah Ludlow and Rachel Whipple. Annie 
died at the age of nine and Rachel when only 
one month old. Mrs. Vance died June, 1879. 
In 1880 Dr. Vance married Mary C. 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



371 



Spooner, who was born in Lawrencebui-g, 
Indiana, slaughter of Philip L. and Lydia 
Coit Spooner. 

Dr. Vance is .Junior Warden of (Irace 
Church, Madison; a Kepublican in politics, 
having supported the policies of that party 
from 1856, when he cast his lirst vote at the 
presidential election of John 0. Fremont. 



fOHN B. STICKNEY, of Mazo Manie, 
Dane county, Wisconsin, was born in 
Lancaster, Coos county, New Hamp- 
shire, August 4, 1S28, a son of Dr. Jacob E. 
and Martha B. (Goss) Stickney. This family 
is one of the few that can ti-ace its genealogy 
to the early English kings. The Stickney 
family left their original home in Normandy, 
in the north of France, and journeyed with 
Williani the Conqueror to Sumary, England, 
where they located and named the town of 
Stickney. In our own country we find the 
family prominent in America's early histoi'y. 
The grandfather of our subject. Captain John 
Stickney, was with General Warren at the 
renowned battle of Bunker Hill. His son, 
the father of our subject, was born at Brown- 
field, Maine, 1797, was one of a family of 
twelve children, was educated for his profes- 
sion with great care, and graduated at Bow- 
doin Cijllege, at Brunswick, Maine. He was 
one of the most prominent physicians of 
Coos county. New Hampshire, where he de- 
voted fifty years of his life to his profession, 
and also practiced in Grafton county, that 
State, and Essex county, Vermont, and was 
at one time president of the White Mountain 
Medical Association. 

John B. Stickney, the subject of this 
sketch, received a common-school education 
at Lancaster, New Hampshire, and at the 



ago of ten years entered the Lancaster 
Academy, where he graduated after three 
years. He at once began work for himself 
in his native town as clerk in a dry-goods 
store, which he continued for the following 
three years. At the age of sixteen years he 
pursueil the same occupation at Wells River, 
Vermont, and seven years later, in the spring 
of 1851, we find him in Milwaukee, Wiscon- 
sin, in the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee 
& St. I'aul Railroad. Mr. Stickney has spent 
forty-one years of his life in their employ, 
and to-day can say he is the eldest living 
employe of the road. In 1856, when the 
road reached Mazo Manie, he came to tliis city 
and at once took charge of the company's 
office, where he still remains, this being his 
thirty-sixth year at this point. When he 
came to this office Mr. Stickney fountl but 
one house in what is now the thriving city 
of Mazo Manie, and has Ijeen closely identified 
with the growth of the town from its re- 
motest period. He platted the first lots ever 
laid off here, and has always been active in 
the real-estate business. 

Our subject was united in marriage with 
Miss Charlotte W. Moore, a native of Lan- 
caster, Vermont, and was educated at the 
Lancaster Academy. They have three daugh- 
ters: Alice, a graduate of the State Univer- 
sity in the class of 1877, is the wife of E. 
J. Elliott, of Dell Rapids, South Dakota; 
Mary, educated at the high school of Mazo 
Manie[and the Female College of Milwaukee, 
is the wife of F. E. Bronson, of Mankato, 
Minnesota; and Nelly, educated in this city, 
spent two years in teaching, and is tire wife 
of A. E. Diment, a hardware dealer of 
Mazo Manie. Mr. Stickney is an ardent 
supporter of the Repul)lican party, has 
served as Supervisor of his township, as 
President of the Village Board six years, 



373 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



and a member of tlie School Board fifteen 
years. lie was at one time a candidate for 
the Assembly, but was defeated. 

lENERAL LUCIUS FAIKCHILD.— 
The subject of this sketch, Lucius Fair- 
child, Pat^t Commander-in-Ciiief of tlie 
Grand Army of the Kepublic at this date, is 
the son of the late Jairus Cassius and Sallie 
(Ijlair) Fairchild, the former of whom was a 
native of New York, born December 24, 
1801. The mother was from JMew England, 
of Scotch-Irish descent, gifted with Scotch 
persistency and Irisli kindliness, a woman of 
particularly strong character, noted for her 
hospitality, a devoted wife and mother, who 
sent three eons to the defense of her country. 
Mr. and Mrs. Fairchild were married in Ohio, 
and a few months later moved to what is now 
Kent, Portage county, same State, where De- 
cember 27, 1831, Lucius was born. The 
family then moved to Cleveland, in 1834, 
subsequently to Wisconsin, reaching Madi- 
son, then the capital of the Territory, as it 
now is of the State, .June 8, 1846, when 
Lucius was a few nionths over fourteen. 

The education of young Lucius was ob- 
tained in the common schools of Cleveland, 
Ohio, and in the academy of Twinsburg, that 
State, and also at Waukesha Academy, Wis- 
consin. Less than three years after he ar- 
rived in Madison, so much had the newly 
discovered gold region of California attracted 
attention, that he resolved to venture a trip 
across the plains, could his parents' consent 
be obtained. It was given, and the lad of 
seventeen, with other adventurers from the 
vicinity of his home, started in March, 1849, 
for the land of promise, the El Dorado of the 
West. His father furnished him with a 



good saddle-horse and such necessary articles 
as could be packed in a srajill space. The 
young man remained si.\ years in California, 
and most of his time was spent in the 
mountains. There he lived, of course, the 
hard, rough I'ft of the miner. His severe 
labor during that period yielded him a reason- 
able success financially, and he returned to 
his home in Madison. 

In referring to his trip West, he said: " I 
think that I owe a great deal to that portion 
of niY life. I was forced to depend upon 
my own eiierpy to attain anything, and there 
was no alternative but incessant labor. Since 
that period 1 have always been fond of work 
and glad to have plenty of it. In Califor- 
nia, if I could not mine, I hired out to others 
and labored by the day. 1 was very ill for a 
long time, and was forced to fall back njion 
myself. For other reasons I grew to depend 
on myself, and 1 have reason to believe that 
tills experience was of the greatest benefit to 
me in after life. We had many ups and 
downs, now wealthy, and again witliout a 
dollar in our pockets. We had a land claim 
in Scott valley, and raised the first crop of 
wheat there, in 1854. I secured 700 bushels, 
which 1 sold for $7 per bushel, because we 
were 160 miles from the nearest wagon road 
south." 

The young man's first political experience 
occurred during these days, lie had been 
selected a delegate to the conventidii which 
nominated Bigler for Governor. He was 
located up near the Oregon line, but courage- 
ously concluded to make the journey, so 
loaded a mule with his spare clothes, such as 
he would need in so distinguished a body. 
On the way the mule fell off a height into a 
rapid stream below and disappeared. This 
was the last of the animal and his precious 
outfit, so the young delegate traveled the re- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



373 



tnaiiider of tlie way on foot and stage. He 
sat in the convention without a coat, or a cent 
in his pocket. 

In 1858 he was elected, on the Democratic 
ticket, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Dane 
county, and discharged the duties of that 
office most acceptably, his promptitude, 
energy and business habits being no less 
conspicuous than his courtesy toward attor- 
neys and all others doing business in the 
court. In the fall of 1860 he was admitted 
to the bar, but in the s|)ring of the following 
year, after the tiring upon Fort Sumter, he 
left the legal career opening before him, to 
offer his life for the defense of his country, 
and was one of the first to respond to the 
President's first call. He enlisted as a 
private, but was made Captain of an inde- 
pendent com pan}', the Governor's Guard, 
which was assigned as Company K, First 
Wisconsin Volunteer Regiment. He de- 
clined the position of Lieutenant-Colonel, 
offered him by Alexander W. Randall, then 
Governor of the State, feeling that he was 
not fitted for the position. The regiment 
served its three months, from June 9, 1861, 
in eastern Virginia, where, on July 2, it 
engaged in a slight skirmish at Falling 
AVaters, with a part of Joe Johnston's men, 
a skirmish remembered only as one of the 
earliest of the war, in wliich the Wisconsin 
troops were engaged for the first time, 

lu August of the same year President 
Lincoln appointed Captain Fairchild to the 
same position in the Sixteenth Regiment of 
Regulars, and about the same time he re- 
ceived from Governor Randall a commission 
as Major in the Second Wisconsin Infantry, 
which regiment had eiiiraijed in the battle of 
Hull Run, and was at this time in AVashincr. 
ton. He accepted l>oth appointments, and 
was the first officer of tlie regular army to 



receive leave of absence to serve with the 
volunteer regiments. Major Fairchild was 
commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel soon after 
he was assigned to the Second Wisconsin, 
having previously declined the commission of 
Colonel of another regiment, which had been 
tendered him by the Governor of Wisconsin. 
Colonel O'Connor, of the Second AVisconsin, 
being in poor health, Lieutenant-Colonel 
Fairchild commanded the reeiment most of 
the time. It rapidly improved in discipline 
and efficiency, and acquired the reputation of 
l)eing one of the best regiments in the 
.service. With the Sixth and Seventh Wis- 
consin and Nineteenth Indiana, it formed a 
brigade first commanded by General Rufus 
King, of Wisconsin, and which afterward 
won an enviable reputation as a part of the 
First Division of the First Arnij Corps. It 
took part in nearly all the great battles and 
campaigns of the Eastern army, except those 
of the Peninsular, under General McClellan. 
In 1862 the regiment participated in the 
movement upon Manassas, and subsequently 
formed a part of the Army of the Rappa- 
hannock, under General McDowell. After 
spending some months, first in the neighbor- 
iiood of Fredericksburg, and then in the 
abortive attempt to intercept the retreat of 
Stonewall Jackson, they were sent, late in 
July to feel the enemy gathered in front of 
General Pope, and after a successful skirmish 
and a march of eighty miles, in three days 
returned to their camp, at Falmouth, and 
spent the early part of August in supporting 
a successful movement for cutting the Vir- 
ginia Central railroad, in the course of 
which they repulsed and drove Stewart's cav- 
alry. They had hardly olitained a couple of 
day's repose before they were called to take a 
part in the movement of the Army of Vir- 
ginia, under Pope, which had just fought the 



374 



BIOORAPEIGAL REVIEW OF 



battle of Cedar Mountain. Retiring with 
that army they had successful skirmishes with 
the enemy at Beverly Ford, on the 19th of 
August, and at White Sulphur Springs on 
the 26th. On the evening of the 28th, while 
moving from Gainesville, along tlieWarrenton 
road toward Centervillo, the brigade encoun- 
tered Jackson's famous division, which was 
moving westward from Ceaterville, to form 
a junction with J.,ongstreet, and fought it 
for an hour and a half. It was this battle, 
known as the battle of Gainesville, that gave 
the brigade the name " Iron Brigade." 
While marching by the flank, the Second 
Wisconsin in advance, it was attacked by a 
battery posted on a wooded eminence to the 
left. Advancing promptly upon the battery 
it encountered the rebel infantry emerging 
from the woods. The other regiments came 
rapidly up and the enemy was re-enforced 
by at least one additional brigade, and in this 
unequal contest Gibbon's command main- 
tained their ground until at nine o'clock 
darkness put an end to one of the fiercest 
conflicts of the war. Most of the time the 
combiitants were not more than seventy-five 
yards apart. Here Colonoi O'Connor fell, 
mortally wounded, and our snl)joct iiad a 
horse shot from under him. His regiment, 
which went into the tight with only 449 men, 
lost more than half of them in killed and 
wounded. 

During the next two days occurred the 
second battle of P)ull Run, where lack of 
harmony and combined effort on the part of 
our military leaders resulted in a retreat of 
our forces at the end of the second day, while 
troops enough to have secured an easy vic- 
tory lay within reach of the battle-field. The 
Iron I'rigade, being in JlcDowell's corps did 
not reach the scene of battle until near tlid 
close of lliu first day. The next day, the 



Second Wisconsin being reduced, by sickness 
and death to 150 men was temporarily con- 
solidated with the Seventh Wisconsin, and 
took part in the fight on the right wing, un- 
der the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Fair- 
child, all the other field officers of both regi- 
ments being either killed or wounded. The 
failure of the left to hold its ground com- 
pelled the whole force to withdraw, and 
General Gibbon's briga<le covered the rear, 
not leaving the field until after nine o'clock 
at night, gathering up the stragglers as they 
marched and showing so steady a line that 
the enemy made no attempt to molest them. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Fairchild's regiment was 
the extreme rear, and he was the last man to 
leave the field. Soon after this battle he was 
made Colonel of the regiment to date from 
August 30, 18fi2. 

In the battle of South Mountain, on Sep- 
tember 14. 1802, where the Iron Brigade so 
gallantly carried the strong center of the 
enemy, at Turner's Gap, Colonel Fairchild 
was in command of his own regiment. He 
was with his regiment during the latter part 
of the great day of Antietam, September 17, 
when his regiment lost ninety-one of the 150 
men enirfi"'ed. It was after these two Ijattles 
that General McClellan declared this brigade 
equal to the best troops in any army in the 
world. After taking a part in the unfortu- 
nate battle of Fredericksburg, under Burn- 
side, and in the subsequent "mud campaign," 
Colonel Fairchild, with men of liis own and 
other regiments made two successful e\j)edi- 
tions down the Potomac, February and March, 
1865, gathering up horses, contrabands, pro- 
visions and prisoners. When the Army of 
the Fotomac, under Hooker, advanced to the 
unfortunate field of Chancellorsville, the Iron 
Brigade, to which the Twenty-fourth Mich- 
igan had been added, and which eviui then 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



375 



only numbered 1,500 men, crossed the Kap- 
pahannock, at Fitzhugh's crossing in pon- 
toon boats, under a galling tire, and then 
charged up the heights, carried the rebel 
rifle-pits by storm, capturing about 200 pris- 
oners, thus rendering it possible to lay pon- 
toon bridges. Arriving on the battle-ground, 
near Chancellorsville, on the morning of the 
3d of May, Colonel Fairchild was called by 
General Wadsworth, his division coniii.ander, 
to serve on his stalf, with which request he 
complied. 

At Gettysburg as the Iron Brigade, early 
on the first day engaged in the desperate con- 
flict on Seminary liidge, the Second AViscon- 
sin, in advance, lost in less than half an hour 
116 men of the 300 engaged and there Colo- 
nel Fairchild fell with his left arm shattered, 
so that amputation was necessary. From 
the seminary at Gettysburg, extemporized in- 
to a hospital, he was transferred to the home 
of a village resident (the Rev. Dr. Schafl'er), 
where he received the tenderest care and 
nursing, by means of which, with skillful 
surgical attention and the strength of his 
constitution he recovered sufficiently to re- 
turn home. He was a prisoner witliin the 
rebel lines two days. While recruiting his 
health at Madison, havincj the desire and in- 
tention of rWjoining the army, he having been 
recommendeu by all the generals under 
whom he had served for appointment as Brig- 
adier-General, the Union Convention of AVis- 
consin, much to his surprise, nominated him 
with great unanimity and enthusiasm for the 
oftice of Secretary of State. The unqualified 
and earnest support he had rendered to the 
Government, l)oth by word and deed, the 
passionate patriotism, rising above all per- 
sonal and party views, which had marked his 
course from the commencement of hostili- 
ties, rendered him an object of confidence 



and affection to those who tendered him the 
nomination. It was urged upon him by in- 
fluential friends, that though perils seemed to 
encompass the Government at the North, as 
well as at the South, yet in his disabled con- 
dition he could serve the National cause more 
eflectively by accepting the nomination than 
in any other way, and he yielded to the ur- 
gent desires of the people, though it is be- 
lieved that he subsequently, notwithstanding 
his success in obtainino the oftice, reirretted 
that he did not follow his own impulses an<l 
remain in the army. " Thus closed," says a 
recent writer, "a military career, than which 
there were few more brilliant and valuable. 
He passed from private to Brigadier-General 
in a little over three years and every step of 
the progress was earned. He was an inde- 
fatigable worker and gave all his time and 
best judgment to the service and aimed to 
improve every detail which came within his 
province. He was but thirty-two years of 
age when disabled by his wound. Such u 
rise, at such an aye, and in so short a time, 
demonstrates conclusively his value as a sol- 
dier and his possession of rare qualities of or- 
ganization and leadership." 

General Fairchild was elected Secretary of 
State, but previously resigned not only his 
rank in the regular army, but also that of 
Brigadier-General of volunteers to which he 
had been appointed. While holding this otfice 
he was e.x oflicio a Regent of the University of 
Wisconsin. He always took a prominent part 
in the meetings of the board and in various 
ways promoted the welfare of that e.xcellent 
institution of learning. He also took a deep 
interest in seeing that the dependent families 
of soldiers were paid the five dollars per 
month allowed them by law. After serving 
as Secretary of State for the full term of two 
years, to which he had been elected, he was. 



376 



BIOORAPniCAL REVIEW OF 



in 1865, nominated without opposition, for 
Governor of Wisconsin, by the Republican 
Union Convention and elected by a majority 
of a little less the 10,000. His inauguration 
took place, January 1, 1866, the beginning 
of the tenth administration since the admis- 
sion of the State to the Union. 

" In entering upon the discharge of the 
duties of the high office to whicii I have so 
recently been elected by the people," said the 
Governor in his inaugural address, " 1 fully 
appreciate its responsibilities and in the dis- 
charge of its duties I shall earnestly endeavor 
to execute faitiifuUy the trust committed to 
mv care, to honestly enforce the laws of the 
State and to carefully exercise the closest 
economy, consistent with the public good in 
the expenditure of public money." He then 
told them in emphatic language on what 
terms, the (then) recently rebellious States 
should be allowed to resume their functions 
in the Union. The " reconstruction policy," 
which Congress afterward enforced was in the 
main brought forward by him at this time 
and argued in a clear, vigorous and compact 
manner. " Our first duty," said he in his 
first message, " is to give thanks to Almighty 
God for his mercies during all the year that 
is past." He said that uo people on earth 
had greater cause to be thankful than had our 
people, as the enemies of the country had been 
overthrown in battle. The war had set- 
tled great questions at issue between our- 
selves. 

The Governor performed the duties of his 
first term (as indeed of iiis two subsequent 
terms) as chief executive of Wisconsin to the 
satisfaction of the people, the intelligent 
earnestness and zeal with which he sought to 
promote the educational interests of the State 
was especially commended. lie devoted an 
unusual proportion of his time to the personal 



visitations of the penal reformatory, benevo- 
lent as well as educational institutions of 
the commonwealth. He urged the establish- 
ment of additional free schools, one for the 
education of the feeble-minded. 

In 1867 Governor Faircluld was renomi- 
nated without opposition, by the Republican 
State Convention of that year and re-elected 
by a majority of nearly 5,000, over his Demo- 
cratic competitor. His second term, com- 
menced on noon, January 6, 1868, and again 
in 1869 was the Governor elected to the same 
position, his majority was over 8,000 votes. 
On the third of January, 1870, he was inau- 
gurated for the third time, the only instance, 
to that date of a person being elected to till 
the chief executive office for Wisconsin for 
three consecutive terms. It was an emphatic 
recognition of the value of his services in the 
gubernatorial chair. 

In his last message delivered to the Legis- 
lature, January 11, 1871, the Governor de- 
clared that Wisconsin State policy was so 
wisely adapted to the needs of the people and 
80 favorable to its growth and prosperity as 
to require but few changes at the hands of 
the legislators, and those rather of detail than 
system, a happy condition of public affairs 
truly, and one of which, after serving the 
people for three terms as their highest execu- 
tive officer of State he might well be proud. 
Just here it may bo stated that throughout 
his entire term of service, both as Governor 
and ex oflicio Normal School Regent he did 
not relax his interest in the cause of poi>ular 
education, on the contrary he always encour- 
aged it to the best of his ability. The last 
term of (Tovernor Fairchild's office exj)ired 
with the year 1871. 

In less than one year after his retirement 
to private life he was called by the United 
Stiites Government to the consulate at hiver- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



;?77 



pool, one of the most important of the con- 
sular offices in lier Majesty's domini<Mi. He 
received his appointment in Decemher, 1872, 
and while in the discbarge of liis d\ities he 
gave particular attention to the encourage- 
ment of the beef trade between the United 
States and Great Britain, which grew from 
nothing (as we inay say) to immense propor- 
tions. American sliipping was watched l)y 
Consul Fairchild with an anxious solicitude 
to the end that its best interest might l>e pro- 
tected, and he was at all times prompt to ex- 
tend a helpinir hand to our suffering tars and 
to Americian citizens generally, who were 
needing aid. " In his position he was en- 
gaged in a line of duties," says a recent notice 
of him, " which afforded no opportunities for 
examination and admiration on the part of 
the world, but which in reality are not the 
least arduous or valuable of his career." He 
was one of the hardest working Consuls in 
the service of the Government and he tilled 
his place with a fidelity, intelligence and 
conscientiousness that have never been ex- 
celled. His mastery of the principles of 
international law aiul commerce was especially 
noted by the English press and made the sub- 
ject of unqualified comineadation. He suc- 
ceeded in creating in England respect for 
American official far above the average enter- 
tained for our consular and other representa- 
tives. 

Gen. Fairchild remained at Liverpool un- 
til 1878, when he was promoted to the posi- 
tion of Consul-General at Paris, upon the 
motion of the Government. He had trans- 
acted the business of his consulate to the en- 
tire satisfaction of the department at Wash- 
ington, as his promotion clearly demonstrated. 
"When about to leave for France he received 
many tokens of regar<l and esteem in which 
he was held, by bancjiiets, addresses and res- 



olutions of public bodies and of citizens 
tendered him. 

He was no less fortunate in his discharge 
of his duties at Paris. lie visited all the 
consulates under his charge and was again 
promoted, this time being made Minister to 
Madrid, succeeding James Russell Lowell, 
receiving every demonstration of good-will 
from the gay Parisians upon leaving for 
Spain. This second promotion, like the first, 
was entirely unsolicited and was a high com- 
pliment paid this great man by his Govern- 
ment. While in Spain Minister Fairchild 
was given full power by the United States in 
a Congress of Representatives of thirteen 
governments, which met to settle affairs in 
Morocco on an international basis. He visited 
tliat country subsequently, at the instance of 
our Government to inquire into the conditinu 
of non-Mohammedans, especially the Jews. 
In March, 1881, he resigned his position 
as Minister to Spain, declining to remain 
abroad any longer in any position. Tlieoilu- 
cation, in part, of his children in the Uniteil 
States, was of such paramount importance to 
him as to make irrevocable his determina- 
tion to return home; however, by special re- 
quest of the Government he remained at his 
post until the following December, when he 
was relieved by Hon. Hanibal Hamlin. 
While in Spain he visited many of the com- 
mercial centers and consulates as the United 
States has no Consul-General in that country. 
Gen. Fairchild reached his Wisconsin 
home, March 2, 1882, on which occasion he 
received a public ovation. He was enthusi- 
astically greeted as he stepped from the cars 
by the Governor and Lieutenant- General of 
the State and a large number of citizens. 
Speeches of welcome were made at the capi- 
tol. and feelingly responded to by the Gen- 
eral. A telegram from iVIilwaukee expressed 



378 



BIOOHAPUICAL REVIEW OP 



the sentiments of the old soldiers of that city 
toward him, and voiced the feeling? of the 
sturdy veterans of Madison. '-Though in 
foreign countries for ten years," said the 
dispatch, "your growth in' the hearts and 
affections of Wisconsin people, especially the 
hearts and affections of her soldiers, has been 
steady and vigorous. Every soldier's heart 
to-day beats a happy, hearty song of welcome 
to the loved, oue-arined patriot." 

Gen. Fairchild was elected, in 1886, Com- 
mander of the Department of Wisconsin 
Grand Army Republic, and he gave his 
whole time to his duties as such officer, visit- 
ing various portions of the State and con- 
ducting the necessary correspondence. At 
the National Encampment, held in August 
of the same year at San Francisco, he was 
elected Commander-in-Chief of that body. 
Five candidates were before the session, all 
of whom were men of eminence and na- 
tional reputation, and every one of whom 
would have tilled the important and honora- 
ble office with credit. 

The General's prompt action in aid of the 
earthquake sufferers at Charleston, South 
Carolina, and his visit of late through the 
Southern States has been the occasion of 
most favorable comment of the press of the 
whole country. lie was every where cordial- 
ly received by those who were formerly 
confederate soldiers and all the peo[)le who 
had anything of a knowdedge of the benefi- 
cent character of the G. A. R., gave him the 
right hand of fellowship. In may bo said 
indeed that throughout the entire South he 
was greeted with uniform courtesy by all 
classes. 

The General was married in 1840, and has 
three children. He occupies the house 
erected by his father, some forty years ago. 
AV^ith a face indicating decision and frankness 



so plainly that no man can mistake, with a 
frame of medium size, but finely knit, active 
and powerful, with a mind not so much ad- 
dicted to letters of learning as to strenuous 
activity of jjublic or private business, yet 
actuated by a gentiine respect for literature, 
art and science and those whose taste tend to 
their cultivation; not given to subtile specu- 
lations, but simple, clear, just and decided in 
his general views of men and things; direct 
and positive of speech, and at times, especi- 
ally when busy, curt, with a soldierly blunt- 
ness which njen do not dislike; destitute of all 
cant or affectation and of all the arts of demo- 
gogne; a radical believer in giving all men 
the best chance that society can give; he is 
thoroughly patriotic, with mental executive 
ability, intelligent, prompt, energetic and 
incorruptible in the discharge of his public 
duty: such a man is Lucius Faircliihl. 



^. 



^ 




^ENRY C. ADAMS, of Madison, Dane 
county, Wisconsin, was born in Verona, 
Oneida county, New York, November 
28, 1850, a son of B. F. and Caroline M. 
(Shephard) Adams, also natives of that place. 
Henry C, the only child, was brought by his 
father to Jefferson county. Wisconsin, at the 
ace of si.\ months, where he was reared to 
farm life. \1q first attended the common 
schools, and in 1868 entered Albion Acad- 
emy. After remaining there one year he at- 
tended the Wisconsin State University, be- 
ing a member of the class of 1874 during its 
freshman and sophomore years. Ill healtii 
compelled him to drop his college course for 
three years, when he again entered the uni- 
versity as a junior with the class of '70 but 
was otdy able to remain one term. lie after- 
ward read law in the otlice of Gregory & 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



379 



Finney, after which his health again failed, 
and next took a course in the Business Col- 
lege of Madison. In 1875 he purchased a 
farm, and engaged in raising small fruits, 
also bought a numl)er of thoroughbred Jersey 
cattle and began the dairy business. In 
18S3 Mr. Adams was elected to the Legisla- 
ture, in the Southeast Assembly District, 
receiving a majority of over 700 votes, was 
re-elected in 18<S5, with a majority of 1,050. 
He spent three years in farm institute work, 
conducted by Mr. Morrison, in connection 
with the university; was a lecturer at the 
P^armers' Institute; president of the State 
Dairymen's Association three terms; secre- 
tary of the State Horticultural society two 
terms; has been a member of the State Board 
of Agriculture for a number of years; was a 
delegate at large from Wisconsin to the con- 
vention which nominated Harrison in 1888; 
for a short time, 1887, he was manager and 
editor of the Western Farm; superintendent 
of public property for two years, under Gov- 
ernor Hoard; was then associated with the 
firm of C. M. Dow & Co. ; later with Mr. 
Vernon; and is now interested in farming 
and real estate. He has been a correspond- 
ent for several agricultural journals. 

Mr. Adams was married Octolter 15, 1878, 
to Annie B. Norton, who was born and 
reared in Madison. They have four children : 
Benjamin CuUen, Frank Shepard, Mabel, 
and Carrie. 



^ 



Ef 



fOSEFH C. CHANDLEPt, claim agent 
of the ChicagoA: Northwestern Railroad, 
and the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Faul 
Railroad, located in the city of Madison, 
Wisconsin, is the subject of this sketch. 
He was born in Fryel)urg, Oxford county. 



Maine, November 1, 1824, son of Hon. Jose- 
phus and Sarah (Colby) Chandler, who were 
natives of the same place. By occupation 
the father was a farmer and our subject was 
reared to agricultural pursuits. He attended 
the comnuin schools and this was supple- 
mented by a few terms at the Fryeburgh 
Academy, a place of learning known over the 
country because its first preceptor was the 
great Daniel Webster. 

Our subject became a manager of some 
public works in the city of Lawrence at tlie 
age of nineteen, also in the city of Lowell, 
Massachusetts. He was engaged in railroad 
work at an early age on the Maine Central, 
and then on the Androscoggin & Kennebec, 
and still afterward on the Grand Trunk. 
He continued in that line until the road was 
carried into Canada, in 1852. In 185-4 he 
came to the State of Wisconsin and located 
on a farm in Madison township in Dane 
county. 

The parents of our subject had come hero 
in 1852, locating in Primrose township, and 
while living here his father had representeil 
his township on the county board. He was 
a man of prominence, having been a member 
of the Maine Legislature. The mother of 
our subject died when he was but four years 
of age and he was her only son. The father 
remarried and had a family of five children 
by this second union, three boys and two 
girls. His deatli occurred in Primrose 
township in 1858. 

Our subject remained on the farm in 
Madison township but sold that farm and 
then bought another near Judge Bryant's 
place. Later he sold this and l)ought the 
place, where he has lived for the past thirty 
years, and from that time he has been in the 
em])loy ofthe Chicago & Northwestern Rail- 
road and also the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. 



380 



BIOGHAPBICAI. REVIEW OF 



Paul Railroad as their claim agent and the 
manager of the commissary department in 
the buying of wood and coal. He removed 
to the city of Madison in 1862, and has re- 
sided here almost ever since he came to the 
State, excepting a few years in Stonghton. 
For the past six or seven years he has been 
in no active business, and for five years he 
has been a member of the Board of Supervi- 
sors of the Sixth Ward of the city. 

The marriage of our subject took place in 
Fryeburg, Maine, in December, 1852, to 
Miss Sarah E. Thomas, of Conway, New 
Hampshire, born in the same place. They 
have had three children, Sarah, born January 
15, 1854, died Jnly 15, 1885; Alice, who 
was spared for twenty-two years; and Charles 
N., who passed away a man of thirty-five 
years. For five years before the death of the 
latter he filled the position of ticket agent 
for the Northwestern Railroad Company at 
Madison, and died in April, 1890. He had 
been born May, 1855, in Wisconsin. Alice 
was born in Novetnber, 1858, in this State, 
and little Sarah in New Hampshire, January, 
1854. 

in politics our subject is a very out-spoken 
Democrat. In religion he leans toward the 
Universalist faith, believing firmly in the 
carrying out of the Golden Rule in life. 

P\ENRY WILSON, of Rlaek Earth, Dane 
\m\ county, Wisconsin, was born in Bethers- 
^Sis den, Kent county, England, July 15, 
1812, a son of Thomas and Frances (Hill) 
Wilson, natives also of that place. They 
were the parents of fifteen children, ten of 
whom lived to years of maturity, and two 
still survive. One son was born in 1797, and 
is still living. 



Henry Wilson, the youngest child of the 
family, was reared on his father's farm, and 
received a good education. At the age of 
twenty years he began working for himself. 
In March, 1837, he left his native country 
for America, sailing from London on the 
vessel Gladiator, and was five weeks and four 
days on the ocean. He settled first in Oris- 
kany, New York, but in October, 1843, 
purchased eighty acres of land near Black 
Earth, Dane county, Wisconsin, which he 
improved. In 1880 he sold his farm, then 
consisting of 200 acres, and came to this 
city, buying seven acres of fine land. Mr. 
Wilson came to this State when it was yet a 
Territory, there having been not even a 
wagon track where the city of Black Earth 
now stands, and the city of Madison then 
contained only two stores. There are but few 
of the old families left who were then in the 
county. Mr. Wilson affiliates with the 
Democratic party, has served as Township 
Treasurer two or three terms, and as a 
member of the Board of Supervisors several 
times. 

He was married in England, October 22, 
1832, to Mary Homewood, who was born 
within one mile of her husband's home, 
October 4, 1812. Her father was a farmer of 
that place. To this union has been born ten 
children, namely: Alfred, born in England, 
is a farmer of Steele county, Minnesota; 
Charles, also a native of England, is a farmer 
in the same county; Ellen C. wife of James 
Young, of Minnesota; Williatn II., born in 
New York State, is also inthat State; John 
F. Wilson the first white child born in 
Black Earth, is a speculator in real estate at 
West Superior, Wisconsin; Eliza E., wife of 
Homer Wardwell, a blacksmith of Minnesota: 
Martha, married, and resides in Black Earth; 
Emma Jane, wife of Frank Adams; a whole- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



3S1 



sale merchant of Gunnison, Colorado. One 
child died on the voyage to America; and 
another, Samuel, died at Black Earth, at the 
age of nine years. Three sons, Alfred, Charles, 
William, and the sun-ia-law, H. Ward well, 
were soldiers in the late war, and Mr. Wilson 
also spent several hundred dollars in the 
support of the cause. 



fUHN SCIILIMGEN, is one of the well 
known Cerman residents of Wisconsin. 
He is a large dealer in granite and 
marble and is also interested in insurance and 
real estate. 

Our suhject was born near Colofrne, in a 
Ilhinish province of Germany, AprilS, 1842. 
He is the son of John Schlimcren, wlio was 
born in Villa Bergheim, a Rhinish province. 
He grew up a tanner and was first inariied 

in his native villa to Christina , 

who was born and reared in the same province 
and died in middle life, leaving three chil- 
dren, namely; JMathias, Engelbert and Sibilla. 
The two brotliers are married and live in 
South Dakota, the former in Ethan and the 
latter in Mitchell. The sister is the wife of 
Lawrence Bowar, of Pine Blufl', a retired 
farmer. Our subject's father was a second 
time married, in his native place, to Mar- 
craretha Jansen, who was born and reared 
near the river Rhine and died in her native 
province, when about thirty- five years of age. 
She left our subject and a sister, Elizabeth, 
who is the wife of Mathias Schmitz, a lumber 
dealer, at Ethan, South Dakota. The widowed 
father, with his children sailed from Antwerp, 
Germany, in 1854, sailing on the (Mifton and 
landing in JSew York November 18, of the 
same year, after a voyage of forty-two days. 
The family came to Wisconsin immediately 

28 



and spent the winter south of Milwaukee 
and the next spring came on to Dane county. 
Perry township, and here the father died 
September 29, 1871, aged seventy-six years 
three months and live days. lie and botli his 
wives were members of the Roman C/atholic 
Church. 

Our suliject came to this county in 1855 
and remained on the farm until 18(38, when 
he came to the city of Madison, being then 
twenty-one years of age. He began here by 
working for $12 a month at whatever he 
could get to do. He saved his money and in 
1867 he engaged in business on his own 
account and dealt in wines anil liquors until 
1886. He has been (juite active in local 
matters, has never sought office but has been 
three times elected Justice of the Peace. His 
granite and marble business was started in 
1882, when he became the successor of John 
Hendricks. Eor some eight years oui- subject 
had been connected with Mr. W. II. Alford 
and in February, 1892, he associated with 
him his son, Fred M., who is a practical 
marble-worker and designer and who now 
has full charge of the business. Our subject 
is not a practical marble-worker himself, but 
became connected with the business in lielp- 
ing out another. For some time he has Ijeen 
a real-estate dealer. He began in this city in 
1872 and since that has handled and trans- 
ferred a large amount of real estate and has 
been very successful. He has also, in the 
meantime, carried a great many of the old and 
reliable lines of insurance and has been one 
of the live men of the city ami is regarded as 
one of the best of her German citizens. 

In politics our subject is a true Democrat 
and takes an active interest in behalf of his 
party. He is a member of St. Michael 1!(^- 
nevolent Society, a social order. 

Our subject was married in this city, to 



382 



BIUaiiAl'UlCAL HEVIKW OF 



Miss Amanda J. Heppner, who was born in 
York, Pennsylvania, and was only four years 
of age, when her parents, Jacob and Barbara 
(Schumann) ileppner, settled in Madison and 
both Mr. and Mrs. Heppner died when 
still in middle life. Mrs. Ileppner was 
instantly killed, in 1857, in her own house in 
tliis city by a stroke of lightning. The stroke 
did not injure the house nor any other 
member of the family seriously. The wife of 
our subject has three sisters: Mary, wife of 
William Farrel, a retired business man of 
this city: Catherine, widow of E. Sturn, a 
successful and skillful maker of shoes, and 
resides in this city; and Elizabeth, wife of 
John H. Starck, a successful contractor and 
manufacturer of sashes and doors. Our sub- 
ject and his wife are the pai-ents of five living 
children, namely: William E., an architect, a 
thorough graduate of this country's and 
European schools, passed the War Deparment 
of the United States and is now a member of 
the staff of architects of the World's Colum- 
bian Exposition and has about thirty 
draughtsmen under him, he lives in Chicago 
and is a single man; Fred M. conducts the 
marble business for his father, is liis partner 
and lives at home; Louisa K. is a skilled 
seamstress and lives at home; J. Michael; B. 
lives at home and is a printer by trade; and 
Bertha S., a skillful seamstress resides at 
home. The ciiildren are all members, with 
their parents, of the Holy Redeemer Catholic 
Church. 

ATTllEW H. GAY.— The subject of 
the present sketch has been living in 
the city of Madison since November 
1, 1851, prominently connected with tiie 
business interests of this capital city. Bo- 




ginning here as a tailor on the bench, he 
later, in 1857. went into the business of agri- 
culture, by purchasing land in Fitchburg 
township, where he carried on farming until 
18()5. At that time he wtint to Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin, and there established a tailoring 
business, which he conducted for four years, 
at the end of which tinie he came back to 
Madison and worked at his trade until the 
year 1881, when he purchased his present 
location, 302 State street, where he has since 
conducted a very successful business. Mr. 
Gay thoroughly understands his occupation 
and the demands of his trade: carrying only 
first-class goods, he has only first-class cus- 
tom. His career has been a prosperous one 
and he may regard it with pardonable pride 
as he has gained all himself, by his honest 
methods and by his industry. 

By birth our subject is an Englishman, 
having first seen the light of day in Stroud, 
Gloucestershire, England, in 1827, coming of 
pure English stock, a son of John and Ann 
(Harrison) Gay, natives of the same place, 
where they lived and died. The father was 
but a young man, only thirty-six years of age, 
when his useful life ended, having followe<i 
the occupation of maltster. The mother of 
our subject came to America in 1852, follow- 
ing her son, and her death took ])laco July 
13, 1854, upon the same sad night that 
witnessed the death of her son John, both 
from the cholera. Oni^ brother, Enos, is liv- 
ing in La Crosse county, Wisconsin, a re- 
tired hardware merchant. 

Our subject is the youngest but one of 
nine sons born to his parents. The family 
has been divided: One brother, George, hav- 
ing died in Australia; one, Leonard, died in 
London; two, Esau and Henry, died in 
Bristol, England; and two others died in the 
old home place in England, when young. 



DANE VOUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



as;! 



When fourteen years of age our suliject 
was apprenticed to learn the trade of tailor, 
serving at it for seven years, then working as 
a iourneynian until he had earned enough to 
hrinir him to America. Leaving Bristol on 
the sailing vessel the Java, he reached New 
York city after a voyage of forty-nine days, 
which was very rough and almost caused the 
loss of the vessel and much hardship was ex- 
perienced by the passengers. From New 
York our snhject came on to Buffalo, New 
York, thence around the lakes to Milwaukee, 
landincr at four o'clock in the morning of 
June 17, with seventy-tive cents in his pocket, 
which his breakfast reduced to twenty-live. 
To a person of the enterprising kind that our 
subject proved to be, this was not such a des- 
perate Stat 3 of affiiirs, for by seven o'clock 
that same morning he had obtained work. 

Discouragements seemed to be just lying 
around waiting for Mr. Gay, notwithstanding 
his happy name, for although he worked 
faithfully until July 4, earning §17. all that 
was paid him was §2.25; and the next $10 
that he earned was lost by the defaulting of 
a bank in which he had placed it for safe 
keeping. After eighteen months of work he 
had managed to save §50, and then walked 
300 miles to lind a place which suited him 
for a home. For a time he located at Lake 
Mills, Wisconsin. The country around there 
was but sparsely settled, entailing many hard- 
ships, and later he came into the city of Madi- 
son, where he has been very successful, as 
he brought with him the same characteristics 
which nuide him friends and gave him work 
when he came into the country poor and a 
stranger. 

Mr. Gay has taken a deep and active inter- 
est in all matters pertaining to the city and 
country since locating here. During the 
rebellion he gave of his means for its sup- 



pression, an<l was for some time a Republi- 
can, but at iiresent is a Prohibitionist, lie 
is "a member of the Congregational Church 
and has been so for a number of years. 

The marriage of our subject took place in 
this city, with Miss Sarah C. Story, who was 
born in Pennsylvania and went to Missouri 
when quite young with her parents, and 
there her father, William Story died, she 
coming to Madison in 18-t!» with her mother 
from Illinois, and since locating here she has 
been socially connected with the pleasantest 
circle in this city, being an active member of 
the Congregational Church and a very lovable 
woman. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. 
Gay has been blessed with a family of nine 
children. Three of these are deceased, two 
in infancy, and one, little Ethel, at the age of 
ten years. Those wlio have been spared, are 
Sarah Ann, Lucy Maria, Leonard W., Mar- 
guerite G., Matthew J. and Robert J. This 
family is one of the most highly esteemed 
in the city of Madison, every member of it 
having acquitted himself with credit. 

I L L I A M F I S C II E R, a success- 
ful merchant and the Postmaster at 
Paoli, is the subject of this sketch. 
He is the oldest merchant in the place, and 
his residence in Dane county, Wisconsin, 
dates from 1854. He was born in Rhein 
Pfalz, Bavaria, August 24, 1837, being a son 
of John and Catherine Fischer, natives of 
Bavaria, born 1809 and 1814, respectively. 
The father of our subject owned a very good 
farm in his native land, but concluded that 
he could do better in the new world, there- 
fore, in 1854, started for the United States, 
landing in New York in April, coming at 
once to Wisconsin, by rail to Stoughton, 




384 



BIOOliAPSICAL UK VIEW OF 



thence to Madison by wacjon. Mr. Fisclier 
at once entered IfiO acres of Governnieut 
land, in section 5, Montrose township, and 
also purchased eighty-six acres of land, all of 
which was unimproved and covered with tim- 
ber, lie built a log cabin and the family 
commenced life in true pioneer style. There 
were no roads, and the nearest market was 
Madison, sixteen miles distant, but he had 
expected hardships and difficulties as he had 
but little money when he came to the United 
States. He was a very hardworking^ man, 
persevering, industrious and economical, and 
gave his whole attention to farming and 
gained a competency before he died, in 1880, 
his wife surviving him ten years. They were 
both members of the Roman Catholic Church, 
and he found the Democratic party to best 
agree with his political views. Five chil- 
dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fischer, Sr., 
three of whom grew to maturity, as follows: 
Catharine, who is now the wife of Frank 
Duppler and resides in Montrose township; 
Barbara, wife of William ]\rinch, of the 
same township, and our subject, who is the 
oldest of the three. 

Our subject attended t!«e district schools 
after coming to the United Stales, and ably 
assisted in clearing the farm. He resided at 
homo until ho was twenty-six years of age, 
when he took a trip East. He went to Phila- 
delphia, I'ennsylvania, where he engaged in 
clerking for some time, then went to Tyrone, 
Pennsylvania, he engaged in the same occu- 
pation, but after three years residence in the 
East, he returned to Wisconsin, and estab- 
lished the business at I'aoli, which he still 
conducts, and has been Postmaster of the 
town since 1866. Mr. Fischer also represents 
four fire-insurance companies. 

He was married in 1867, to Miss Emilia 
Sitzipan, daughter of Peter and Anna Maria 



Sitzman. then livincr in the city of Madison. 
She was born in West Point, New York, and 
accompanied her parents to Wisconsin. Mr. 
and Mrs. Fischer have four children: Emma; 
Julia, now wife of Paul Krause, of Chicago; 
Irena and Anna. All of the children have 
been well educated. In jiolitics, Mr. Fischer 
is a Democrat, and has been called upon to 
serve in the offices of Town Treasurer and 
Township Clerk, the former for a period of 
seven years, and the latter for ten years. 
Twenty-five years of married life! have not 
changed his love of humor, and he is still 
fond of his jokes, and is a genial and enter- 
taininjr gentleman. 

IPSON. PHINEAS BALDWIN, one of the 
\W\ leading and inllnential Kepulilicans of 
"^i the city of Madison, was born in county 
of Kent, Canada, December 4, 1824. His 
father, David S. Baldwin, was born in Litch- 
field, Connecticut, whose father, Phineas 
Baldwin, was born in the same place. The 
great-great-grandfather of our subject, John 
Baldwin, was a native of Europe and was 
kidnapped when a mere child; was brought 
to America and sold for his passage. He 
was reared in Connecticut, where he was mar- 
ried; reared ten sons and finally died at the 
ripe old age of 104. The great grandfather 
of our subject spent his entire life in Con- 
necticut. He reared three sons, all of whom 
served in the Revolutionary war. The grand- 
father of our subject married in Connecticut, 
from thence moved to Canada and settled 
near Bellville, where he spent the remainder 
of his days. The maiden name of his wife 
was Sarah Landon, a native of Connecticut, 
she die<l near Morpeth, at an advanced age. 
The father of our subject was young when 



DANE OOONTT, WISCONSIN. 



385 



liis parents removed to Canada and located 
in Kent county, where David S. married and 
was one of the first settlers of the county. 
He secured a tract of Government hmd in 
the present locality of Clearville, on 
Talbot street. Here he built a log house, 
where our subject was born. At this time 
there were plenty of wild game, such as deer, 
bears, etc., and there were no railroads there 
for years. The people subsisted on the wild 
game and products of their land. After a 
few years the father built a frame house, 
cleared the land and resided in Canada until 
1849. He then came to Wisconsin and set- 
tled in Dane county, where he bought a tract 
of 600 acres of land in the town of OrefTon, 
on which he resided until his death. The 
maiden name of the mother of our subject 
was Catherine Roome, born in Nova Scotia, 
of English ancestry. After the death of her 
husband she returned to Canada and resided 
with her daughter until her death, at the age 
of eighty-seven. 

The father of our subject kept public house 
at Clearville for many years, and for seven- 
teen years had the contract to carry the mail, 
a part of the time from St. Thomas to Erie, 
and the remainder from St. Thotnas to Am- 
herstburg. 

Our suliject was one of ten children and 
was reared in his native county. The sum- 
mer before he was thirteen years of age he 
began to carry the mail. He rode on horse- 
back from St. Thomas to Erie, a distance of 
sixty-five miles, through a dense wood part 
of the way, with the wolves howling in his 
wake. When he was eighteen years of age 
he began to learn the trade of woodturner, 
and followed that for four years and then 
engaged in farming and stage driving. In 
1854 he came to Dane county and engaged 
in farming until 1879, and in 1882 came to 



Madison, where he has resided continuously 
ever since. A portion of the time he was 
engaged in the sale of real estate, but is now 
engag-ed in the sale of musical instruments. 

Our subject was marriecl in 1846 to Mehit- 
able Young, born near Decoes P^alls, Canada; 
a daughter of Philip and Mary Young. She 
died in 1853, and in 1855 Mr. Baldwin was 
married a second time, this marriage being to 
Eliza M. Montgomery, born in Erie county, 
New York, daughter of Henry and Maria 
Montgoinerv. 

Mr. Baldwin has been an ardent Republi- 
can ever since the formation of the party. 
His efforts for the party have been rewarded 
by several offices, which he has tilled with 
signal ability. Among the offices held Ijy 
him are, Justice of the Reace, which office he 
held for twenty-one years in the town of Ore- 
gon and two years iu the city of Madison; 
one term as Alderman in the city of Madison; 
fifteen years a member of the Town Board of 
Oregon ; eight years a member of the County 
Board of Supervisors, and in 1870 was chosen 
Sheriff of the county and served two years. 
In 1872 he was elected to the State Legisla- 
ture, and so acceptably did he serve that in 
1877 he was returned to the same position by 
the people of his district. In all the offices 
he has held he has proven himself a good offi- 
cial and citizen. 



-«J;^S-f|i 



3f>- 



^APTAIN WILLIAM HOGBIN, one 

of the well-known residents of the city 
of Madison, is the subject of our pres- 
ent notice. He carries on the business of 
repairing, dyeing and tailoring for the Uni- 
versity at Madison, and with this is a prac- 
tical carpenter, mechanic and harnessniaker. 
The present business was established some 



386 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



fifteen years ago and is , now located at No. 
414 West Gilman street. Mr. Hoghin spent 
three years on the bencli, and there learned 
the details of his business, and for the past 
twelve years has carried it on witli the 
greatest success, winning the regard of not 
only his customers, but also of the people of 
the city generally. 

Our subject was born in Dover, England, 
September 24, 1834, coming of good old 
Anglo-Saxon stock, and is the son of Robert 
and Elizabeth (Monday) Hogbin, natives of 
Kent, Dover county, England, where they 
lived near neighbors to the great temperance 
lecturer, Gough. Robert llogbin grew up 
in his native county and passed many years 
on the English race-course as a successful 
jockey, and was one of the most daring riders 
of either England or Wales in his day. Many 
times he was the driver selected by the Duke 
of Wellington, and has been a driver for the 
Plnglish Queen in Iier youthful days, as his 
skill with a horse was widely known. Later 
in life he became a reserve soldier under 
Wellington, serving some time, l>ut later, in 
1853, with his wife and family, removed to 
America. They left London on the sailing 
vessel, the " Prince Albert," landing in New 
York city in Jnne, going from there to Utica, 
New York. After the cliildren hail grown, 
the parents came as far west as l)ubuque, 
Iowa, where they both died, the father at the 
age of eighty-nine and the mother at the age 
of eighty-one years. Mr. Hogbin was born 
in 1792, the mother in 1791, and for many 
years they had been worthy members of the 
Methodist Church. 

A brother of our subject came to this 
country early in life and was a soldier in the 
war of the Revolution, 1796. William is the 
youngest of a family of eleven children, of 
whom five are yet living. He was yet a 



young man when his parents came to this 
country, and had learned his trade with his 
brother George in West London, serving an 
apprenticeship of nearly seven years, and after 
coming to the United States he followed his 
trade for one year in Utica and then engaged 
as a clerk in a market store for a term of two 
years, during which time he was married. 

The marriage of our subject took place 
with Mrs. Catherine Knott, nee Tiffany, the 
widow of Joseph M. Knott, a native of Eng- 
land, who had carried on a trade of harness- 
making, dying in the prime of life in Utica. 
New York, leaving his widow with three 
children. Walter S. and Albert W. Knott 
are both deceased. The former served in the 
late war in Company D, Ninth Hlinois Vol- 
unteer C'avalry, came home, married and died 
some two years ago. The daughter of Mrs. 
Knott was Mary, now the widow of Stedman 
13. Farrier, of Michigan. She now lives in 
Chicago, with her two daughters and one 
son. Mr. Farrier served through the Rebell- 
ion with Ct)mpany D. Fitth Michigan Vol- 
unteer Infantry, and entered as a student out 
of the State University. 

Our subject enlisted from Chicago. Illinois, 
in 1862, in Company E, Eighty-eiglith Hli- 
nois Volunteer Infantry, as a tailor, being, 
however, soon put upon detached d\ity as 
regimental tailor, in what was well known as 
the Second Board of Trade Regiment of Chi- 
cago. 

Mr. Hogbin took part in the battle at 
Perryville, Stone river, and was in many 
other engagements, remaining in the service 
for nearly three years, being mustered out 
July 5, 1865. A full record of the military 
career of our valiant subject can be found in 
the Soldier's and Citizen's Album of the 
State of Wisconsin. Since the war our sub- 
ject has been a devoted citizen to the Union 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



387 



and tlie old flap; for which he fouirlit, and is a 
proniineut member of the C. G. Washburn 
Post, No. 11, of Madison, in whicli he has 
held the office of Chaplain three years and six 
months, and has also been Officer of the Day. 
In his political opinions our subject is one of 
the stron|j;est of liepublicans. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hogbin attend the Congregational Church, 
are honest, upright people, and have many 
warm friends in this city. Their one daugh- 
ter, Elizabeth Jane, is the wife of Edwin M. 
Dorn, a member of the firm of Dorn Brothers, 
liverymen of this city. (See sketch of Frank 
Dorn.) 



fAMES DAVIE BUTLER, LL.D., was 
born in Rutland, Vermont, March 15, 
1815. His father, a merchant, had set- 
tled at that Green Mountain village in 1787, 
but was born in Boston, in which city his 
lineage has been traced as far as 1635, or 
five years after its foundation. 

The suijject of this sketch was graduated 
from Middlebnry College in 1836, and after 
a year at Yale, as post graduate, returned to 
his Alma Mater as a tutor, and on the death 
of one of the professors became an acting 
professor. In 1840 he finished the theolog- 
ical course at Andover, where he at once be- 
came Abbott Resident, a sort of fellow. 
During the second year of his occupancy of 
this position he accepted an invitation to be- 
come the travelijig companion of Prof. E. 
A. Park on a Eurojjean tour. 

In 1842 Trans- Atlantic travel was a nov- 
elty and somewhat adventurous. No one 
from Rutland, or Andover had ever been 
abroad. The tourists embarked from New 
York, June 23, on a sailing packet and were 
forty-seven days in reaching Ilambui'g. 



While in Germany they maile their trips on 
foot and in the diligence. Their two chief 
pedestrian tours were in the Ilartz mountains 
and along the Rhine from Mainz to Bonn. 
They lingered in Cassel, Frankfort, Heidel- 
berg and other cities, and then separated with 
a view to learn the language. 

Mr. Butler attended lectures in Jena, Ber- 
lin and Halle, but in January, 1843, set out 
for Rome, halting at Dresden, Prague, Vi- 
enna and Venice on his way. He continued 
in Rome, Naples, Florence and othei- Italian 
cities for five months, rambled six weeks in 
the Alps, half as long in France and then 
reached the British Isles. In this British 
domain railroads were already comnnju, but 
Mr. Butler was uoi too late for a ride on the 
top of a four-in-hand from Dover to Gretna 
Green and far into Scotland. He reached 
home in time for a Thanksgiving dinner in 
New York. 

Few persons had at that day made so ex- 
tended and leisurely a trip abroad, hence Mr. 
Butlei''s lectures on his travels were popular. 
Among his subjects were: the Architecture 
of St. Peter's at Rome; Naples and its 
Neighborhood; Visits to Pompeii; Alpine 
Wanderings; German Provincial Life; Euro- 
pean Peculiarities; and one or more of these 
lectures he was called upon to deliver over 
300 times in, or near, New England. Dur- 
ing this European journey he had been a for- 
eign correspondent for the New York Ob- 
server. 

Mr. Butler supplied the pulpits of two 
Congregation Churches, in West Newbury, 
Massachusetts, and Burlington, Vermont, half 
a year in each. In the fall of 1845 he became 
a professor in Norwich University, Vermont, 
and acted as president after General Ransom 
departed for Mexico. At the end of two 
years, in 1847, he was installed pastor of the 



388 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OP 



Congregational Church at Wells River, Ver- 
mont, and after a ministry of three years there 
he was called to the church in South Danvers 
(now Peabody), Massachusetts, a pastorate 
which he left within about two years for 
another in Cincinnati, where he remained 
al)out the same length of time. The climate 
there proving unhealthy to his family. Mr. 
I.utler, in 185-1, was inaugurated Professor 
of (ireek in Wabash College, Crawfordsville, 
Indiana. Uere he taught four years, until 
the ague of the Wabash valley rendered a call 
to a similar chair in the State University of 
Wisconsin irresistible. Here he taught for 
nine years, and then in 1867 bade farewell to 
professional duties. 

In 18(53 Prof. Butler received the degree 
of LL. D. from his Alma Mater. In 1847 
he had l)een elected a member of tlie New 
England Historic (Trenealogical Society. At 
this time (1892) only four of those who had 
been earlier members survive. Ever since 
1854 he has been a member of the American 
Antiquarian Society, at Worcester, Massa- 
chusetts, and in 1892 his standing out-ranked 
that of all others save si.\. Historical re- 
search has always been a favorite pursuit with 
Mr. Butler and his two addresses before the 
Vermont Historical Society were the first ever 
published by that Association. One of these 
was delivered in the capitoi at Montpelier, 
while he was standing between two cannons 
taken at Bennington, and just then, October 
20, 1848, restored Ijy Congress to Vermont. 
In preparing for this occasion Mr. Butler bad 
found the last survivor of those who had 
fought at Bennington, seventy-one years be- 
fore. The narrative of tliis veteran — Thomas 
Mellen — was introduced into his speech by 
Mr. Butler, and a copy of the whole was sent 
by the Legislature to every town in the State. 
While residing in Ohio and Indiana Prof. 



Butler gave addresses on historical subjects, 
and in 1870 he was invited to visit his native 
town, liutland, Vermont, to deliver a histori- 
cal address at its centenary, October 5. 
Rutland had become the second town in Ver- 
mont and her celebration was the finest that 
had been witnessed in the State. From the 
time of Prof. Butler's entry into Wisconsin 
he has been an active member of the State 
Historical Society. Usually as an official of 
some kind, he has served during the past few 
years as a vice-president. He was the person 
who discovered the Perkins collection of 
coppei- implements, aided in keeping thetn in 
the State, and delivered an address in the 
ca[)itol concerning them, which was illustrated 
by heliotypes. This address is sought for by 
pre- historic specialists the world over. His 
papers for the State Historical Society, col- 
lections on the copper age, speeches on the 
same topic in Washington before the Amer- 
ican Philosophical Society, in Worcester be- 
fore the American Antiquarian Society, were 
specimens of his antiquarian researclies. In 
the department of American history he has 
been equally interested. His monographs on 
the naming of America, on portraits of Co- 
lumbus, American Pre-revolutionary IJililiog- 
rapiiy, and Revolutionary Thunder may be 
mentioned. Among his published sermons 
are his farewell disclosure at Danvers, another 
at the burial of General Ransom, who had 
been killed at the storming of Chepultepec. 
Some of his educational pul)lications were: 
Incentives to Mental Culture among Teachers, 
an address in Troy, New York, 1852, before 
the American Institute, 5,000 copies of which 
were printed by that association for gratuitous 
distribution; How a Dead Language Makes a 
Live Man; or a Defense of Classical Study, be- 
fore the National Association at Detroit, and 
Commonplace Books, a lecture written after 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



389 



he had himself ke])t one for a quarter of a 
century, and which was declared by no means 
coinmonpiace in half of States of the Union. 
In addition to these productions, his articles 
have appeared in various periodicals, Lippin- 
cott, Bibliotheca Sacra, the Wisconsin Acad- 
emy and the Genealogical Register for many 
years. More than a hundred of his articles 
have been published in the New York Nation, 
and more than a thousand others, partly 
letters during his journeys and more of them 
on his diversified studies, printed in lioston, 
New York, Chicago and Cincinnati, he has 
preserved in nine octavos of clippings. 

Two of his long vacations Prof. Butler 
spent in Hartford, Connecticut, and there 
wrote nearly all the letter-jiressof a volumeof 
399 pages, entitled " Armsmear, — the Home, 
Arm and Armory of Colonel Samuel Colt," 
a splendidly illustrated memorial brought out 
by liis widow. In 1888 Prof. Butler pub- 
lished Butleriana, a genealogy of the descend- 
ants of Mary Butler and the families with 
which they had intermarried. His pampldets 
on Nebraska, onward from 1869, had no small 
influence in turning the stream of migration 
in that direction. His paper on the Hapa.x 
Legomena, or woi-ds used once for all in 
Shakespeare, was every where recognized as a 
new departure in Shakespearian study and has 
often been reprinted in New York, Philadel- 
phia, etc. 

On the one hand Prof. Butler has always 
been a recluse student, a bookworm; at other 
times he has abjured books for years. As a 
boy he walked 150 miles to climb Mount 
Washington. In 1842-'43 he rambled over 
Europe for eighteen months. In 1867-'68 he 
repeated those early rambles and extended 
them to regions not before penetrated, as 
Spain, Poland, Russia, Turkey, Greece, Pal- 
estine and Egypt. On this journey he spent 



thirty days in a Syrian saddle, and more than 
twenty journeying up the Nile. In 1878-'79 
and 1884 he made two other European toui's. 
Nor was he neglectful of American travel; in 
1869 he went to California and the Yosemite 
valley and during the trip was a guest in ten 
United States forts west of the Missouri river. 
At this time he voyaged to the Sandwich Is- 
lands in a sailing vessel, and while there 
went to the bottom of the crater of Kelauea, 
the largest known volcano. At the opening 
of the Northern i'acitic, in 1883, be first saw 
Oregon and went through Puget sound into 
British Columbia, (^n his way West he had, 
with three companions, explored Yellowstone 
Park. These pioneers slept thirteen nights 
on the ground, unsheltered l.>y tents. Early 
in 1883 he turned his attention southwest 
and traveled through Te.xas in Mexico, and in 
1887 he spent the winter in Cuba and Florida, 
with a sojourn in Charleston jnst after the 
earthtjuake. Thus by degrees this wanderer 
trod the soil of every existent State as well as 
the Territories that were to round out the 
forty-four. 

The ilesire and love for travel grew with 
the gratifications it afforded until in -luly, 
1890, nothing would satisfy Dr. Butler but a 
trip round the world. At this date he started 
to put Puck's gii'dle round the earth; not in 
forty minutes, however, but in seventeen 
mouths. Ileaching Vancouver by the Cana- 
dian route, and failing of a Pacific steamer he 
traveled 1,100 miles to San Francisco by the 
Shasta railroad. Embarking on the Belgic, 
August 12. he landed at Yokohoma, on the 
28th. From there he went to Kamakura, 
Tokio, Utsonomia, Nikko, Chu-Sen-Zee, Na- 
goya, Kioto, Kobe, Nagasaki. Voyaging 
through the Inland and Yellow seas he ar- 
rived in Shanghai. He then pushed up the 
Yang-tse-Kiang to Wu-hu, Chin-Kiang, Kiu- 



390 



BIOORAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



Kiang. and Han-Kow. He was also several 
weeks in southern China, tonehincr at Macao, 
Ilong-Kong and Canton. He was the first 
Wisconsin man seen by the American Consul, 
who had been there ten years. In passing to 
Ceylon he touched at Sini^apore and Penan^, 
went up a Ceylonese mountain to Candy and 
Perendenia. His landing in India was at 
Tutticorin. In the south he saw Madura, 
Trichinopoly, Tanjore, Kumbiconam and 
Madras. Tiience he sailed to Calcutta and 
then railed to the foot of Mount Everest, the 
hif^hest peak in the Himalayas. Returning 
to the Ganges he lingered in the cities of the 
great Moguls, Benares, Lucknow, Agra, Fate- 
pur, Delhi, Jaypore, Amber, Ahmadabad, and 
tlius reached Bombay. A voyage as long as 
from New York to Liverpool brought him to 
Ismailia. As he had been there before he 
had already swung round the great circle, but 
he went up the Nile again with double zest, 
and explored many unbeaten paths in Greece, 
Sicily and Italy. After hasty surveys of the 
Alps, Germany and France he began his long- 
est voyage in time This was from Hull to 
Stavanger, Bergen, Drotheim, Molde, Trom- 
soe and Ilammerfest to the North (^ape. He 
thus walked about in the most northern towns 
of the world, and thanks to clear weatlier, 
beheld the midnight sun at its fullest and 
best. This world-circling begun at the age 
of seventy-six, was performed without any 
traveling companion. It brought him into 
regions where cholera was rife and he once 
fell down as if dead from sunstroke, but the 
trip was accomplished without sickness or ac- 
cident .Tlie happy rover daily met new friends, 
wlio made his world wider, or old ones, who 
made it warmer. He also seemed to rejuve- 
nate and his advice to every friend was, " Go 
thou and do likewise. " 

Prof. Butler was married in 1845, to Anna, 



daughter of Rev. Joshua Bates, for more than 
twenty years president of Middiebury Col- 
lege, chaplain of Congress, etc. Professor 
and Mrs. Butler lost a young daughter in 
Massachusetts and a son by cholera in Cin- 
cinnati, but four of their children survive. 
Mrs. Butler died at Superior, Wisconsin, 
June 9, 1892, and was buried in Madison. 

fOHN C. MILLER, a prominent and in- 
fluential farmer of Fitcliburg township, 
Wisconsin, was born in Springfield, 
Windsor county, Vermont, March 22, 1826. 
His father, also John Miller, was born in 
Grafton, Worcester county, Massachusetts, 
and his father, James H. Miller, was, as far 
as is known, a native of the same town. The 
father of James, the great-grand father of our 
subject, was a farmer and spent his last 
years in the town of Grafton. Here James 
lived after him on the farm his industry had 
reclaimed from the wilderness, and the for- 
mer was a brave soldier in tiie Revolutionary 
war. In about 1805, however, the old life 
grew too restricted for James Miller and he 
removed, with teams, to Vermont, where he 
was a pioneer of the town of Springfield. 
The trip from Massachusetts to Vermont 
was a hard one, as it was made in the winter 
season. Mr. Miller had traded his farm in 
the former State for one at Springfield, and 
here he spent his last days witii his faithful 
wife, whose maiden name was Lncy Pratt, a 
native of the same town as her husband. 

Tlic father of our subject was only ten 
years of age when his parents removed to 
Vermont, and there he was reared and mar- 
ried to Statira Booth, born in Lempster, New 
Hampshire, in 1792, daughter of Jonathan 
and Sally (Scott) Booth. Mr. Miller served 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



391 



in the war of 1812 and resided in Spring- 
field until 1850, when he came to Wisconsin 
and bought a tract of land in section 35, 
P'itchburg township. In 1879 lie sold this 
farm and bought a farm in section 36, on 
which lie resided until his death, which 
lamented event occurred when he was ninety 
years of age. 

Our subject was reared and educated in 
Springfield and resided there until 1840, 
when he removed to Lansingburg, New 
York, and was engaged in a floor-cloth fac- 
tory until 1848, when he removed to New 
Hampshire and remainecl a few months, 
when he returned home and pursued his trade 
of blacksmith until 1850, when he came to 
Wisconsin, via Troy, New York, and on the 
Erie canal to Euffalo, where he took a steamer 
to Milwaukee, and from there made the 
journey with team to Dane county, where he 
engaged in farming with his father and 
brother-in-law, Franklin Sutton. He was in 
partnership with them for many yeai's. He 
now owns a tine impnjved farm of 116 acres 
on section 30, Fitchbiirg township, where he 
carries on general farming and stock-raising. 

Mr. Miller was married in 1856 to Miss 
Adelia M. Waite, native of Napoleon, Henry 
county, Ohio. Three children have been 
born to these parents: Alice I., J. W. and 
W. E. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. 
Miller is an ardent Republican in politics. 



|AMUEL HAWLEY,a farmerof section 
5, Berry township, Dane county, Wis- 
consin, was born in Barnsley, York- 
shire, England, in 1830, a son of Samuel and 
Hannah (Cherry) Hawley. The mother was 
a daughter of Thomas Cherry. The paternal 



grandfather of our suliject, William Hawley, 
came to America in a very early day, where 
he engaged in farming. While in the old 
country he followed gardening. His death 
occurred in St. Louis at about eighty years 
of age, leaving a large estate. He was the 
father of three daughters and two sons. In 
1845 Samuel Hawley, the father of our sub- 
ject, came to America to look after his 
father's estate, sailing from Liverpool to 
Boston on the St. Petersburg, an American 
craft. They were six weeks on the ocean, 
and encountered a field of icebergs and sev- 
eral severe storms. In one of the latter, a 
whirlwind, they had a most miraculous 
escape. They came to the second field of ice, 
eighty-five miles long, and on which could 
be seen polar boars and seals. The Hawleys 
came in company with three other families, 
relatives, and they all landed without money. 
After landing in Boston they went i)y rail to 
Albany, by canal to Buffalo, by the lake to 
Milwaukee, and then by hired teams to Berry 
township, Dane county, Wisconsin. The 
first winter the Hawley family lived on one 
of the Emigration and Society Farms, then 
rented a place near l)y, and in the spring of 
1849 purchased 100 acres in this township, 
where the father died in January, 18(50, aged 
about fifty-five years, ami the mothei- in 1881, 
at the age of seventy-six years. At their death 
they left six children, viz.: William, a 
farmerof this county; Thomas, engaged in 
agricultural pursuits in South Dakota; Jane, 
who died in Minnesota at the age of forty- 
six years, was the wife of Augustus Barnes; 
Sa'.nuel, our subject; John, engaged in farm- 
ing near the home place; and Mary, wife of 
Reuben Witcher, also a farmer of this 
county. One daughter, Sarah, died at the 
age of three years. 

Samuel Hawley, the subject of this sketch. 



392 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



was married April 8, 1861, to Miss Mary 
Ford, a native of England, who came to 
Ainerica about the same time as Mr. Haw- 
ley. They beiran married life in a part of 
the present home, a log house. To this 
union was born seven children, as follows: 
Ernest W., aged thirty years, is a farmer in 
Nebraska; Herbert W., a farmer of Spring- 
field township, Dane county, married Miss 
Eugenia Ford and has one daughter; Asa, at 
home; Viola Mary, who has been engaged iu 
teaching for three years; Corn(4ia J., wife 
of Edgar Ford, has two sons, and they re- 
side witli her father; Nellie B., aged sixteen 
years, is at home; and Fred S.,aged fourteen 
years. The mother of these children died 
June 10, 1884, aged forty-seven years. Mr. 
Ilawley is a stanch Republican in his politi- 
cal views, and has served as Supervisor of 
the Side Hoard one term. Religiously, he 
has been a member of the Methodist Church 
for the past thirty-eight years, of which de- 
nomination his wife was also a member. 
The home of our subject is most delightfully 
embowered, is located near the native woods, 
and the shade trees, consisting of cedar 
balsam, Norway spruce and Scotch fir, 
were planted by his own hands. One famous 
native burr oak was planted when a slender 
sapling. The old log house built by him of 
hewed logs is still a safe shelter from the 
cold blasts of a Wisconsin winter, and is now 
an addition to the new frame dwelling. 



^. 



E^ 



[EORGE L. FRANCIS, a prominent 
citizen of Wauiiakee, Wisconsin, was 
born in Essex county. New York, June 
7, 1830. His father, Stephen, a farmer of 
New York was the son of Samuel Francis, 
who died in Erie county, Pennsylvania, at 



the home of one of his sons. He was the 
father of four sons and two daughters, all of 
whom reared families of their own. The 
grandfather and grandmother lived to old 
age and are buried in Franklin township, 
Erie county, Pennsylvania. The father of 
our subject married in Essex county, New 
York, Charlotte Allen, of that place, a 
dauirhter of Adna Allen, a farmer of tliat 
county, who died in Erie county at the home 
of our subject's parents. They moved to 
Erie county in the summer of 1834, when he 
was but four years old, and being in humble 
circumstances they bought l)ut a small farm. 
The brothers, Levi. William, Alvin and 
Stephen, were all soldiers in the war of IS 12. 
Our subject was one of eleven children, 
being a family of seven daughters and four 
sons. One son and one daughter died in in- 
fancy, and one son, Philip, died at the age 
of eleven years, killed by a tree accidentally 
falling upon him. Mr. Francis, of this sketch, 
and four sisters are still living. His brother, 
Cyrus S., was a volunteer in the Eighty-third 
Pennsylvania Infantry, was wounded at the 
battle of the Wilderness, taken prisoner, and 
about a month later was exchanged, but died 
iu the hospital at Philadelphia. His wound 
was in the foot, having been caused by the 
explosion of a shell. The foot was ampu- 
tated by rebel surgeons and after his ex- 
change another ojieration was performed, by 
which part of his limb was removed, but his 
life could not be saved and he died in the 
prime of maniiood, aged twenty-six years. 
The mother died in 1852, aged forty-eight 
years, and the father died about 1878, aged 
eighty. 

Mr. Francis was reared at home on the 
farm, attended the district schools during the 
winter, became fairly proficient in the com- 
mon branches, and at the age of eighteen he 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



■Mi 



learned the tanner's trade, but only worked at 
this tliree years. He taught the district 
school one winter in Pennsylvania. 

Mr. Francis was married at the age of 
twenty-two years to Miss Sally T. Fish, a 
daughter of Asahel and Mary (Lane) Fish, 
natives of Vermont. Mrs. Francis was born 
in Canada, June, 1827. She was taken tt) 
Crawford county, Pennsylvania, Ijy her par- 
ents at the ag-e of seven years, and four years 
later they moved to Erie county, Pennsylvania, 
where she met her fate and was married, as 
above noted, July 4, 1852, by Elder Bullock of 
the Christian Church. They began housekeep- 
ing there, and in September. 1853, came to 
Sheboygan, Wisconsin, by water, bringing 
their own team and wagon, in which they 
brought their household effects to Dekorra, 
Columbia county, Wisconsin, where they 
bought eighty acres of wild land, with a 
comfortable log house and five acres partly 
cleared and broken. They lived here eleven 
years, and during this time cleared the most 
of it and built a frame house. They then 
sold out for $800, which was but a small ad- 
vance, having paid $350 and made the im- 
provements. They moved to Westport town- 
ship in the fall of 1864, i)uying eighty acres, 
one-half mile north of the present village of 
Waunakee, which was not thought of, nor 
started until some seven years later. They 
paid $2,200 for this farm, which was under 
cultivation, with fair buildings, and four and 
one-half years later they bought eighty acres 
more, adjoining, for 83,000, or $37.50 per 
acre. On this farm they resided until 1880, 
when they sold it at an advance of $700, and 
Ijought eighty acres just west of it for §2,500. 
To this place they moved and lived five years, 
then bciugbt land in the village, on which 
they erected the present nice home. One 
year later Mr. Francis sold his farm for 



$4,000. Where ever he has lived he has 
been a jirominent man. While residing in 
Dukorrali he served the township as Town 
Clerk for seven years, and in Westport, 
while on the fai'm he was Assessor one year, 
and Treasurer and Collector one term. From 
1887 to 1891 he was a Justice of the Peace. 
For many years he has been an Odd Fellow. 
Mr. Francis is a Republican ami has a great 
admiration for the grand old party. 

Mr. and Mrs. Francis buried their infant 
son, Frank L., in Erie county, Pennsylvania. 
They have one son and one daughter living, 
namely: George R., and Ella M. The former 
married Mary Boyle, daughter of Joseph 
Boyle, of Onalaska, Wisconsin. He is a rail- 
roatl agent, at Merrillon, on the St. Paul & 
Omaha, and they have two sous and two 
daughters, namely: George J., Arthur Blaine, 
Alice L. and Saidie Francis. Ella is the 
wife of E. M. Demming, an attorney at-law, 
at Marshfield, Wisconsin. They have one 
son, Wayne Edgar. 

Mrs. Francis was one of eleven cliihlrcn, 
the middle one of the tlock, as her husliaud 
had been in his family. She has two brothiTs 
and tliree sisters living, namely: Asahel 
Fijh, a minister in the Christian Church, ad- 
vanced in years and retired, resides in 
Mitchell county, Iowa; Betsy M.. is the widow 
of James F. Luther and resides in Milwau- 
kee; Marshall S., is a farmer of VVyocena, 
Wisconsin; Emily, the wife of Augustus 
Moulton, resides at l\)ynette, Wisconsin, and 
Mary is the wife of John Kline, a farmer of 
Mitchell county, Iowa. The parents of these 
are resting side by side in the Dekorrah ceme- 
tery. The mother died at the age of eighty- 
four, in 1884, and the father, in April, ISSIJ, 
in his ninety-ninth year. He was a minister 
in the Christian Church, and traveled in that 
connection for forty years, when this meant 



394 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



much labor and privation and very small 
pay. lie was a pensioner of the war of 1812; 
was a man of great strength of body and 
mind and preserved his faculties to the last, 
and died at the home of his daughter in 
Portage. 



^ENIIY M. LEWIS, a successful jurist 
r^ of Madison, was born in Cornwall, Ad- 
"^i dison county, Vermont, September 7, 
1830, a son of Martin and Sophia (^Russel) 
Lewis, natives respectively, of Cornwall, Ver- 
mont, and Tolland, Connecticut. Henry M. 
was reared on his father's farm in the former 
State, and received the advantages of a dis- 
trict school education. 

In April, 184G, he removed with his par- 
ents to Wisconsin, and located with them in 
that year in what is now Burke township, 
Dane county, Wisconsin, and followed farm- 
ing until the fall of 1850, when he entered 
the University of Wisconsin, where he re- 
mained, however, but one term, and taught 
school during the winter of 1851. At that 
time the total enrollment of pupils in the 
university was only al)out thirty, of all ages 
and grades. 

In the spring of 1851 Mr. Lewis began 
reading law with the tirin of Vilas tt Rem- 
ington, later with Collins, Smith & Keyes, 
and was admitted to the bar in October, 
1853. He first spent one year at Hudson, 
St. CJroix county, Wisconsin, where lie was a 
member of the law lirm of Semnies, McMil- 
lan it Lewis, but in 1854 he returned to 
Madison, where he has since engaged in the 
active practice of law and as a member of the 
following law firms: Lewis & Lathrop, Ains- 
worth. Johnson & Lewis, Stevens & Lewi?;, 
Stevens, Lewis & Flower, Lewis, McKenney 



«fe Teuney, Lewis, Lewis & Hale, Lewis & 
Harding, Lewis & Pfund, and he is at pres- 
ent a member of the firm of Lewis & Hritrgs. 

Politically, he affiliates with the Republi- 
can party; was District Attorney of Dane 
county from 1861 to 1863; Collector of In- 
ternal Revenue for the Second Collection 
District of Wisconsin from 1867 to 1873; 
United States District Attorney for the 
VVestern Distrect of Wisconsin from 1877 to 
1785; he has served three terms as Alder- 
man in Madison, one year of which he was 
President of the Common Council; a direc- 
tor of tlie Free Library since its organization 
in 1873, and was for several years President 
of the Board of Directors; has been a mem- 
ber of the Board of Education for twelve 
years, and is now President of the Board. 

He was admitted to the Supreme Court of 
the United States in May, 1875, and is a mem- 
ber of the American Bar Association. He 
is tlie author of the AVisconsin section of the 
work entitled " The Law of Incorporated 
Companies Operating Under Municipal Fran- 
chises," published by Allen R. Foote, of 
Washington, D. C, and Charles E. Everett, 
of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1892. 

Durinsj the winter term of 1892 he lect- 
ured on Equity Jurisprudence in the law 
school of the University of Wisconsin, in 
place of the Hon. I. C. Sloan, who was ab- 
sent on account of ill healtii. 

Mr. Lewis was married September 1, 1858, 
to Charlotte E. Clarke, a native of Carbon- 
dale, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Addison 
and Cynthia M. (Arnold) Clarke. To this 
union has been born three children, viz.: 
Lottie Breese, deceased, wife of William H. 
Holmes, of Janesville, AVisconsiu; Jessie 
Russel, wife of Rev. Lloyd Skinner, of Eau 
Clair, Wisconsin; Sophia M., Librarian of 



DANE COUNTY, WltiCONSlN. 



395 



the f^-ee Library of Madison. Mrs. Lewis 
died in August, ISS-i. 

In religion, Mr. Lewis is a ITuitarian, and 
an active member, and one of the Trustees of 
the First Unitarian Society of Madison, and 
he is President of tlie Wisconsin Cotiference 
of Unitarian and other liberal churches. 

The city of Madison, like most western 
cities, in its earlier history, undertook to aid 
in the building of railroads, whose lines came 
to or passed througii the city, and for that and 
other municipal improvements, issued its 
bonds to au amount beyond its ability to 
pay, and it was compelled to default in the 
payment of the interest on its bonds as it be- 
came due, and the city was in such a finan- 
cial condition as to seriously injure the town 
and prevent its future development. It was 
for the purpose of devising some means of 
extricating the city from its difficulties that 
Mr. Lewis was solicited by liis fellow-citizens 
and consented to be elected to the office of 
Alderman. lie devoted several years to the 
difficult task of placing the city upon a sound 
financial basis. He, witii the assistance of 
others, prepared and pi'ocured the passage of 
the needed legislation, thorough revision of 
the charter to enable the city to compromise 
and li(iuidate its then indebtedness, and to 
prevent the incurring of future indebtedness 
beyond its ability to promptly pay; and he, 
with the late Hon. J. C. Gregory, was ap- 
pointed by the Common Council agent of the 
city to visit the creditors of the city, mostly 
residing in the Eastern States, to adjust and 
compromise their claims against the city, a 
work which was successfully accomplished, 
and the city was relieved of the financial in- 
cubus which was destroying its prosperity. 

Mr. Lewis is distinguished for his ability 
as a trial lawyer, ami he is particularly strong 
before a jury. Possessing in an eminent de- 



gree mental acuteness, he addresses himself 
to the turning point in the case. He is noted 
especially for the candid and straightforward 
manner in which he addresses courts and 
juries, making his forensic efforts convincing 
and effectual, and him an opponent to be re- 
spected i)y opposing counsel. 

Upon the death of the Hon. Alva Stewart, 
Judire of Ninth Judicial Circuit of the State 
of Wisconsin, al>out January 1, 18'J0, Mr. 
Lewis was the choice of a large majority of 
the lawj'ers of the circuit as his successor, 
but the then Governor of the State, in whom 
the appointment was vested, for personal and 
other I'easons, refused to make the appoint- 
ment. 

Strictly faithful to trusts and honorable in 
all his dealings, and of a generous and genial 
disposition, he deservedly enjoys a high de- 
gree of popularity among his fellow-citizens. 



tALVIN FLOWER, a farmer and stock- 
raiser of section 24, west one half. 
^jsf^ northwest one quarter, was born in 
Asbfield, Massachusetts. His great-grand- 
father. Lemroek Flower, was a native of 
Connecticut, but resided in Ashfiehl, Massa- 
chusetts. William, grandfather of subject, 
was born in dinnecticut, but lived and died 
in Asbfield, Massachusetts. The fatlier of 
our subject, Phineas, was a native of Ash- 
field, Massachusetts, where he engaged in 
farmincr, and married Rebecca Jones. He 
and his wife had nine children, two tif whom 
are now living. The names of the (diildren 
are: Julia E., Calvin, Chester, Lucretia. 
Wealthy, Clarissa, James, Benjamin and 
Mary Ann. The two now living are: James 
P., in Greeley, Colorado; and the subject of 
this sketch. 



396 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



Oiir subject remained with his parents 
until the age of twenty-four, attending the 
district schools, with a term at the academy, 
previous to his eighteenth natal day, after 
which time he became a travelini; salesman, 
making trips tlirough ^'ew York, ><'ew Hamp- 
shire, Connecticut, Georgia, and other States, 
but still continuing to make his home with 
his parents. 

When he reached his twenty-fourth year 
he married Hannah Phillips, at Ashlield, 
Massachusetts, and settled at Hannibal, New 
York. Here he remained one year, selling 
goods and employing salesmen, and then 
went to Piielps, Ontario county, New I'ork, 
wliere he continued in the same business, 
part of the time running a store at that 
point. Here he renjained for eleven years, 
and then came to his present home, in 1844. 
where lie found more Indians tlian white 
people. At this place he bought 140 acres 
of land from the Government at §1.25 an 
acre, and drst lived with another settler 
until he could get a cabin built for himself. 
The family came via Erie canal to Buffalo, 
and lake to Milwaukee, and tlien by team to 
the present location, making the trip in eight 
days. In this new land Mr. Flower began to 
make a home. He had a pair of horses that 
lie bad driven through the country from 
New Y'ork, the journey consuming five or si.x 
weeks. He lived for many years in a small 
frame house, and then built a commodious 
one, in which he still lives. The little frame 
house still remains on the farm. Since ' 
coming to this locality he has resided here 
continuously, with the exception of two years 
spent in Madison. 

Five children have been added to the fam- 
ily, three of wiiom are still living. Tlie 
names of the children are: James Monroe, 
married and living in Chicago; Phineas 




Allen, married; Ellen Julia, died in 1S56. in 
Madison; George, died in 1842, in Phelps, 
New York; Edith Caroline, a resident of 
Chicago, widow of Colonel Bradford Han- 
cock. Mr. Flower's wife died July 30, 1882. 
Mr. Flower is a strong believer in protection, 
and therefore supports the Republican party. 
The I'resbyterian Church has in him a firm 
adherent. Mr. Flower has made a fine home 
here, and enjoys the esteem of the entire 
commnnity. He has served as Township and 
County Supervisor six years since living 
in Wisconsin. 



ILLIAM K. PARSONS, a retired 
farmer of Marshall, Wisconsin, was 
born in Crawford county, Pennsyl- 
vania, October 30, 1828. His grandfather, 
Simeon P., was a native of Massachusetts, 
liorn .May 12, 1774, who removed to Penn- 
sylvania and engaged in farming until his 
death, which occurred November 17. 1841. 
His son. Urbane P., father of subject, was 
born December 20, 1801, and was the oldest 
child in a family of nine children born to the 
union of Simeon Parsons and Nancy Carter. 
This lady was born July 23, 1781, in Massa- 
chusetts, and died March, 1848. in Wiscon- 
sin. The marriage of these two occurred 
February 18, 1801, and the nine children 
born to Mr. Parsons by his wife were as fol- 
lows: Urbane; Nancy, deceased; AVilliam, 
now in California; Samuel Lincoln, deceased; 
Arabella L., deceased; Adelia. of Saratoga 
Springs, Massachusetts; Gratia, deceased; 
Nancy, deceased; and Simeon, deceased. 

The father of our subject worked at home 
on the farm until he was twenty -one years of 
a:,'e. and received his education in the com- 
mon schools of Massachusetts. When seven- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



3'J- 



teeii years of age he learned the cooper trade 
by apprenticing himself. Jainiary 10. 1828, 
he was married to Mary Dewey, of Massa- 
chusetts. He owned a farm and lie and iiis 
wife engaged in labor upon it until 1847, 
when they crossed the country with teams 
and wagons to I)anc county, Wisconsin, set- 
tling in Medina township, September of that 
year. In all, Mr. Parsons worked at his 
trade of cooper for about forty years, as he 
also pursued it at a town in Ashtabula 
county, Ohio, for about seven years. 

When the family crossed the plains, the 
trip occupied thirty-one days, and tiie party 
consisted of seven persons. After arrival 
Mr. Parsons purchased village property in 
Marshall, and moved on it with his family. 
lie also bouirht land near the villacre, which 
he improved, and this land is now owned by 
his son, the subject. There were three chil- 
dren by his first marriage, and two by his 
second, namely: William K.; Nancy F., wife 
of J. C. Cummins, of Brookings county, South 
Dakota; and Ann D. T., wife of John Hart, 
of Buffalo county, Wisconsin. By the second 
marriage: Harriet M., wife of Edward Hart; 
and Fannie E., wife of George E. Alien, a 
veterinary surgeon of Fort Atkinson, W^is- 
eonsin. 

Our subject was reared upon the farm, and 
attended the district school until he was 
twenty-three years of age, when he was mar- 
ried to Ann Hart, September 12, 1852, and 
then removed to a farm in Medina township, 
where he resided until 1887, when he rented 
his farm for four years and removed to Mar- 
shall, where he may now Ite found. His 
farm in Medina he subsequently sold. 

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Parsons are 
as follows: Orlando, married Emma Robbius, 
of Wisconsin, and one child has been born 
to them: they now reside in Los Angeles, 

27 



California, where he pursues his trade of 
carpenter; Mary E., at home; Charlie, ile- 
ceased, February 5, 1889, was married to 
Minnie Deiger, who died November 12, 
188'J, leaving a child. Ruby, who is now 
living with her grandfather; Laura iS ., mar- 
ried to Gus Kiser, of Marshall, and has one 
eiiild, Carl; and Fannie E., wife of Clarence 
Cole, of Marshall, who has one child. 

Mr. Parsons is a Republican, and has been 
[jrominently identified with the interests of 
the township. He has held the office of Su- 
pervisor a number of times; has been Treas- 
urer two terms, and has been largely instru- 
mental in the benefiting of tlie educational 
interests of the townshiji, having served as 
director of the township. Mr. Parsons' first 
wife died August 24, 1883, on the farm, one 
mile south of Marshall, and is buried in the 
Marshall cemetery. Mr. Parsons was again 
married, January 28,1885, to Laura P. ('pie, 
whose parents were from ()hio, and located 
in Wisconsin in 1844, making their first set- 
tlement in Medina township, on a farm, on 
section 2, where the mother still resides. 
The father died about 1884. 

Mr. Parsons is one of the old represent- 
atives of the town and county, and is always 
rea<ly to aid in any enterprise calculated to 
aid in the upbuilding of the town. Ho has 
never engaged in any jjrivate enterprise tor 
private gain that would in any way interfere 
with the rights of others; has always been an 
exemplary citizen, a good neighbor, a kind 
friend, and a man any one could rely upon, 
as he was honorable in every respect. 

OVERNOR GEORGE W. PECK is 
the second Democratic executive that 
Wisconsin has had in the last quarter 
of a century. He was born in Jetierson 



398 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



county. New York, September 28, 1840. 
Tliree years after the family moved to Wis- 
consiu and settled near White Water. His 
father and two uncles were all Jackson Dem- 
ocrats and the boy was early trained in tiie 
way he should go. He attended the public 
school until he was fifteen years old and then 
learned the printer's trade in tlie office of the 
W hite Water Kegister and afterward he bought 
an interest in the Jefferson county Republi- 
can at Jefferson county, Wisconsin, and after 
selling his interest he went to Madison to 
set type in the Madison State Journal. 
While there he enlisted as a private in the 
Fourth Cavalry and came home after the war 
as a Second Lieutenant. 

When he returned ro the State he started 
the Ripon Representative and afterward sold 
it and went to New York, where he worked 
as one of the editors of Pomeroy's Democrat. 
After this he went to La Crosse, where he 
bought au interest in the Democrat, helped 
to run it for a time and then retired to estab- 
lish the Sun. While in La Crosse he was 
Chief of Police for one year and was chief 
clerk of the Democratic Assembly foi' 1874. 
In 1878 he moved the Sun to Milwaukee 
and made the first permanent success of his 
life. The paper had a phenomenal growth 
and reached 80,000 weekly circulation at one 
tinie. He did not lose his head, but quietly 
bought real estate with the profits, so that 
when the tide turned again he had enough to 
keep himself and family in comfort without 
tlie inconvenience of being a millionaire. 

In 1860 Governor Peck was married to 
Miss Francena Rowley, of Delavan, Wiscon- 
sin, and they have two children, George W. 
Peck, Jr., and Roy, a school boy. There 
are also grandcliildren in the family and it is 
with tliese tiiat the executive really enjoys 
himself. 



George W. I'eck will be more generally 
known perhaps as a humorous writer than as 
a politician. He is unique as an editor. 
For ten years he was regarded as one of the 
most original, versatile and entertaining 
writers in thecountr}'. The bad boy sketches 
are by no means the best things that be has 
written, l)Ut to describe the subjects which 
have been given a comical aspect by his fer- 
tile pen would be describing the colors of 
the rainbow. Every phase of country news- 
paper life, the army, domestic experience, 
travel and city adventure has been sketched 
l)y his vivid imagination and restless Faber. 

Governor Peck was never financially on his 
feet until he made his success in Milwaukee. 
He is too fond of bis old-time friends and too 
generous to the needy meml)ers of the press 
to become rich unless his income was very 
large. Peck's sunshine is not all in print. 
His humor is spontaneous and tlie divine af- 
flatus never fails to work. In everything he 
does he bubbles over with fun. Governor 
Peck is now fifty-two years old, blonde in com- 
plexion and inclined to portliness in figure, 
rather above medium size, good looking and 
takes as naturally to State dinners as a duck 
to water. At the same time there is no lack 
of dignity and few States in the Union can 
present better appearing governors. He has 
always been a Democrat and voted his party 
ticket in State and National elections except 
his first vote for president, which he east for 
Lincoln, while in the army in 1804. His pa- 
per was never given to politics, but its editor 
personally acted with the party on all occa- 
sions. During the Hancock campaign in 
1880, he was chairman of the county and city 
committees and in the campaign of 1884 and 
1888, he was one of Mr. Cleveland's enthusi- 
astic admirers. So well lias Governor Peck 
plea.sed the people of his State in the man- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



3SJ9 



atreiuent of the affairs of the commonwealth 
tluit at the last Wisconsin State Convention, 
held at Milwaukee, August 31, 1892, he was 
unanimously nominated to succeed himself 
as Governor of the State, and at the ensuing 
election in November he was elected by a 
good majority over his opponent, receiving 
178,095 votes, tbe largest vote ever given to 
any candidate for office in the State. 



^ 



^ 



I^ON. PETER FAGG, a temperance lec- 
turer and solicitor for various reliijious 
and educational works, has been a resi- 
dent of the city of Madison for many years. 
He lirst came to this place in 1853, then a 
yonng man, soon after graduating from the 
Spencerian College of Madison, where he had 
taken a business course, and later he went to 
Milwaukee, where he engaged himself as a 
teacher in the public schools. Here he re- 
mained for about two years in the suburban 
town of Bethlehem. Durintr this time he 
was married in the vicinity of Milwaukee, to 
Miss Mary Tillema. She was born in Hol- 
land, in 1842, a daughter of D. M. and 
Catiieriiia (De Vries) Tillema, who were na- 
tives of Vriesland, Holland, where they wei'e 
farmers 

In 1854 the father of Mrs. Fagg emigrated 
to America witli the family on a sailing ves- 
sel, landing in New York, whence they came 
directly on to Milwaukee via canals and lakes. 
They settled in Milwaukee, and aft;er sonie 
years the parents moved to Columbia, Dane 
county, Wisconsin, settling at Randolph C^en- 
ter, where they died at the ages of seventy 
and seventy-nine years. All their mature 
lives they were members of the Dutch Re- 
formed Church. They had l)een hard work- 
ing, good, honest Dutch farmers. 



Our subject is of Holland birth, that event 
having taken place in the province of Zee- 
land, in the Isle of Walcheren, in the King- 
dom of the Netherlands, January 14, 1837, a 
son of Captain John Gerardes Fagg, who 
came of Scotch and English ancestry. He 
was a ship owner and sailor, and also owned 
a large grocery business in Vlissengen, at 
which place he met and married Miss Sarah 
Jacolia Smith. She was born and reared in 
that city and had come of English and Dutch 
stock and of a prominent family of the place. 
After marriage Captain Fagg engaged in ac- 
tive business as ship owner and sailor and 
also encraged in extensive mercantile transac- 
tions until his death, which occurred when 
he was in tlie prime of life, only thirty-four 
years of age. He was an active meml)er of 
the Methodist Church and was one who exer- 
cised a good influence in his community, al- 
ways upright in his dealings with all. lie 
was also a member of the Masonic fraternity. 
He had never learned the Dutch language, 
speaking only English. 

After the death of her husband Mrs. Fagg 
managed the business for about seven years, 
when she again married, this husband being 
Hon. F. T. Zetteler, whose father was the, 
royal tailor. A few years after marriage the 
whole family came to the Uniteil States, tak 
ing passage at Antwerp and coming on a 
sailing ship that landed them at New York 
city after a voyage of'Some weeks. The next 
move was to AUtany and then l)y canal and 
lakes to Milwaukee, landing July 3, 1848, 
and there they settletl down on a farm. In 
1853 Mr. Zetteler brought his family to Mad- 
ison, here establishing himself as a general 
merchant. The mother and children con- 
ducted the store and the father l>ecame at- 
taclied to the official offices of the State, being 
engaged in that of the Secretary of State and 



400 



BIOGHAPHICAL liEV/EW OF 



later in tliat of Register of Deeds. At the 
same time our subject was employed in the 
ottice of ex-Governor Farwell and all seemed 
to be prospering when a great calamity, in 
1858, befell them. A fire destroyed all of 
their property and after this Mr. Zetteler re- 
moved to Milwaukee. 

Reaching that city the stepfather of our 
subject engaged in the real-estate business, 
but soon his ability as a statesman was recog- 
nized and three times he has been elected a 
member of the State Assembly, liis district 
being known as the old JMinth Ward of Mil- 
waukee. He has always been a iirm Demo- 
crat. Both Mr. and Mrs. Zetteler are living, 
aged respectively eighty-two and eighty-one, 
and both are well preserved mentally and 
physically. In their religious views both be- 
long to the Presbyterian (Miurch. 

A few years after marriage our subject re- 
moved to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, 
and remained there from 1861 to 1867, be- 
ing engaged there as a clerk in a general 
store. During this time he was made Just- 
ice of the Peace of Alto and was Supervisor 
of the same place for two terms. In 1865 
he was appointed as guard of the State prison- 
ers by Hon. Henry ('ordier. In 1867 he went 
back to Milwaukee and was there engaged in 
the duties of several municipal offices, such as 
Deputy Sheriff, and was, in 1874, elected to 
the General Assembly on the Democratic 
ticket and was re-elected on the Independent 
ticket in 1875. After his term of serv- 
ice expired in the Legislature he was 
urged by Governor William E. Smith to take 
a place in the land office, and this position 
he held for nine years, but in 1886 he was 
not reappointed on account of his religious 
and temperance convictions. 

Having been a total abstainer many 3'ears, 
our subject felt that he could not speak and 



pray one way and vote another. Since that 
time he has not taken any special interest in 
political matters other than as a lecturer for 
the cause of Prohibition. Mr. F&ss is a 
general agent for books and Bililes. He has 
been a prominent member of the Independent 
Order of Good Templars, the Temple of Hon- 
or and Temperance and is Past Grand Chief 
and Past Deputy Supreme Council of the 
World, and has been Past Chief of the local 
lodges. He is Past Grand Chancellor and 
Past Grand Recorder of the K. of P. order 
and for years has been a member of the order 
of I. O. (). F. 

Our subject is a man of remarkable mem- 
ory. His wife has been an invalid for the 
past fifteen years and also his daughtwr, and 
these afflictions have prevented him from ac- 
complishing much that he has desired to do. 
Mr. Fagg has ten living children, as follows: 
Rev. John G., at present missionary to China, 
where he has been for five years. He mar- 
ried Miss Maggie Gillespie of Jersey City, 
where she was the principal of a school there 
and now is a missionary with her husband 
and a teacher, their headquarters being at 
Amoy. Mr. Fagg is the professor there in 
a Theological seminary of the American Re- 
formed Church. He graduated with first 
honors at Hoi^e College and New Brunswick 
Seminary. Katie M. is an invalid at home. 
She has devoted her time to local missionary 
work, is a member of the King's Daughter^ 
and of the Shut-in Society. Fred D. is gen- 
eral secretary of the V. M. C. A. at Evans- 
ton, Illinois, and an active worker in the 
Baptist Church. He married Miss Ida 
Chase, also a prominent member of a fine 
family, a daughter of a farmer of New York. 
Sarah married Ri'v. E. E. Day, a Congrega- 
tional minister and pastor of a churcli in 
Bowmanviile, Illinois. Dow M. is a ship- 



DAIiE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



401 



ping clerk for I). Warner & Co., of Madison. 
Peter A. is a stenographer and bookkeeper 
in tliis city. William, Marcus C, Charles 
A. and Nellie J. are in school. 

Mr. and Mrs. Fagg, with the children at 
home, are members of the Congrei^ational 
Church of Madison. Dow M. and Peter A. 
are members of the Christian Endeavor So- 
ciety and the former is Superintendent of a 
mission school. All of the children of our 
sul)ject have been blessings to their parents, 
but they were called upon to mourn the loss 
of four: J. Edward, Isaac W., T. George and 
Benjamin A. 



iEVERLY JEFFERSON.— Among the 
important business interests of the city 
of Madison, Wisconsin, is the one con- 
ducted by the subject of the present sketch. 
What Frank Parmalee or Leroy Payne is to 
Chicago, Mr. Jeiferson is to the city of Madi- 
son, conducting: one of the largest lines ot 
carriages, hacks and wagons in this section. 
flis business was established in 18(39, is the 
oldest in the city, having been developed as 
the demands of the times required, until now 
his turnouts and horses are really metropoli- 
tan. His stables are located at No. 12 North 
Webster street. 

Mr. JeS'erson came to this city in the early 
'50s, when he was yet a boy, passing his 
young manhood in various occupations until 
he became the clerk of the old but well-re- 
membered American House. The old house 
has given place to the handsome First Na- 
tional Bank l)uilding on that site. Here our 
subject remained until his enlistment in 1861, 
in Company E, First Wisconsin Regiment, 
under Colonel J. C. Starkweather, and Cap- 
tain George E. Bryant, now the Postmaster 



of the city. He served three months in the 
volunteer army, going out with the three 
months' men. At the e.\piration of his en- 
listment, he returned and bought out the 
American House, in which he had been a clerk 
liefure entering the army. 

After a season, Mr. Jefferson moved out to 
his farm, which is located four miles from the 
city, but after a time returned and opened 
the hotel known as the Capital House, being 
the first landlord, and here he remained for 
just five years. In the meantime he had seen 
the opening for a line of omniljuses, and 
left the hotel to engage in his present Inisi- 
ness. He established it before leaving the 
hotel, and now has fourteen vehicles, and 
gives employment to fourteen men, thus be- 
irinninff as others have have done, who have 
made such well-known successes in the saine 
line. 

Mr. Jefferson has steered clear of local 
politics. He is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity and of C. C. Washburn Post, No. 
11, G. A. R., of Madison. Mr. Jefferson was 
born in Virginia. Augusta county, in 1839, 
and he was yet young when his parents re- 
moved to the AVest, and was educated princi- 
pally in this city. Both of his parents had 
lieen born in Virginia, but they both passed 
away in Madison, the father when he was less 
than fifty years of age, and the mother when 
seventy-five. Her maiden name was Julia 
A. Jefterson, and she had been a member of 
the Congregational Church. 

(Jur subject is the only surviving member 
of his family and was the youngest son. The 
oldest son. Colonel J. W., died June 13, 
1892. at Memphis, Teniiessee. He had been 
a resident of Madison for some years, en- 
listed early in the Rebellion, was commis- 
sioned Major of the Eighth Wisconsin Vol- 
unteers, known as the " Eagle Eight." August 



403 



BIOGRAPUIOAI^ REVIEW OF 



26, 1861; was seriously wounded at Corinth, 
Mississippi. October 3, 1862, and again, 
slightly at Vicksburg, Mississippi, May 22, 
1863; was promoted to be Lieutenant-Col- 
onel June 7, 1864, and was mustered out as 
Colonel at the expiration of his term of 
service, October 11, 1864, and at once re- 
turned to the city of Memphis, Tennessee, 
where he engaged in the buying and shipping 
of cotton, and for many years had been in- 
terested in the raising of cotton in the State 
of Arkansas. 

Colonel Jefferson was identified very closely 
with the history of Mempliis, its interests 
and welfare were dear to his heart, from 
1864 until the time of his death. In that 
city he was regarded by all as a gentleman to 
be esteemed, as he was enterprising, liberal, 
progressive and warm-hearted. He was one 
of the original projectors and owners of the 
Continental Cotton Company, and until 1S73 
was one of the largest shippers of cotton in 
the South. He was engaged in numberless 
enterprises tending to the public good, of a 
genial, chivalrous disposition, and became 
well known through the South, his adopted 
home, became wealthy, and died unmarried. 

Our subject was married in Madison, to 
Miss Anna M. Smith, a native of Penn.syl- 
vania, who came here when a young person 
with her parents, who settled upon a farm 
near Madison, where they became prosperous, 
but later moved into the city, where they both 
died and were buried upon the same day at 
about the age of seventy-five years. Their 
honored names were Isaac and Sarah J. Smith, 
who were strong Presbyterians in their re- 
ligion. Before coming West Mr. Smith had 
been a prominent lumber merchant in Penn- 
sylvania. 

Mrs. Jefferson died in 1880, when in mid- 
dle life. She was a consistent member oj 



the Presbyterian Church, and left behind her 
live sons. These are as follows: Thomas B., 
messenger with the American Express Com- 
pany; John v., in the passenger service with 
the Chicago & Northwestern railroad; Fred 
A., now a studeut at Rush Medical College; 
Harry E., with W. B. I'ierson ct Company, 
mechanical engineers in Chicago, Illinois; 
and Carl S. at home, attending the city high 
school. 



5-*®(^t 



-*5^ 



fRANK LOUIS VAN CLEEF, professor 
of Greek in the University of Wiscon- 
^ sin, was born at Wellington, Lorain 
county, Ohio, May 20, 1863, son of George 
Anson and Maria (Knox) Vau Cleef. He 
traces his paternal ancestry back to Jan Van 
Cleef, who left his home in Holland in 1685, 
came to America and located at New Amster- 
dam, now New York. Tliere are breaks in 
the genealogical chain from this till we come 
down to the great-grandfather of our sub- 
ject, Lawrence Van Cleef, who served under 
General Sullivan, of Washington's army in 
the Indian struggles in New York, and whose 
home was at Elizabethtown, New Jersey. 
He, on one of these scouts, visited Seneca 
Falls, New York, and was so impressed with 
the grandeur and beauty of the place that he 
resolved if he lived through that campaign 
he would return and locate there. This he 
did in 1790, and was therefore the founder 
and first settler of that now handsome city. 
In 1855 George Anson Van Cleef, his son, 
moved from New York to Wellington, Ohio, 
where he and his family have since resided. 
Of his eight chililren four are still living, the 
Professor being the youngest. 

Professor Van Cleef graduated in the high 
school of his native town in 1880, after 



DANE COUNTY, WISCOISSIN. 



403 



which he entered Oberliii College, took a 
classical course, and graduated with the de- 
gree of A. B. in i884. lie then entered the 
senior class of Harvard College, from which 
he received the degree of A. B. the following 
year. He remained at Harvard, taking post- 
graduate work in Greek and Sanscrit until 
1888, when he was sjiven a traveling fellow- 
ship. For two years he was abroad. At 
the University of Bonn, Germany, he contin- 
ued his researches in Greek and Sanscrit, 
and also studied Latin and German until he 
could converse fluently in both. Keturning 
to America, he was engaged as private tutor 
at Cambridge, Massachusetts, one year, at the 
end of which time he vvas tendered a pro- 
fessorship from the ifeard of Regents of the 
ITniversity of Wisconsin, as professor of 
(-Jreek. lie accepted the position in 1890, 
and has since filled it with credit to himself 
and also to the university. While at Bonn 
University he ])repared a thesis in Latin 
upon a Greek subject, which gave him the 
degree of Ph. D. lie has since written an 
article that was published in the eighth vol- 
ume of the Transactions of the Wisconsin 
Academy of Science, Arts and Letters. 

Professor Van Cleef was married July 31, 
1888, to Florence Tliurston, of Caraliridge, 
Massachusetts. She was reared and edu- 
cated in that city and is a lady of rare cul- 
ture and refinement. She accompanied her 
husband to Germany. They are mem Iters of 
the Congregational Church. 



fLETCllER ANDREW PARKER, pro- 
fessor of music in the University of 
Wisconsin, is a native of Ashland 
county, Ohio, born December 26, 1842. His 
parents, S. P. and Elizabeth Parker, were 



born, reared and married in ()ntario, Canada. 
His father was a carriage-maker. On leaving 
Canada, he located in Ashland county, Ohio, 
where he resided a number of years, moving 
from there to Fulton, Illinois, and several 
years later to Quincy, that State. He and 
his wife are now residents of Omaha, Ne- 
braska, aged seventy five and seventy -si.K 
years, respectively. They had five children, 
three of whom are living, two sons and one 
daughter. Fletcher A. was the second born. 

J'rofessor Parker received his early educa- 
cation in the ^mhlic schools of his native 
county. He then became a student at the 
Northwestern University at Evanston, Illi- 
nois. At the end of his junior year, he left 
school and enlisted in the Chicago Mercantile 
Battery, and continued in the service until 
the close of 1864, in the Western Depart- 
ment, under Generals Grant, Sherman and 
Banks; was at the siege of Jackson, Missis- 
sippi, and in the engagements at Arkansas 
Post and yicksl)urg; was later transferred to 
tlie Department of the Gulf, Under General 
Banks, and was in Te.\as at Matagorda Bay. 
While at Matagorda Bay he received orders 
to go to New Orleans to l)e examined for a 
Commission, and was made First Lieutenant 
of the First Louisiana Heavy Artillery, a 
regiment officered by men chosen from various 
Northern regiments. In the fall of 1864 he 
resigned and returned home. 

Having a talent for music and deciding to 
educate himself for the musical profession, 
he went to Boston in 1865 and entered the 
Boston Musical School, where he graduated 
in 1867. He then taught music in Boston 
until 1868. Returning to Illinois, ho located 
at Bloomiufrton in 186S, and until 1874 was 
actively engaged in his profession there. 
That year he went to Europe. He spent one 
year studying music at Stuttgart, Germany, 



404 



BIOOBAPHIGAL REVIEW OF 



and six months as teacher in the Koyal Musi- 
cal Academy for the Tllind in London. He 
was then offered a permanent position as 
teacher in the same institution, hut declined 
and returned to Eloomington, Illinois, where 
he was elected dean of the College of Music 
of the Wesleyan College, remaining there 
until 1878. That year he was elected to the 
professorship of music in the University of 
Wisconsin, where he has since remained, fill- 
ing the position with much credit to himself 
and also the university. 

He is a Vice-President of the National 
Society for the promotion of musical art, 
and lias been organist at the First Presbyter- 
ian Church of Madison ever since he came 
here. His contributions to musical literature 
have been chiefly sacred music. He lias as- 
sisted in j)ubli8hing a number of hymnals 
and collections of sacred songs. 



JUOFESSOP. ALEXAN OEK KEKIi, A. 

% M., professor of the Greek language 
and literature in the University of Wis- 
consion, is the subject of the present brief 
and inadequate sketch. He was born in 
Aberdeen, Scotland, August 15, 1828, a son 
of George and Helen Kerr, the father by oc- 
cupation a farmer. When six years of age 
our subject came to America with his par- 
ents, who located at Cornwall, Ontario, 
Canada, remaining three years, then removed 
to Joliet, Illinois, and for three years made 
that place their home, later removing to 
Kockford, Illinois. 

At the latter city our subject began his ed- 
ucation, entering the public schools, leaving 
them to enter the Rockford Scientific and 
Classical Institute, conducted by Hon. Seely 
Perry, a graduate of Union College of Sche- 



nectady, New York. Our subject later en- 
tered the sophomore class in I'eloit College, 
at the age of twenty-three years, taking the 
full classical course and graduating from it 
in 1855 with the degree of A. B. ; and in 
1858 received the degree of A. M. 

In 1855 Professor Kerr moved to the 
State of Georgia, and there engaged in liter- 
ary and educational work, conducting classes 
in I'rownwood Institute at La Grange, 
Georgia. He served there for some time 
as professor of mathematics, and also taught 
the Latin language and literature. The mar- 
riage of Professor Kerr took place in Rock- 
ford, Illinois, July 1, 1857, to Miss Katha- 
rine Fuller Brown, the daughter of Rev. 
Hope Brown, pastor of the Congregational 
Church at Shirley, Massachusetts. For a 
number of years Mr. Brown was the agent 
for the Rockford Female Seminary after his 
pastoral work was over. Mrs. Kerr was edu- 
cated at New Ipswich xVcademy, located at 
New Ipswich, New Hampshire, and later 
graduated from the Rockford Seminary. 
Professor and Mrs. Kerr have been the par- 
ents of three children, one dying in infancy. 
Charles H. is a publisher, located at No. 
175 Dearborn street, Chicago; and James B. 
is a member of the law firm of Sanborn «& 
Kerr. Both of these talented young men are 
graduates of the University of Wisconsin. 
James B. had a fellowship for one year after 
graduation and studied law. then spent some 
time in traveling in Europe to complete his 
education. He was admitted to the bar in 
June, 1892. During his European travels 
he visited Great Britain. I'Vance, Greece, Ger- 
many, Italy, and the countries of the Med- 
iterranean sea. 

In 1861 our subject left La Grange and re- 
turned to Rockford, where in 1862 he was 
made County Superintendent of Schools. 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



405 



He held that office until February, 18G3. 
Then he removed to Beloit and ensfised in 
public school work. At that time the school 
system of Beloit was in a bad condition and 
our subject took it in charge, reorganizing 
and perfecting until he had brouglit order 
out of chaos. For eight years Professor 
iverr labored at Beloit, but in 1871 the 
Board of Regents of the State University 
elected him professor of Greek in that insti- 
tution. This chair he has filled with the 
ability which has marked every work of his 
life, and for twenty-one years that position 
has been his. He is beloved and appre- 
ciated. 

For a long time the learned gentleman has 
been engaged in the preparation of an edition 
of the New Testament in Greek, one part of 
which has been recently published, and he 
has lectured largely upon language and pop- 
ular subjects through the country. He has 
spent two summers in the land of Greece, en- 
joying tlie home of his beloved classics. 
During the past ten years he has devoted 
much time to the study of modern Greek. 
He thinks that the Greek language has never 
been dead, and that it is as much alive to-day 
as 3,000 years ago. His delight is to talk 
upon his favorite theme, and the delight of 
his pupils is to hear him, illustrating his 
most entertaininu; lectures as he does with 
photographs of his subject in most attractive 
form. 

For some twelve years our subject was a 
member of the Board of Education of the city 
of Madison. He has a handsome residence up- 
on Langdon street, which, with its beautiful 
lawn sloping to lake Mendota, is one of the 
most attractive ])laces in the city. However, 
into this abode of happiness and comfort tlie 
death angel came. Mrs. Kerr died July 23, 
1890. 



Professor Kerr claims to be Independent 
in politics, although he usually votes with 
the Kepublican party. Religiously, he be- 
longs to the Congregational Church. He 
has been particularly blessed in his sons. 
Both of tliem have tilled his heart with pride 
on account of their literary attainments. We 
have mentioned James above. Charles is 
one of the successful publishers of tlie big 
city of Chicago, and since 1880 he has been 
in business for hinjself. He i£raduated from 
the University of Wisconsin in 1881, with 
the degree of A. B., and made a specialty vi 
the French language and literature. He has 
issued over fifty books on various subjects 
from his office, and is considered a promis- 
ing yonng man. 

R. CALEB S. BLANCHARD, a retired 
;|n physician of Mazo Manie, Wisconsin) 
was born in Victory township, Cayuga 
county, -New York, May 8. 1818, a son of 
Willard and Sallie (Piatt) Blanchard, both 
!)orn and reared in Rutland county, Vermont. 
Willai-d Blanchard was a son of Caleb Blan- 
chard, who was a son of John Blanchard, who 
was a son of Theophilus Blanchard, son of 
Moses Blanchard, who emigrated from France 
in 1(379, June 12, locating in Rhode Island. 
The Blanchards are descended from good and 
notable families. Tlie father was a farmer 
by (iccupation, and was a (^aptain in the war 
of 1812. In 1818 he moved to Cayuga county. 
New York, and both lie and his wife are now 
deceased, the mother dying December 1, 1843, 
and the father May 23, 1860, aged fifty-six 
and seventy-seven years, respectively. Mr. 
and Mrs. Blanchard were the parents of seven 
children, three sons and two daughters, and 
the former were all practicing physicians. 



406 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



The eldest sou, O. W., came to Wisconsin in 
1843, and is now deceased. 

Caleb S. Blanchard, tiie subject of this 
sketch, received an academic education in the 
Victor Academy, which was orcranized in 
182G. lie still has an announcement of the 
school, printed for the term to begin Septem- 
ber 5, 1842. At the age of nineteen years 
he began the practice of medicine with his 
brother, (). W. Blauchard, and three years 
afterward entered the Pittstield Medical Col- 
lege, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. In 1843 
our subject opened a medical office in Kacine, 
Wisconsin, l)nt December 20, 1848, on ac- 
count of ill healtli he left that city for East 
Troy, Walworth county, where he followed 
his profession until again obliged to discon- 
tinue practice. August 5, 1862, he was ap- 
pointed Surgeon of the Twenty-second Wis- 
consin Volunteer Regiment, but after one 
year with his command was obliged to tender 
his resignation. During the following twenty 
months Mr. Hlanchard pi'acticed medicine at 
Bloomfield, California, and in May, 1865, 
returned to East Troy. May 22, 1890, 
he came to Mazo Manie, where he has 
retired from active work of all kinds. Mr. 
Blauchard votes with the Republican party, 
has served as Lieutenant, Corporal and Colonel 
in military companie8;a8 Justice of the Peace 
and a member of the Board of Supervisors of 
East Troy. He was elected a member of the 
Assembly of 1880, and served on three com- 
mittees; the Penal Committee, Engross Manu- 
facturing Committee, and Medical Committee. 
lie was elected to the office b\' a majority of 
1,200 votes. Socially he was made a member 
of the Masonic order in 1852, and of the 
I. O. O. F., in 1845. 

Mr. Blanchard was married June 14, 1852, 
to Su"an G. Ames, a native of Genesee county, 
iS'ew York, and who died January 19, 1860. 



July 27, 1861, he was united in marriage 
with Jennette D. Park, a native of Weston, 
Windsor county, Vermont, and at the time of 
her marriage was Principal of the East Troy 
schools. To this union has been born four 
children, viz.: Charles W., who graduated at 
the Rush Medical College, of Chicago, in 
1889, and is now a practicing physician of 
Clinton, Rock county, Wisconsin; Frank P., 
educated at the Madison schools, and is now 
a druggist of Muskogee, Indian Territory; 
Stella J., wife of Dr. Scott, of Raciue county, 
Wisconsin; and Albert C, attending the Rush 
Medical College of Chicago, where he will 
graduate in 1895. Mr. Blanchard is a mem- 
ber of the Congregational Church of Mazo 
Manie. 



^ 



IIARLES NOBLE GREGORY, of 
Madison, Wisconsin, was born at Una- 
dilla, Otsego county, New York, Au- 
cTust 27, 1851, a son of Hon. Jared C. and 
Charlotte C. (Camp) Gregory, natives also of 
that State, the father born at Gregory Hill, 
Otsego county, and the mother at Owego, 
Tioga county. Hon. J. C. Gregory was called 
to the bar in his native county, where his fa- 
ther and grandfather had also resided and 
practiced law there till 1858. lie was asso- 
ciated then with his brothers-in-law. Judge 
Charles Noble, and later with Senator Looinis 
as law partners. While in New York he was 
Justice of the Sessions and was a Democratic 
candidate for Congress in his district in 1856; 
after removing in 1858 to Wisconsin he was 
Mayor of Madison one term; was for twelve 
years one of the regents of the University of 
Wisconsin; and a delegate to the Democratic 
National Convention at Cincinnati, where he 
served as one of the vice-presidents. During 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



407 



Cleveland's adiniuistration he held the office 
of Postmaster of Madison. Mrs. Greirory 
still resides in this city. A son, S. S. Greg- 
ory, is an attorney at Law in Chicago; and 
a daughter, Cora W., is still at home. 

Charles N., the subject of this sketch, came 
to Wisconsin when only six years old, where 
he attended private and public schools in 
Madison. He entered the prejiaratory school 
of the university at a very early age, where 
he graduated in the classical course, taking 
the Latin Salutatory in 1871, and in that year 
entered the law office of Gregory & Pinnej. 
In 1872 he crraduated from the law depart- 
ment of the university, with the degree of 
LL. P>., and has since received the degree of 
A. M. After completing his law course Mr. 
Gregory became a junior member of the firm 
of Gregory & Pinney, consisting beside him- 
self of his father and Mr. Justice Pinney, now 
on the Supreme bench of Wisconsin, and so 
remained until the dissolution of the partner- 
ship in 1879. He then began business with 
his father, under the firm name of Gregory 
& Gregory, and in 1886 Colonel George \V^. 
Bird became a partner, the firm being then 
known as Gregory, Bird & Gregory until 
1889, when Colonel Bird retired. Father and 
son then continued business until the former's 
death February 7, 1892. Mr. Gregory is a 
Democrat in his political views; has served as 
Alderman of the city of Madison two terms; 
has been for many years a member of the 
Madison Free Library Board; lias been a 
member of the Board of Education of his city 
and president of the Alumni of the University 
of Wisconsin for many years; a member of the 
General Committee of National Civil Service 
Reform Assciation; is an able speaker in po- 
litical campaigns ;and is a Vestryman of Grace 
Episcopal Church and a Curator of the Wis- 
consin State Historical Society. Mr. Gregory 



has been a contriiiutor to various magazines 
and publications, among them beinor tiie old 
Scribner's, LittelPs Living Age, the Overland 
Monthly, the Youth's Companion, Outing, 
New York Independent, New Y'ork Nation, 
New York Evening Post, Harper's Weekly 
and to Chicago and Milwaukee papers. Dur- 
ing the campaign of 1888 he edited "The 
Tariff Reform Advocate. " In 1883 he visited 
Europe and had the pleasure of meeting many 
interesting persons, among them Mr. Glad- 
stone,the Archbishop of Canterbury, Mr. John 
Walter, M. P. of the London Times, our own 
Mr. Lowell, then at the court of St. James, 
and many others. 

In the profession of the law, although 
practicing generally, Mr. Gregory has given 
special attention to the law of wills and has 
been engaged in various notable testamentary 
contests. He has for many years held an 
annual retainer from the Chicago, Milwaukee 
& St. Paul Railroad Company. 



I^ON. JAIRITS H. CARPENTER was 
born in the town of Ashford, Windham 
county, Connecticut, February 14, 1822. 
He grew up to young manhood in his native 
town, spending three terms at Ilolliston 
Academy. He early determined upon his 
course in life, which he thereafter pursued 
with a steadfastness of purpose, which 
became, and is still one of his striking 
characteristics. 

He was engaged for a time in teaching 
and later began the study of law, completing 
his legal studies preparatory to his admission 
to the bar, with the Hon. L. P. Waklo, a 
prominent attorney of Tolland, Connecticut. 
In March, 1847, he was admitted to the liar 
and began the practice of his chosen profes- 



408 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



sioD, at willimantic, Connecticut. Full of 
hope and energy young Carpenter entered 
with zeal into the struggle for professional 
standing and eminence, in which each young 
lawyer must engage who aspires to a place 
among the distinguished men, who always 
and at all times are found adorning the ranks 
of attorneys and counselors at law in every 
part of our country. 

Believing that the West afforded better 
opportunity to the young attorney, young 
Carpenter wisely decided, in 1857, to locate 
at Madison. Wisconsin. This beautiful city 
pleased him and his ability, energy and 
sterling integrity soon brought him to the 
front in legal matters and won for him the 
esteem of the best people of the city of the 
lakes. During the first year of his residence 
in Madison he became associated in the 
practice of law with John W. Johnson, Esq., 
now deceased, the most brilliant and eloquent 
lawyer and orator ever engaged in the prac- 
tice of law in the city of Madison. An Apollo 
in form and bearing, a grace of manner, a 
never-failing vocabulary of the choicest 
English, a poetic imagination, with wit and 
humor in abundance, but under perfect 
control and a power of pathos seldom equaled, 
made him an orator of surpassing power and 
excellence and he is remembered by those 
who are so fortunate as to know him with 
admiration for his marvelous eloquence, and 
pity for his unfortunate habits of intemper- 
ance, which brought him to an untimely 
grave. 

However much young Carpenter may have 
admired his brilliant partner, his ideas of 
temperance were such as to render Mr. 
Johnson uncongenial as an associate and the 
business connection unpleasant, so the part- 
nership between them was dissolved, and in 
1858 he entered into a partnership with the 



late General Ezra T. Sprague, under the firm 
name of Carpenter it Sprague, which 
ccujtinued until the breaking out of the civil 
war in 1861. Judge Carpenter's connection 
with General Sprague was most pleasant. 
They were from the same neighborhood in 
Connecticut and had mutual acquaintances 
there and many associates in common, and 
General Sprague was one of those rare men, 
whom to know was to love and esteem. 
A graduate of Amherst College, thoroughly 
educated as a lawyer, of stainless character, 
possessing a broad and comprehensive intel- 
lect, he was a most genial companion, with 
a quiet humor of a rare flavor. Modest and 
retiring by nature, with the tender sym- 
pathies of a woman, but with a courage that 
quailed at no danger, when duty and con- 
science commanded him to act, all these 
qualities endeared him to all who came to 
know him. 

At the breaking out of the civil war he 
was the first to enlist at the first call of Presi- 
dent Lincoln for volunteers and he went to 
the front as Sergeant of Company K, First 
Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. 
At the expiration of the three months' term 
of eidistment he was appointed Adjutant of 
the Eighth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers, 
known as the Eagle Regiment, this appoint- 
ment being nuule September 30, 1861. The 
regiment participated in all the fiercely 
contested battles in which that division was 
engaged and the bravery of Adjutant Sprague 
won for him the admiration, of not only the 
men in his own regiment, but of the com- 
manding officers in the army, and upon their 
reorganization he was promoted to the Colo- 
nelcy of the Forty-second Wisconsin Volun- 
teer Infantry, and on the 29th of July, 1864 
while Colonel of this same regiment, he was 
commandant of the im])ortant military post of 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



400 



Cairo, Illinois. Yov his brave and conspicuous 
services in the army, June 20, 1S65, the brevet 
rank of Brisadier-General was conferi-ed 
upon him by the President. On being must- 
ered out of the army General Sprague 
removed to Green Bay, Wisconsin, and 
resumed the practice of, his profession, and 
after three or four years' practice was elected 
Judire of the Circuit Court, in which Brown 
county was then included, but failing health 
compelled him to resign and remove to Salt 
Lake City, Utah, where he engaged in prac- 
tice, until his death two or three years 
afterward. 

In 1868 Judge Carpenter formed a partner- 
ship with Captain R. J. Chase, who had also 
been a gallant soldier in the civil war. The 
connection with Captain Chase continued 
until 187-1:, when it was dissolved and the 
latter removed to Sioux City, Iowa, where he 
attained prominence in his profession. Since 
1874 Judge Carpenter has had no partner. 
He was a careful painstaking lawyer, carrying 
into the practice of his profession those high 
moral qualities for which he has ever been 
distinguished, refusing retainers, where in 
his opinion, the client had not a cause in 
which he could conscientiously engage, but 
when he did accept a retainer he espoused 
tiie cause of his client with all the zeal and 
energy of his nattire, giving to the case care- 
ful thought and preparation. His fidelity to 
his clients was notable even in a profession 
where that virtue is a cointnon one. 

Judge Carpenter has many of the elements 
of an orator, a good command of language, a 
voice well trained, which, combined with his 
earnestness and evident sincerity of belief in 
the righteousness of his client's cause, make 
him an able and effective advocate before a 
jury, his efforts often rising into the realms 
of genuine eloquence. 



In 1868 Judge Carpenter was appointed 
dean of the law faculty of the State Uni- 
versity of Wisconsin, at Madison. He or- 
ganized the law class, became one of the law 
lecturers and devoted many years actively to 
this work; he resigned the deanship in 1884 
but still holds the Jackson professorship in 
the law depai-tment of the State University 
and lecturing upon contracts. In 1874 the 
honory degree of A. M. was conferred upon 
him by Yale College, an<l in 1876 the degree 
of LL. D. was conferre<l uj)on him by the 
Univei-sity of Wisconsin. 

Ever since and before he took up his resi- 
dence in Wisconsin Judge Carpenter has 
taken a deep and active interest in educational 
matters and has been of great service to the 
cause of education, not only in the city of 
Madison, but for the State of Wisconsin. 
For twenty-eight years he was a member of 
the Board of Education of the city of Madison, 
and for twenty-three years served as its pres- 
ident. By his patience, good judgment and 
practical business sense and sagacity he has 
been largely instrumental in raising the pub- 
lic schools from a low standing and almost 
chaotic condition to the prominent place they 
now occupy among the schools of the State 
and country. 

Upon his settlement in Wisconsin Judge 
Carpenter entered with zeal into politics, 
espousing the cause of the Republican party. 
The great questions which were then at issue 
between the Republican and l)emocratic 
parties were such as to engage the attention 
of every earnest mind. Tiie position of the 
Republican party in its opposition to the ex- 
tension of human slavery, and the maintain- 
ing of the equal rights of all men, was such 
as to call from ^Ir. Carpenter full and enthu- 
siastic support. He was active in the councils 
of his party, and with his moral earnestness 



410 



BIOGRAPHICAL HE VIEW OP 



and his ability as a speaker and orator he was 
an effective and influential political speaker, 
but with the close of the war and the absence 
of any great moral questions from the issues, 
in most of the late campaigns he has been 
less active. While still espousing the cause 
of the Republican party he is conservative in 
his views and disposed to exalt the mati above 
the party and to support those for office whom 
he deems most worthy of the position. He 
takes, however, an active interest in the civil 
service reform, and in all movements havincr 
for their aim the purification of our politics 
and the better administration of govern- 
mental office. He has been an Alderman of 
his ward for three years, and while serving 
in that capacity rendered his city very valu- 
able services, especially in establishing the 
city credit and placing its financial affairs 
upon a sound basis. 

In 1885 ho was appointed, by Governor 
Rusk, County Judge, to till the vacancy 
caused by the death of Judge Sanborn, and 
this position he has continued to hold ever 
since, having been elected, after serving one 
full term and part of another by appointment. 
by the people of the county. In the admin- 
istration of this important office he has given 
the crreatest satisfaction to the bar and to the 
people. To the first, because ho is always 
ready to give them a patient, conscientious 
and impartial hearing, and they know that 
his decisions, whether for or against them are 
equally honest, and the people know and feel 
that with his supervision, so far as human 
ability and foresight is able to secure such a 
result, that their estates will be honestly ad- 
ministered and guarded against wrong and 
peculation. The bar and people believe im- 
j)licitly in his integrity and hope that he may 
lontr continue to discharge the duties of an 



office which he adorns and which is so impor- 
tant to every citizen. 

Judge Carpenter is a well-preserved man, 
possessing a marked degree of mental and 
physical activity for one of his age. He is a 
man of pleasant and cheerful disposition, 
social in his nature, enjoying all innocent 
sports and amusements. He shows the 
strength and hardihood of his ancestors, who 
were of old New England stock, the family 
having lived in Connecticut for many genera- 
tions. His parents were Palmer and Martha 
(Brown) Carpenter, who settled in Minnesota 
in 1856, where they spent tlieir last years, 
and where they died, honored and respected 
by all who knew them. While living in the 
East his parents were members of the Chris- 
tian church, but after their i-emoval to tiiis 
State they joined the Congregational Church 
and died in that faith. 

Judge Carpenter was married while livinor 
in his native State to a lady who has shared 
his fortunes and misfortunes through life and 
who is yet the comfort of his declining years. 
Her maiden name was Martha C. Kendall, 
she having been born, reared and educated at 
Palmer, Massachusetts. She also came of 
good old New England ancestry, her fore- 
fathers having been among the early settlers 
of the Bay State. 

Judge and Mrs. Car])enter hold to no pai'- 
ticulnr i-ciigious creed, but are moralists in 
the true sense of the word. He has always 
been active in local temperance work, and he 
believes in and gives his intluence to all things 
that are progressive and good. 



,()N. SAMUEL D. HASTINGS, was born 
July 24, 1816, in Leicester, Worcester 
countv, Massachusetts. His maternal 
grandfather, Mcintosh, was a soldier in the 



DANE COUNT r, WISCONSIN. 



411 



Revolutionary war and was of Scotch descent, 
and his mother possessed, in a marked degree, 
decision of character, independence of thonyiit 
and ardent devotion tor lier children. These 
elements donhtless stamped her son with some 
of his noblest traits. Ilis fatlier was of Eni^- 
lisli ancestry, of noble blood and ancestry, 
and was a liueal descendant of Thomas Hast- 
ings, who in 1684settled in Watertown, Mass- 
achusetts, and who long held important 
positions in both 8tate and church. The old 
family inotto was, " In truth is victory." 

Mr. Hastings' early life was spent in Bos- 
ton, Massachusetts, whei'e his scliool training 

o 

was limited to the iirst thirteen years of his 
life, and from the age of fourteen to thirty 
his home was in I*hilailel])hia, Pennsylvania. 
While engaged in the duties incident to the 
beginning of mercantile life he pursued a 
course of practical study. In his piddic life 
he has always experienced a need of assuring 
science, but has nincli more frequently reaped 
the benefit of the practical culture acquired 
by that self-drill and self-dependence in youth. 
Before twenty-one, through the aid of a gen- 
tleman from his native village, he was estab- 
lished in business for himself. Although 
always engaged in some active business he 
never allowed the acquirement of money to 
be the sole aim of his life, otherwise he might 
be numbered among the wealthy of the land; 
but the reformatory and philanthropic move- 
ments of the times always engrossed much of 
his time and enerjries. Entertaining interest 
in human affairs, he could not forego the re- 
sponsibility of a conscientious citizen and 
allow himself to drift on the tide of events 
without an efi'ort for public reform. The 
anti -slavery movement was one of the politi- 
cal questions which engrossed his attention. 
When other young men of his age and natui'al 
endowments sought success in acquiring 



property and seeking political preferment, 
Mr. Hastings threw himself into the anti- 
slavery movement. He helped to found the 
jjiberty party, and the fact that he was elected 
the chairman of the State Central Committee 
in Pennsylvania proves at once his courage 
and the jiossession of those qualities that go 
to make up the successful leader. AH through 
his public career he has been an earnest advo- 
cate of universal freedom and education. In 
184G he settled in Walworth county wliile 
Wisconsin was still a Territory, and lie has 
been identified as an active citizen with the 
history of the State. He was first elected 
Justice of the Peace without his consent or 
even knowledge; and equally, without his 
solicitation or cognizance, he was, in 1S48, 
nominated for the Legislature, the nomina- 
tion resulting in his election by a large ma- 
jority. He went to Madison in 1849 as a 
member of the first regular winter session of 
the Legislatnre after the State was admitted 
into the Union. During that session he de- 
livered a speech on the subject of slavery, 
opposing its extension and denouncing all 
legislation which in any way favored the 
slave trade. This speech was published and 
widely circulated, and was afterward repub- 
lished as one of the documents of the Ameri- 
can Anti-Slavery Society. The resolutions 
for which he spoke atid of which, as chair- 
man of the Select Committee, he was author, 
passed both houses, irrevocably coinmitting 
the State to the principles he so ably advoca- 
ted. 

In 1853 he removed to La Crosse, where in 
many ways he was recognized as co-operative 
in building up the town and promoting its 
institutions. He afterward removed to Trem. 
pealeau, a new town on the Mississippi. In 
1856 Mr. Hastings was again brought into 
public life by a second election to the State 



412 



BIOGRAPnWAL ItEVIBW OF 



Legislature, and in the fall of 1857 he was 
elected Treasurer of the State, which office he 
held for four consecutive terms of two years 
* each. This sketch would be incomplete with- 
out some allusion to Mr. Hastings services 
during our last great war. The management 
of our finances in those troublesome times 
called for the highest ability, and Wisconsin 
was fortunate in having the head of her finan- 
cial department one whose wise and careful 
management did much to save the credit of 
the State, to .secure to our people a better 
monetary system and to provide the means 
to enable the State to respond to all calls made 
by the Nation. In negotiating the State loan 
in 1861, for the purpose of securing funds for 
cari-ying on the war, Mr. Hastings acted 
with promptness and discretion. Under his 
management a financial panic was prevented, 
and our home currency was placed on a much 
firmer basis. 

During all of his political career, with all 
of its cares, toils and temptations, he was an 
earnest advocate of teniperanc-e reform; from 
early boyhood he always found time and 
means to spend in this cause. He never drank 
liquor or used tobacco, and was energetic in 
measures designed to remove the curse from 
others, embracing every opportunity of mak- 
ing speeches, encouraging legislation and at- 
tending temperance organizations. With his 
pen, too, he has always been active in the 
cause. lie was, and is now an occasional 
correspondent for many of the Good Templar 
and Prohibition papers in the United States 
and in Great l)ritain, Australia, New Zea- 
land and Tasmania. He has spoken on some 
j)hase of the temperance question in nearly 
every State in the Union, in Canada, Eng- 
land, Scotland, Ireland; in nearly every city 
and large town in Australia, New Zealand 
aixJ Tasmania, and on the questions of slavery 



and temperance in every county and almost 
every town in Wisconsin. He arose to the 
position of Grand Worthy Patriarch of Wis- 
consin in the order of Sons of Temperance, 
and was sent as a delegate to the National 
Division at Chicago, which was presided over 
b)' Judge O'Neil, of South Carolina and Neal 
Dow as M. W. Associate. 

In February, 1857, he became a member 
of I. (). G. T. and has ever since retained his 
membership. He is now Ti'easurer of thi' 
National Prohibition Committee, also the 
State Prohibition (Committee, and he was for 
twenty years one of the trustees of Heloit 
College. In July, 1873, while a represen- 
tative of the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin to 
the Right Worthy Lodge of Good Templars, 
held in London, England, he was elected 
Right Worthy Grand Templar, the chief 
office of the Good Templar order throughout 
the world. This was the sixth time he had 
been chosen liead of this order. He has 
been vice-president of the National Tem- 
perance and Publication House for fifteen 
years. 

In social and church circles Mr. Hastings 
has ever been active and his work in these 
fields has called him almost constantly to 
positions of labor and responsibility, and the 
duties discliarged in these departments 
called for ability as marked as those wielded 
in the important positions filled bj him as a 
State officer. At the age of sixteen years he 
united with the church, and he has been 
Trustee, Treasurer and Deacon of the Con- 
gregational Church, Superintendent of the 
Sunday-school, President of the Wisconsin 
State Sunday-school Convention, Modei-ator 
of the Congregational State Convention, 
Moderator of the Triennial Convention of 
Congregational Ministers and Delegates from 
the churches in the Northwestern States, 



DANK COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



4IS 



Corporate Member of the American Board of 
Commissioners for Foreign Missions, Secre- 
tary, Treasurer and President of the Wiscon- 
sin Sunday-school Assemlily. Tiie conti- 
dence witli wliich he has inspired iiis fellow- 
men and the liold he lias had, and now has, 
upon the hearts of the people are clearly 
shown by the offices he has f)een called upon 
to fill. He has been Town Clerk, Justice of 
the Peace, Chairman of Town Board of Su- 
pervisors, also of County Board of Super- 
visors, meraijer of the Wisconsin Legislature 
for two terms, State Treasurer for four 
terms, Secretary of State Board of Charities, 
Trustee of State Hospital for Insane, Treas- 
urer of the Wisconsin Academy of Science, 
Art and Letters, and Curator of the State 
Historical Society, a splendid record, surely, 
and one that fitly mirrors fortli the man. In 
the interest of some of these institutions he 
was commissioned to visit and report upon 
similar ones in Great Britain, which he did 
during his travels in that country in the year 
1873. 

Mr. Hastings is ever at the service of the 
public, in whatever good work commands his 
rare business talents. For many years he 
was treasurer and director of the Madison 
Mutual Insurance Company, director of the 
Madison Manufacturing Company and also of 
the City Gas Works. 

He was marrieil August 1, 1837, to Miss 
Margaretta Shubert, of Philadelphia, Penn- 
sylvania. They have three children: Sam- 
uel D., Jr., Judge of the Fourteenth Circuit 
of Wisconsin, residing at Green I5ay, Wis 
consin; Emma M., ms^rried to H. K. Hobart, 
now editor of the Pail way Ago, Chicago; 
and Florence L., married to Henry W. Iloyt, 
of the Gates Iron Works of Chicago. Mr. 
Hastings' home is an attractive brick resi- 
dence, on the corner of Lake and Langdon 

28 



streets. His gift of l)usiness thoroughness 
and integrity in the world is no more a 
characteristic than are the graces of the 
home circle, of which he is the bead and 
soul. His wife has the rich grace of a high 
order of womanhood, and artistic taste in 
working up the endless details into the har- 
mony of a home. 

Through life Mr. Hastings has been a tire- 
less and unselfish worker and his principles 
have enshrined themselves in his works. He 
is an effective speaker, a ready writer, a goofl 
organizer, a genial, just and philanthropic 
man. 



-^ 



^ 



tHARLES S. MEAllS,one of the retired 
business men of Madison, Wisconsin, 
may now be found at his pleasant home 
on East Gilman street, where he has resided 
since its erection in 1857. He was born in 
Elbridge, Ononds^ga county. New York, Janu- 
ary 12, 1818, son of James and Lois Mears, 
both natives of Vermont. The father was a 
railroad and canal contractor and in early life 
followed the occupation of a farmer. 

Our subject received a common school edu- 
cation and at the age of fourteen entered the 
Elbridge Academy, where he remained three 
years. In the family of which he was a 
member there were thirteen cbililren and 
Charles was the youngest. ()l all these chil- 
dren, only one sister, Mrs. Harriet Sherwin, 
of Fulton vi lie. New York, and our subject 
survives. About the time of the outbreak 
of the Rebellion the parents of our subject 
died. In order to sujiport himself he engaged 
in selliny: groceries at Amsterdam, New York, 
where be remained one year, then went to 
Hanover, Ohio, and engaged with his brother 
in selling merchandise for ab(jut two years. 



414 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



After leavinir his brother he removed to Port 
Richinoiid, Staten Island, where he clerked 
for some time in a grocery, but after nearly two 
and one-halt' years he removed to Fultonvilie, 
New York, and engaged as clerk in a country 
store for a short time, after which he removed 
to Jordan, New York. 

Our subject was married, November 12, 
1840, to Miss Lucretia Martiueau, born in 
London, England, who came to the United 
States when twelve years old. Soon after her 
marriage Mrs. Mears died, only bearing that 
name about five months. After her death 
Mr. Mears removed to New Albany and there 
was married October 26, 1848, to Harriet 
Anthony, a native of that city, daughter of 
Jacob Anthony, a merchant of New Albany, 
who had served as a surveyor during the war, 
of the port of New Albany. Two children 
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mears, name- 
ly: Alice A., married to J. H. Palmer, of 
Madison; and Flora E., at home, a young lady, 
educated at the Wisconsin University. Mr. 
Mears, wife and children are all living and 
in the enjoyment of good health. 

While in New Albany Mr. Mears was en- 
gaged in dry -goods business, residing in that 
city tor about ten years, after which he re- 
moved to Madison, in December, 1855. In 
this city he entered the lumber business, 
forming the lumber business of C. S. Mears 
and Company, which he operated for nine 
years, after which he retired from active busi- 
ness. In political matters Mr. Mears votes 
with the Republican party, being convinced 
the principles enunciated by that body are 
the ones most conducive to public order and 
prosperity. Mr. Mears has been one of the 
most enterprising business men of the town, 
and now enjoys the rest he has fully earned 
for himself by his industry and frugality. 



ll^OBERT WOOTTON, Secretary of the 
i Masonic Benefit Association, and agent 
of the Northwestern Mutual Life In- 
surance Company of Milwaukee, was born 
in Cambridge, England, in 1832, son of 
William and Hannah (Ilarvey) Wootton. 
The father died in 1834, and his wife was 
married a second time, to Robert Fitkin, 
and in 1836 or 1837 came to America and 
settled in Brooklyn, New York, resided 
there until 1862, and then removed to Black 
Hawk county, Iowa, where Mr. Fitkin 
bought a farm and where he and his wile 
spent their last years, the former dying at 
the age of ninety-two and the latter at the 
age of eighty-two. 

Our subject was about four years old when 
he came to America, so he remembers but 
little of iiis native home. He attended the 
Brooklyn schools until thirteen years of age, 
and then entered the printing office of Har- 
per liros. to learn the art preservative. From 
the printing -room he went to the press- 
room and remained, except two years, until 
1856. Close confinement in the office began 
to tell upon his health, and in 1856 he re- 
signed his position, and, accompanied by 
his wife and infant child, he emigrated to 
Iowa. They journeyed by cars to Dtinlcitii, 
Illinois, which was then the western ter- 
minus of the Illinois Central railroad, and 
from there journeyed with a team to How- 
ard county, Iowa. At that time mily a |)art 
of the county had been surveyed and tlie set- 
tlements were few and far between. He 
selected a tract of Govern ment him I, erected 
a log cabin anil at once commenced to im- 
prove the land. There was no railroad 
nearer than 100 miles (Dubuque) and no 
convenient market, consequently the family 
lived off the products of their lands and 
wild game, which was abundant. Burnt 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



415 



com was used in place of coffee. He re- 
sided there until 1861, liut in Jauuar}' of 
that year he left his family in the log cabin 
and came to Madison, where he arrived 
nearly out of funds. He at once found em- 
ployment in the press-room of the State 
Journal, where he remained one year. He 
then entered the business department of the 
office and continued there until 1869, when 
he resiijned to engage in the grocery busi- 
ness with Mr. G. W. Huntley, in which he 
continued seven and one-half years. He then 
resumed his connection with the Journal 
and remained until 1880, when the Madisun 
Plow Coinpany was formed and he was 
elected president of it. He remained with 
that company two years, and then engaged 
in the insurance and real-estate business, 
in which he has contitiued until the present 
time. 

In 1854 he married Elizabeth Denton 
Morgan, who was born in New York city, 
September, 1833, was a daughter of John 
and Caroline Morgan. Two. of their five 
children are now living, Frank M.and Addie 
May. The former is a graduate of the law 
department of the State University in the 
class of 1890, and is now practicing in this 
city. Our subject was made a Mason in 
1854, at which time he joiiied Corner Stone 
Lodge of Brooklyn. At the present time he 
is a member of Madison Lodge, No. 5, A. 
F. & A. M.; Madison Chapter, No. 4, K. 
A. M.; Madison Council, No. 3, R. & S. 
M.; Robert McCoy Commandery, No. 3, K. 
T.; Hope Lodge, No. 17, L O. O. F.; Madi- 
son Encampment, No. 8, I. O. O. F. He 
has been a Republican since 1861, has 
served one year as ('hairman of the County 
Central Committee, one term as member of 
County Hoard of Supervisors, six years as a 
member of the Citv Council from the Second 



Ward and for several years a member of the 
School Board. 

fOHN H. CORSCOT, secretary of the 
Madison City Gas, Light and Coke 
Company, was born in Wenterswyk, 
Holland. His father, Gerrit J. Corscot, was 
born in the same place. He learned the 
trade of weaver and followed that until 1845, 
when, accompanied by his wife and two 
children, he came to America. He sailed 
from Rotterdam; landed at New York after 
a voyage of seven weeks and three days. He 
then settled at Albany for six months, and 
then went to Jordan, Onondaga county. 
New York, and remained there, engaging in 
farming until 1855, when he came to Madi- 
son, where his death occurred in January, 
1892, at the age of ninety years. The 
maiden name of the mother of our subject 
was Diana Droppers, who was born in tiie 
same town as her husband and died in Madi- 
son. She reared two sons, William and 
John. 

Our sul)ject was only seven years old when 
he came to America and attended the public 
schools of Jordan, and then came to Madison 
and obtained employment in the Madison 
mills for two years, and then learned the 
printers' trade in the ofHce of the Patriot, 
which he continued until 1865, and then 
entered the employ of the American Express 
Company as messenger on the Chicago & 
Northwestern Raih-oad until 1868, when he 
became City Clerk of Madison until 1890, 
which position he held continuously for 
twenty-one years. 

In 1871 he was married to Julia F. May- 
ers, born in Westport, Dane county, Wis- 
consin, daughter of Charles G. and Kate 



41G 



BIOGHAPIIICAL REVlt^V OF 



(Fitz<jerald) Mayers, of England. Mr. and 
Mrs. Corscot have two children, namely: 
Kate M. and John C. 

(AKL FEHLANDT, of Mazo Manie, 
Dane county, Wisconsin, was born in 
Mecklenburg, Germany, February 25, 
1825, a son of John and Mary (Schuldt) 
Fehlandt, both born and reared in Picher, 
that country. The father was a farmer by 
occupation. They reared a t'ainily ot three 
children, our subject and two sisters; Sophia, 
who died in Germany; and Mary, who died 
after coming to this country. 

Carl Fehlandt, our subject, received but 
little education, as his parents were very 
poor. After reaching a suitable age he ob- 
tained a tract of wild land iii some remote 
section of the Fatherland, which he improved 
and sold for $5,500. A part of this money 
he used for the betterment of his parents, and 
with the remainder he came to the United 
States, in 1865. He settled in Mo\l)ury 
township, Dane county. Wisconsin, which he 
has since made his home. Mr. Fehlandt pur- 
chased two farms of 160 acres each, where he 
he followed farming until the spring of the 
present year, and then sold one place and 
came to Alazo Manie. Ilore he purchased a 
neat little cottage and prepared to spend the 
remainder of his days in peace and rest. He 
is a Democrat in his political views, believ- 
ing protective tariff to be injurious to the 
producer and a great burden to the consumer 
of manufactured articles. He has been hon- 
ored with the offices of Supervisor and 
Assessor of his township, having held the 
former position three terms. 

Mr. Fehlandt was married in his native 
country at the age of twenty-five years, to 



Mary Niebuhr. They have had eight chil- 
dren, as follows: Carl, editor of the Port 
Washington Zeitung, the only German news- 
paper published in Ozaukee county, Wiscon- 
sin; William, Clerk of the (.'ircuit Court of 
Dane county and owner of a fine farm in 
Berry township; .lolin. who has just com- 
pleted a journey over the greater part of the 
Western States, is a practicing attorney of 
Madison; August, a graduate of both the 
Wisconsin University and Princeton College 
of Princeton, New Jersey, is now attending 
Yale College; Henry, for seven years princi- 
pal of the high school of Oshkosh, Wiscon- 
sin, has traveled extensively in Europe, and 
is now superintendent of public schools of 
Ozaukee county, Wisconsin; Mary, wife of 
Robert Voss, a feirmer of Dane county; Lewis, 
deceased at the age of twenty-one years; and 
Sophia, wife of Henry Kirch, a miller by 
occupation. Mr. F'ehlandt is a life-long 
member of the Lutheran Ciuirch. He has 
made the education of his sons the sole object 
of his later days, and their present promi- 
nence bespeaks to the public the success he 
has attained in this direction. 



•®®- 



^«*- 



(^i^EOKGE M. OAKLEY, residing at the 
' ' " Evergreens,'" about three miles from 
the capitol in Madison, was born in 
Niles, Cayuga county, New York, November 
10, 1825. His father, John Oakley, was an 
Englishman, and his mother, Charlotte Sher- 
man, a Quakeress. He attended the Niles 
school till, at the age of fifteen, he began to 
learn the trade of brick and stone mason and 
plasterer. Pursuing his trade at his home 
and also in Wayne county, he started in 18^5 
for the Territory of Wisconsin, via Buffalo 
and the lakes to Milwaukee, thence by tean^ 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



417 



to Jefferson. Hero, diirino; tlie winter of 
1845-46, Mr. Oakley taught the village 
school. In the spring following he reached 
Madhson, at that time a mere village. He 
resided in Madison until 1854, when he went 
to Prescott, where he purchased a farm. 
Nine years later he moved to Chicago, 
actively engaged at his trade until 1882, 
when he purchased the farm lie now occu- 
pies. 

In 1849 he married Susan Jane Sweeney, 
a native of Canton, Ohio. Tlieir two chil- 
dren, George Waltei- and Horace Sweeney, 
reside in Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. OaUley are 
members of the Congregational Church. In 
political matters Mr. Oakley is a liepubli- 
can. 



PiON. HIRAM H. GILES, one of the 
prominent men of the city of Madison, 
Wisconsin, whose name is known thrinigh 
the State, commercially, politically, and so- 
cially, was born in New Salem, Massachu- 
setts, March 22, 1820, and was a son of Hon. 
Samuel Giles, who was born in the same town 
and whose grandfather, of early English ances- 
try, was also born there. The fatherof our sub- 
ject was reared to agricultural pursuits and 
spent his entire life on the farm where he 
was born excepting when a member of the 
Massachusetts State Legislation. The maid- 
en name of the mother was Hannah Foster, 
born in the same town, where she also spent 
her whole life. She was the mother of nine 
children. The parents of Hiram Giles were 
Unitarians in their religious belief. The fa- 
ther was reared a Democrat and served in 
the offices of his town, having been Select- 
man, County Co^mmissioner, and a member 
of the State Senate. 



Until the age of seventeen years, our sub- 
ject remained with his parents and then, on 
account of ill health went South, aeeoni]ianied 
by his lirother who lectured on electricity. 
The brothers traveled together for a year and 
a half, at the end of which time Hiram 
bought the apparatus of his brother and con- 
tinued the lectures through several difTerent 
States, and also went into Canada. Two 
years he spent on a farm in Erie county, 
Pennsylvania, and then, in 1S44, he made a 
trip to the Territory of Wisconsin and se- 
lected a farm in Dane county, later returning 
to Erie county, Pennsylvania, and engaging 
in farming and lumbering for a space of two 
years. In 1847 he returned to his future 
home, settling upon the land he had bought 
in Dunkirk township, three miles from the 
present town of Stoughton. 

At this time there were no railroads and 
Milwaukee was the nearest depot for sup- 
plies. On one occasion Mr. Giles employed 
a neighbor to draw a load of wheat to Mil- 
waukee and on his return paid the neighbors 
$5 above what the wheat brought for his ex- 
penses. Pork sold at that time for $2.50 
per hundred pounds net, and oats 12^ cents 
per bushel. Sometimes agriculture in the 
new State seemed discouraging, but he con- 
tinued at it for years, but in 1853 was ap- 
pointed station agent at Stoughton, being 
the first one to hold a position of this kind 
at that important railroad center. Here he 
remained until 1870, when he was appointed 
claim and right-of-way agent for the Mil- 
waukee & Prairie du Chien Railroad, now 
the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad 
Company and continued their trusted man 
until 1881. 

In 1871 he was appointed upon the State 
Poard of Charities and Reform, and contin- 
ued a member until it was abolished in 1891. 



418 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



Much of his time for the past ten years has 
been devoted to the work of that board, and 
in 1887 he was elected president of the Na- 
tional Conference of Charities and Correction. 
In 184:4 Mr. Giles cast his first vote for 
llenry Clay and voted with the Whitr party 
until the formation of the Republican party. 
His ability as a politician was soon recog- 
niztni and he was elected to the State Le<ris- 
lature in 1853, and in 1855 was elected to 
the State Senate and re-elected in 1857. It 
was at the session of the State Legislature in 
1853 that the State bank law was enacted. 
As first drafted it made provision for State 
bonds going as security. Mr. Giles offered 
an amendment tliat first mortgage railroad 
bonds of a railroad in operation, not to ex- 
ceed $8,000 to the mile, should be accepted 
as security. This amendment met with great 
opposition at first, but was finally adopted. 
He also offered an amendment that stock- 
holders should give bonds to the amount of 
25 per cent of their holdings. He was dur- 
ing his term very prominent in many meas- 
ures which became laws. During this time 
occurred the election of Senator Doolittle to 
the United States Senate. 

Mr. Giles was married in 1844, to Miss 
Rebecca Smith Watson, born near Fredonia, 
Chautauqua county, New York, a daughter 
of Luther Watson. Two daughters, Belle 
and Ella, blessed their union. Belle married 
Mr. Robe Dow, of Stoughton, but Miss 
Ella resides devotedly with her father in the 
beautiful home overlooking lake Monona, al- 
though her winters are spent either in New 
Orleans or at Biloxi, Mississippi. She is 
well known in the city of Madison where her 
abilities as journalist, novelist and poetess 
have won her fame. For five years she was 
the efficient anfl obliging city librarian, but 
ou the death of her mother, in 1884, and in 



broken health, she resigned. In her younger 
days she was one of the belles of this gay 
city, and much of her beauty remains. She 
has been particularly gifted, as in early years, 
her instructor, Hans Balatka, predicted for 
her a brilliant musical future. She is highly 
educated and took a great interest in the 
work of the Board of Charities to which her 
distinguished father devoted so much of his 
life. 

Mr. Giles is a prominent member of the 
Masonic fraternity in lodge No. 5 A. F. & 
A. M., and has been a member of the I. O. 
G. T., for six years being Grand Worthy 
Templar of the State. During that period 
the membership changed from five to 27,000. 
As a useful citizen of the State, and a man of 
the highest personal integrity, Mr. Giles is 
greatly honored in his declining years by a 
large circle of faithful friends in various 
walks of life. 



IRA W. BIRD, Madison, Wisconsin, was 
born in Onieda county, New York, Au- 
gust 7, 1829. Son of Allen and Hannah 
(Miller) Bird. His father was born and 
reared in that county, and his mother, a na- 
tive of England, was reared in New York 
from her tenth year. The former died when 
Ira W. was three years old, and the latter 
was subsequently married to Mr. Spencer. 
The family then moved to Auburn, New 
York, where Ira W. attended school for a 
time. He was one of a family of four chil- 
dren, two sons and two daughters, and sub- 
sequently removed with them to Skaneateles, 
New York, where he began to learn the car- 
riage-makers' trade. After serving an ap 
prenticeship of seven years^began the manu- 
facture (if carriages in that place; did a sue- 



DANE COUNTY, WISOONHTN. 



419 



cessful business and remained there until 
1855, when he removed his business to Madi- 
son. 

Upon locating liere Ira W. became a partner 
with his brother, wlio had established a car- 
riage manufa(;tory here, and they conducted 
the business tof^ether, until 1861, when our 
subject was appointed Chief of l*olice and 
Street Superintcjndent, and disposed of his 
interest in the business to his l>rother. He 
served as chief one year and street superin- 
tendent two years. After that he engaged 
in the dry-goods business about four years, 
since which time he has been retired from 
active business. 

Mr. Ijird was married in 1852 to Miss 
Christina L. Stoner, of Skaneateles, New 
York, whose father was a Drum Major in 
the war of 1812. They have had four chil- 
dren: Spencer A., Truman E., Allice and 
Kate 13. Only two are living, Truman E. 
and Kate B. The former is married and 
resides at Salt Lake City, Utah, the latter is 
an accomplished musician, and one of Madi- 
son's attractive ladies. A brief sketch of her 
life is given in connection with, and follow- 
ing that of her fathers. 

Politically, Mr. Bird is a Democrat, and 
at one time served as Deputy Sheriff of the 
county. He was appointed one of the Com- 
missioners on the Wisconsin Farm Mortgage 
Land Commission by Governor Taylor, in 
1875, aud remained on said commission until 
it was closed in 1884. The commission was 
organized by an act of the Wisconsin Legis- 
lature in 1868, for the purpose of reimburs- 
ing as far as possible tliose farmers who were 
deceived by false representations of certain 
railroad companies, whereby many of the 
fanners lost their homes. The claims that 
came before the commission amounted to 
one and a half million dollars. 



Mr. Bird is a thirty-second -degree Mason 
and a prominent member of the order. Mr. 
Bird's grandfather, Ira W. Bird, and his 
brotiier, Augustus A. Bird, went west to- 
gether as far as Ann Arbor, Michigan, where 
the former remained, the latter proceeding 
westward about the year 18;i2, in the primi- 
tive mode of that time. an<i traveling over 
the country by wagon; after a season of 
gloomy weather, and resting on their jour- 
ney, some twelve miles from their destination, 
the sun shone bright and clear over the prai- 
rie, they called the spot Sun Prairie. Arriv- 
ing at Madison he became contractor for, and 
built the first capitol for the State. 

Kate Bjnoham liiKu, daughter of \v^ W. 
and Christine L. Bird, born at Madison, 
Dane county, Wisconsin, July 24, 1861, is a 
musician (pianist) by profession, having re- 
ceived a thorough and finished education in 
private and school work. Her preparatory 
work began in her seventh year and cotitinued 
some years under two of tlie leading teachers 
of Madison. Later she took advanced work 
under the instruction of the first t«acher of 
the city, spent three years of finishing study 
in Chicago under a prominent professor of 
one of the leading musical institutions of 
that city, spent one year of practical work in 
teaching, and then took a six years' course of 
study in Leipzig, Germany, from 1886 to 
1892. Her work at Leipzig embraced a 
thorough course in (piano, theory, history 
and all that belongs to a broad knowledge of 
music and the chosen instrument) the first 
school of music in the world, "Das Konig- 
licheCouservatorium der Musikzu Leipzig," 
having received private and school instruc- 
tions under the first masters of that institu- 
tion, receiving teacher's and large diploma 
in 1891. She also took a five years" special 



420 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



course under leading and first lady teacher 
in Leipzii;. 

Having spent years of steady perseverance 
in tiie acquiring of a broad education, she 
has reached a point fitted to taiie a place with 
others in the broad field of art, prepared to 
devote all energy, education and a life-vpork 
in tiio cause of true individual and national 
American art. She has had unusual advan- 
tages and experience in study and travel, her 
travels including the north, east and west of 
America, three diflferent tours of all European 
countries, and one extended tour from Europe 
out as far south as Australia and North and 
South Islands of New Zealand. The young, 
intelliifeiit American man or woman in the 
long, endless search after education and 
knowledge, in the study of the progress and 
development of the industries, arts and man- 
kind in foreign countries and our own, must 
realize the wonderful and rapid development 
of America, the individual energy, enthusi- 
asm and indomitable will necessary to the 
continuance and higher development of 
America. To the young, energetic, patri- 
otic American falls the work of furthering 
and developing the interests of America and 
carrying on the work so grandly conceived 
and made possible through the determined 
efforts of our brave and patriotic forefathers. 
Frontier life still goes on, but with less pri- 
vation and hardship than formerly, and to 
this is added an age of remarkable mental 
acliievements, an age of great strivings and 
competition. To every American is given 
the grand gift of a free birthright, a life to 
be devoted to America and her people. In 
dividual success means national success. 




AllTIN FEULING, a farmer and 
stock raiser, of Bristol township, 
Dane county, is a son of Leonard 
Feuling, a native of Bavaria, Germany. The 
latter was well educated, was a good Latin 
Bcliolar, and learned the trade of a blacksmith 
from his father, which he followed five years 
in the old country. In 1847, after a si.x 
weeks' voyage, he landed in New York, but 
was sick with the cholera for four weeks 
thereafter. After his recovery he came to 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, thence on foot to 
Hampden, Columbia county, and later erected 
a blacksmith shop at Baker's corner. North 
Bristol, where he worked at liis trade three 
years. Mr. Feuling next went to Koxbury 
township, and in 188i returned to Hampden, 
Columbia county, where he died in 1884, and 
was buried in the East Bristol Catholic Cem- 
etery. He was a prominent man of his town- 
ship, was Chairman of the Hoard a number 
of years, and took an active part in school 
matters. He was first married to Mary Con- 
rad, and they had two children: Margaret, 
wife of John llulm, of Pueblo, Colorado; and 
Martin, our subject. For his second wife he 
married Annie Ackerman, and they had ten 
children, as follows: Adam, a resident of 
Montana; Louisa, of Milwaukee; Mary, of 
Hampden, Columbia county, Wisconsin; 
Lona, in the town of York; Leonard, died 
September, 181t2; Frank, of Milwaukee; 
Madelina, of Hampden tuwll^hip; .John, at 
home; Joseph, at home; and Eddie, de- 
ceasetl. 

Martin Feuling, the subject of this sketch, 
was born iu Roxbury township in 1852, re- 
ceived a good edtieation in the schools of 
Hampden, Columbia county, and remained at 
home until twenty-one years of age. He 
then worked for w'ages six years, three years 
for John Derr, two years for John Fox, and 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



421 



one year for John Smith, and during tiiis 
time saved §600. After his marriage, his 
father gave him $1,200, making him a cash 
capital of $1,800. After worl<ing on his 
father-in-law's place one year, Mr. Feuling 
purchased seventy-six acres of land where he 
now lives, paying $43 per acre. He suc- 
ceeded in paying for his place after eight 
years, and he then bought forty acres more, 
for which he paid $50 per acre, but afterward 
sold that tract for $57.50 per acre. He then 
bought 160 acres adjoining tlie old home, 
known as the Arch Davidson place, paying 
$55 per acre, bat later sold eiglity acres for 
the same price. He still owns the other 
eighty acres, also the original seventy-six 
acres, all good, tillable land, except a stone 
quarry, wliich is valuable. Mr. Feuling is a 
Democrat in his political views, and lias 
served as school clerk three years. Relig- 
iously, he is a member of the Catholic Church 
at Sun i^rairie. 

Our subject was united in marriage in 
1877 with Catherine Earth, who was born in 
Bristol township, Dane county, Wisconsin, 
August 19, 1854, a daughter of Frank and 
Catrina (Werth) IJarth. The parents came 
by sailing vessel from I'russia to America in 
1847, having spent fifty-two days on the 
ocean. They remained in New York three 
years, where the father worked at whatever 
he could find to do. His death occurred 
September 5, 1882, and was l)nried in the 
Sun Prairie cemetery. The mother now re- 
sides in Bristol township, Dane county, aged 
nearly eighty- two years. They were the par- 
ents of live children: Nicholas, of Sun 
Frairie township; Annie, of Bristol township; 
Frank, deceased; Margaret, also of Bristol 
township; and Catherine. Mr. and Mi-s. 
Feuling have had ten children, namely: 
Franciscus Xaverins. born December 29, 



1879, died April 16, 1880; Katharina Agnes, 
born January 18, 1881, died April 2, 1881; 
Frank Aaverins, born May 19, 1882; Emily 
Lena, born August 29, 1883, died March 2, 
1884; Peter Adam, born December 21, 1884; 
Lena Frances, born August 17, 1886; Alvin 
Martin, born December 27, 1887; Nicliolas 
Leo, born July 27, 1889; Joseph Ciiarles, 
born September 27, 1890, died May 7, 1891; 
Margaretha Mary Manda, born April 3, 1892. 
Mr. Feuling is a good business man, a genial 
gentleman, and a respected member of the 
society in which he moves. 

«ARL MOIIETH, a farmer and stock- 
raiser of section 2, Bristol township, 
Dane county, was born in the liliine 
province, Germany, February 28, 1823, a son 
of Antone Moreth, wlio lived and died in 
that country. Our subject attended school 
until fourteen years of age, the following 
year taught school, the next two years was 
employed in watching woods, was engaged as 
a bookkeeper in Saw broken two years, and 
tlien worked for a priest a number of years. 
In 1855 lie came on a sailing vessel. Confed- 
eration, to America, and landed in New York 
after a voyage of thirty-nine days. He was 
then thirty- two years of age, and without 
money. Mr. Moreth spent two weeks in 
Toledo, Ohio, then came by railroad to Mil- 
waukee, Wisconsin, and then rode in a wagon 
with a farmer of Columbia county. He re- 
mained there three days, and then went to 
the settlement near East Bristol, Bristol town- 
ship, where he worked on a farm for Joseph 
Darr live months, for anothei- gentleman one 
year, fifteen days tor Jim Lincoln, nine 
months for John Derr, and six months for 
Rev. Moore. He next farmed on shares one 



422 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



year, the following year paid cash rent for a 
farm in Sun Prairie townsliip, was then em- 
ployed by a farmer, and later spent two 
months in St. Louis. During this time he 
succeeded in savintr ^l.ijOO, and also owns a 
half acre of land in East J3ristol. Mr. Mor- 
eth then remained in that city five years, 
during which time he purchased forty acres 
of land in Bristol township, but afterward 
sold his entire property and bought eighty 
acres of his present farm, foi' which he paid 
§2,900. He afterward bought forty acres, 
adjoining, en section 3, erected a good, com- 
modious residence, barns, etc., and he now 
owns 160 acres of tine land in one body. In 
addition to tliis he has IfiO acres on section 
10, and he now cultivates his entire place of 
320 aci-es. 

Mr. Moreth was married December 29, 
1801, to Theresia Schenacher, a native of 
Bavaria, Germany, and a daughter of An- 
drew Schenacher. In 1846, at the age of 
eleven years, she came with her parents to 
America, landing in this country after a voy- 
age of thirty-si.x days. After settling in 
Bristol township, Dane county, Wisconsin, the 
father had only $50, with which he purchasd 
eighty acres of land, lie first stopped with 
his nephew, and immediately began the erec- 
tion of his shanty, which he covered with 
hay and brush. The family, consisting of 
parents and nine children, began their pio- 
neer life in this small hut, with no money, 
and at that time only four families resided in 
this vicinity. They ground their wheat in a 
coffee-mill, and lived mostly on bread and 
potatoes, principally the latter. Wheat was 
hauled to ^lilwaukee, by oxen, and sold at a 
small price, at times receiving only eighteen 
cents per bushel. In 1857 Mr. Schenacher's 
eldest son purchased his farm, and he then 
bought forty acres on section 11, but five 



years later he sold all but one acre of that 
place, where he reuiained until 1884. Mrs. 
S(!henacher died in 1872, and was buried in 
the Catholic Cemetery in Bristol township. 
Since tlie mother's death, the father has 
made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Mor- 
eth, and is now ninety-two years of age. He 
has contributed his full share toward the 
development of Dane county, has always 
been a man of good habits, and still bids fair 
to live for many years. He has lived to see 
his children all in good circumstances, which 
is the legitimate fruit of his labor and sacri- 
fice, and he nears the grave with the satis- 
faction of knowing that his life was well 
spent, not selfishly, but for the good of oth- 
ers. Mr. and Mrs. Moreth have had thirteen 
children, namely: Mary Catrina. wife of J. 
Schmidt, of Bristol township; Katrina, now 
Mrs. Valentine Fox, of Hampden, Columbia 
county; Barbara, formerly a student in the 
Fond du Lac College, is now teaching in the 
Sisters' school; Ange, of Cambridge, Wis- 
consin; Madeline, at home; Maggie, in the 
Convent at Fond du Lac; Antonia A., at 
home; Frank, who is being educated for a 
priest at Fond du Lac; Fred, deceased; Annie 
Margaret, Hilda, Theresia and Charles Jo- 
seph, at home. 

EORGE F. HARMON, residing on 
section 2, Montrose township, a jiroini- 
nent man of Dane county, has resided 
here since 1854. He was born in Ruiicrt. 
Bennington county. Vermont, July 19, 1847. 
a son of Ezra J. and Laura Ann (Smith) Har- 
mon, natives of the same State and county. 
The father of our subject was a Vermont 
farmer, who in 1854. came to Wisconsin, 
settling- in Montrose township, where he 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



423 



purchased a 200 acre tract of partially im- 
proved land on sections 15 and 16. Here he 
resided some fifteen years, then sold and 
purcliased a farm on section 34, consisting of 
120 acres, and on this place he died in 1871, 
at the age of fifty-one years. The mother of 
our subject resiiles in Belleville. These par- 
ents reared four children, as follews: Amos 
DeWitt, who was a member of Company E, 
Twenty-third Wisconsin Volunteers, died in 
service during the late war; our subject; 
Fred P., who resides in Belleville; and Mary 
v., wife of Homer Paytie, a resident of 
Belleville. 

Our subject was seven years old when the 
family settled in Wisconsin. He was reared 
on the farm and attended the district school, 
after which he worked two years as a farm 
hand. In 1870 he married Hoi'tense Weils, 
a daughter of Alonzo C!. Wells. She was 
born in Verona township, Dane county, June 
12, 1848. Her parents were pioneers of said 
tow^lship, her father being a farmer, who died 
in Montrose township. Soon after marriage, 
in 1871, our subject settled where he now 
lives, and purchased 100 acres of land. Here 
he has good buildinjjs, modern improvements 
and everything very comfortable. In politics 
Mr. Harmon is a Democrat, althougii he was a 
Republican previous to 1876. Pie has al- 
ways been iiiterested in local politics, was 
township Treasurer in 1879 and 1880, and 
has served as Chairman of the Township 
Board of Supervisors in 1881, '82, '83, '87 
and '92. He is a member of Oregon Lodge, 
No. 151, A. F. & A. M.; Belleville Lodge, 
No. 74, I. O. O. F., and has passed all the 
chairs, and has been a delegate to the Gen- 
eral Lodge several times. He has also been 
a delegate to the county and district conven- 
tions of his party. 



fRANCIS A. OGDEN, one of the capi- 
talists of Madison and Chicago, is a 
^ native of New York, having been born 
in the Empire State, at Painted Post, Steuben 
county. His lather, Abram Ogden, was 
born in Delaware county, New York and was 
the son of Abran) and Sarah (Craig) Ogden. 
The father of our subject was reared in his 
native State and engaged in the lumber 

business there. In 1836 he emigrated west- 
er 

ward, journeying with a team to Buffalo, 
thence via lake to Detroit ami then started 
again with his team for an overland journey 
to Chicago. As the roads were very poor he 
stopped in Berrien county, Michigan, and 
was one ot the early settlers of that place. 
IIo bought a tract of land, which was a part 
of the Indian reservation and built a log 
house on the land. Here he remained until 
1847, entraged in aorricultural pursuits. At 
that date he sold out and, with his family 
made a journey overland to Madison, where 
he invested in real estate. He had been there 
but a short time when he was elected Justice 
ot the Peace and served in that capacity until 
1856, wlien his deatli occurred. He was 
killed by the cars while trying to board a 
moving train. The maiden name of his wife 
was Mary Smith, who was burn in Rensselaer 
county. New York. August 29, 1798. She is 
still living with mental falcnlties unimpaired. 
She was the mother of eight children, four 
now living, namely: Caleb S., a Judge in 
Waupaca county; John, a practicing physician 
in Arkansas; Sarah married to John D. 
Welch and still a resident of this city. Her 
husband was a soldier in the late war and 
later served as Sheriff of Dane county, but 
is now deceased. 

Our subject received his early education 
in the pioneer schools of Berrien county. The 
furniture of these schools was of the most 



424 



BIOORAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



primitive kind. After coming to Madison be 
attended the State University, where he 
completed his course and then engaged in tiie 
lumber business, which he continued some 
years. For several years be has been engaged 
in the real-estate business here in which be 
has been very successful. He built the Hotel 
Ogden, which bears his name, and has im- 
proved a considerable amount of other 
property here. He is also largely interested 
in Chicaeo real estate and makes his home a 
part of the time in that city. 

Mr. Ogden is a member of the Baptist 
Church and in politics is a Democrat, follow- 
ing in the footsteps of his honored sire in this 
respect, as he too was an advocate of the 
principles of Democracy. The dear old 
mother is also a stanch partisan of the 
party and continues to take a deep interest 
in the affairs of the nation. 

tIKAM C. WILLSON, a popular and 
enterjjrising citizen of Madison, was 
born in Belchertown, Hampshire county, 
Massachusetts, August 18,1836. His father, 
Estes Willson was born in the same town, 
and his father, grandfather of subject, Nathan 
Willson, was also a native of the same place, 
as far as known, althougii of English ancestry. 
He was a farmer and spent his last days in 
lielchertown. The father of our subject was 
reared to manhood in his native town and 
remained there engaged in farming until the 
fall of 1865, when he emigrated to Illinois, 
settling about twenty miles from Champaign, 
where he spent the remainder of his days 
there. The maiden name of the mother of 
our subject was Sally Currier, born in Belcher- 
town, Massachusetts, daughter of Samuel 
Currier. She died in Illinois, after becoming 
the mother of fourteen children. 



Our subject was reared in Belchertown, 
residing there until 1863, when he came to 
Dane county, arriving in Madison on the 
first of April. He bought fifteen acres of 
land near the city limits, lived there until 
1880, then sold and removed to Madison, 
where he remained two years and then located 
on tlie farm, where he now resides three and 
one-half miles from the capitol. Here he has 
engaged in farming and general fruit raising. 

September 27, 1859, be was married to 
Miss liuth Sophia Blackmer, who was born 
in Belchertown, Massachusetts. Her father, 
Hiel K., Blackmer, was also born in Belcher- 
town, and his father, Reuben, was a native of 
the same State, of English ancestors. His 
occupation was that of farming and he spent 
his last years in Belchertown. The father of 
Mrs. Willson bad a farm near the old home 
and spent the remainder of his days there. 
The maiden name of his third wife, mother 
of Mrs. "Willson, was Lidia Kichardson, born 
in North Leverett, Massachusetts, and she 
spent her last years on the home farm. Mrs. 
Willson was reared and educated in her 
native town and there taught one term of 
school before her marriage. She is a physician 
of the Faith Cure perstiasion and a graduate 
of the Spiritual Science University, also 
obtaining the degree of Ph. D. of Chicago. 
Her diploma bears the date of September 8, 
1887. Mr. and Mrs. AVillson have one adopted 
daughter, Ruth Elmina, having buried three 
children. Lillian ; Sophia died in her thirteenth 
year; and Rosalind E. died in infancy, ilr. 
Willson is a Republican in politics. Mr. and 
Mrs. Willson are well known in their section 
of country. All are members of the Congrega- 
tional Church. 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



435 



I^ONORABLE H. F. W. FETILANDT 
is one of the prominent pui)lic men of 
Dane county, Wisconsin. In 1S88 he 
was the representaiive of the county in the 
Assembly, and in 1890 he was elected to his 
present otiice of Circuit Clerk. 

Our subject was the son of Carl Fehlandt 
(see biography for family history), was born 
in Mecklenburg Schwerin, Germany, Decem- 
ber 20, 1851, and was educated in the public 
and also in private schools of a country noted 
for the attention given to education. In 1865 
he came with his parents to this country and 
with them came immediately to Dane county 
and made settlement. Here all of the family 
became successful farmers, and for the same 
reason, and that was, that all were of such 
industrious and persevering habits that they 
could not help but succeed. Our subject is 
included in this class. 

When Mr. Fehlandt first entered public life 
it was predicted of him that he would make 
his mark and the prediction seems likely to 
be realized. Although he was reared upon a 
farm he had ambitions'above the toilsome life 
of the mere agriculturist and his talents were 
recognized, and in 1888 he was honored by 
his fellow-citizens with an election to the 
8tate Legislature. While there he was a 
member of the Committee on Expenditures, 
and Manufactures and Industries. So well 
did hie satisfy the citizens of the county that 
in 1890 he was elected to the office of ('ircuit 
Clerk, and re-elected in 1892, the circuit 
including the counties of Dane, Columbia, 
Sauk, Juneau, Adams and Marquette. 

Our subject has been elected fi'(>m Berry 
township, Dane county, where he had lived 
for some years. He was elected Township 
Supervisor of his township in 1880 and held 
the office for eleven years and extended 
through the tin)e he was in the Assembly and 



some of the time since his election to his 
present office. For the last eight years he 
has Ijeen Chairman of the Hoard. He still 
holds his tine property near Mazo Manie. 

Mr. I'ehlandt was united in matrinumy in 
Berry township, Dane county, to Miss Fred- 
erica Reese, who was born and reared in that 
township. She is a lady of many accomplish- 
ments, and lias proven an excellent wife and 
mother. She is the daughter of Hans Reese, 
a native of Ilolstein, Germany, a soldier in 
the Holstein-Schleswick war of IS48, and 
who, in 1855 emigrated to the United States 
and settled upon a farm in Dane county. 
He and his wife now live in Mazo Manie, quite 
old people. 

Mr. and Mrs. Fehlandt of this notice, are 
parents of the following living children, not 
forgetting little Linda, who was taken 
away by death. They are: Flora E., Elsie S., 
William L., and Lillie. 

Our subject is a member of the Democratic 
party and as the above sketch relates he is a 
prominent man in its ranks. The Lutheran 
Church is the religious denomination to which 
Mr. Fehlandt and family belong. 



^ 



(Q> 



^ 



fOIIN B. HEIM, superintendent of the 
Madison City Water Works, now servinjj 
his tenth term as the same, is the sub- 
ject of the present sketch. He is a promi- 
nent man in many ways, and has been identi- 
fied with the most of the public enterprises 
of the city. Mr. Ileim is a member of the 
building committee of the new Holy Re- 
deemer Church parochial school, at a cost of 
$32,000. He supports liberally both church 
and school, and is a trustee of the former, 
a prominent member of the St. Michael's 
Society, its Secretary, and represented the 



420 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



society at the National Coveiitiou held in 
Louisville, Kentucky, in 1891, and in Du- 
buque in 1892. He is Treasurer of the 
Catcholic Knight branch, No. 88, a charter 
member of the same, and was a delegate to 
the last State Convention at Waukesha, and 
is a member of tiie executive committee of 
the Catholic Benevolent Societies of Wiscon- 
sin. He is a prolific writer for the various 
water-works journals, and writes with ability. 

Our subject was born in Rochester, New 
York, July 15, 1848, and came to Madison 
April 22, 1858, with his parents, Conrad and 
Anastacia (Aut) Heim, natives of Bavaria 
and of Hesse, respectively. The father came 
to the United States in 1846, and a year later 
was followed by the lady who became his 
wife and the mother of our subject. They 
were married in Rochester, and after coming 
to Wisconsin, located in Madison, Dane 
county, Wisconsin, and here the wife and 
mother died in 1865, aged forty-two years. 
The father is now living with his tiiird wife 
at Springtield Corners, and in November, 
1892, was seventy-one years of age. He and 
his three spouses have all been Roman Cath- 
olics. 

Mr. Heim, of this notice, is the eldest in 
the family of ten children. One brother, 
Joseph .1., is the foreman of tiie Oakland 
Tribune, in Oakland, California, and one 
other, F. G., is the head of a cigar manufac- 
tory in Urbana, Ohio, while the youngest 
brother, Ferdinand, is a farmer of Middleton, 
Wisconsin. At the age of ten years our 
subject came to this city, wiiei'e he was 
chiefly educated. When thirteen years of 
age lie was apprenticed to the trade of book- 
binder, and served his term of six years, and 
later became foreman for W. J. Park & Co., 
general bookbinders and publishers of Mad- 
ison. He managed his department, the firm 



flourished, and he remained with them until 
called to his present position. Ifi 1881 he 
was elected Alderman of the Second Ward, 
which election was a triumph which showed 
his personal popularity, as he is politically a 
Democrat and received the election in a Re- 
puljlican ward. On account of having the 
largest number of votes of any Alderman in 
the city, he was called the Senior Alderman, 
and was entitled to hold office for two years 
without re-election. 

The subject of the l)uilding of the water- 
works was being atritated durincr liis term of 
office, a company desiring the franchise. He 
was largely instrumental in securing the 
present practical and successful system of 
water supply to be owned by the city. Tiiis 
was a system which j)laces the water supply 
under the entire control of the city, rather 
than a monopoly, and as this has saved the 
city many thousands of dollars, his services 
are appreciated. In view of his good work 
and earnest labors, he was made chairman of 
the committee on construction. He was the 
youngest member of the committee at tiiat 
time, being not many years past bis major- 
ity, but he was earnest, thorough, and did his 
work satisfactorily. 

After the completion of the works, in 1882, 
at the earnest solicitation of the people and 
the committee, be accepted the superin- 
tendency of the works, and was at the head 
of its management until April, 1S89, when 
he resigned, and then opened up a plumbing 
business. He was too valuable a man in his 
former position, and at the request of the 
commissioners, in October, 1890, he again 
accepted the superintendency, and has held 
that important office ever since. He sold his 
plumbing business, and has since given his 
whole time to the proper management of the 
water-works. He has been interested in local 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



437 



societies, and was made secretary of tlie 
society known as the Relief Xo. 2, for 
eighteen years successively, and has been re- 
elected for the nineteenth time. In political 
life he has been an important factor in this 
county, having been many times a delegate 
to the local, county and State convention.s. 

Our subject was married in this city, to 
Miss Mary E. liickenbach, who was born in 
Blooming Grove, Dane county, Wisconsin, 
in 1853, and was reared and educated here. 
She was a very bri<;ht, intelliirent and acree- 
al)le lady, and a good wife. Her parents and 
grandparents were all natives of Pennsyl- 
vania, and her father, Abraham Riekenbach, 
died in Dane county in 1878, aged seventv- 
two years. His wife is yet living, active 
although in advanced age, and both parents 
belonged to the Lutheran Church. Mrs. 
Heim died in this city, after living an invalid 
for eleven years, her demise occurring May 
14, 188'J, being then thirty-six years old. 
She was the motlier of four children, two of 
whom are deceased, Oliva and John B., Jr. 
Those living are Katie and Petronella, both 
bright cliildren. Mr. Heim was married 
later to Miss Prudence Riekenbach, a sister 
of his first wife, and they have one daughter, 
named Mary Prudence. They are among the 
leading people of the Roman Catholic faith 
in this city, belonging to the Holy Redeemer 
Churcli. 

mRIEN B. HASELTINE, a farmer and 
stock-raiser of Dane county, Wisconsin, 
was born in Andover township, Windsor 
county, Vermont, Febi-uary 27, 1816, a son 
of Orien and Rachel (l^urton) Haseltine, 
natives of Rockingham, Vermont. The 
father was a dresser of cloth by trade, but 



later in life followed farming. He came to 
Wisconsin in 1837, and both he and his wife 
are now deceased. 

Orien B., the eldest of thirteen children, 
seven daughters and six sons, received a 
district school education in his native State, 
and assisted his father in his tailor shop un- 
til the latter engaged in farming. At the 
age of twenty years, in September, 1836, he 
came with his younger brother, Curtis, to 
Wisconsin, locating in Vernon township, 
Waukesha county. He took up a claim at 
Big Bend, twelve years before Wisconsin be- 
came a State, and there were but few houses 
tiien at Waukesha. At that time Milwaukee 
was a village of about 1,500 inhabitants. 
Mr. Haseltine improved and remained on his 
place until 1848, when he sold out and came 
to Black Earth valley. Here he took up 
Government land where the village of Black 
Earth now stands, which was afterward laid 
out l)y our subject and James Peck, and sur- 
veyed by a Mr. Traverse, then County Sur- 
veyor. The village was named after the river 
nearby. The townships of Berry, Mazo Manie 
and Black Earth were all then known as 
Farmersville, ami the latter township was 
named by Mr. Haseltine after the village. 
In 1870 he purchased the place where he now 
resides, at present owning 500 acres, where 
he raises principally hay. Mr. Haseltine 
served as a delegate to the National Con- 
vention at (.'incinnati in 1872, which nom- 
inated H. (Treeley, and has also served as 
Assessor and Chairman of the Board of Black 
Earth. 

He was married in August, 1837, to Dorcas 
r.. Pierce, who was born, reared and educated 
at Andover, Vermont. They have had seven 
children: Calista, Jane (deceased), Ellen, 
Orren P., Rollin B., Ei'win, Martin and Nora 
(deceased). The wife and mother died in 



428 



BIOQRAPniCAL RRVIEW OF 



1872, and the following year Mr. Haseltine 
was united in marriage with Minnie E. 
Whitney, who was horn in Ivochester, New 
York. By this marriage he has no children. 

fAMES TUSLEK, a successful business 
man of Stonghtim, Dane county, Wis- 
consin, was born in county Surrey, 
England, July 17, 1820, a son of Stephen and 
Mary (Hampshire) Tusler, who were also 
born and reared in that county. In 1832 
they came to America on the Sovereign, a 
sailing vessel, leaving England April 10, 
1832. and landed seven weeks and two days 
later. They first located in Oneida county, 
New York, and in 1835 removed to Warren 
county, Pennsylvania. The parents reared 
a family of nine children, eight sons and one 
daughter, of whom onr subject was the sec- 
ond in order of hirtli, and the six eldest were 
born in England. 

James Tusler received a good education in 
England, attended the district schools two 
winters in New '\'ork, and also in Pennsyl- 
vania. He was engaged in farming on his 
father's farm in the latter State until reaching 
years of maturity, and was also employed as 
a millwright and at the carpenters' trade. In 
1850 he came to Dane county, Wisconsin, 
where he was engaged one year in the piner- 
ies at Big Bull Falls; then walked from his 
home to Milwaukee, requiring two and a half 
days to make the trip; in the spring of 1851 
went to Douglass Mill; and April 1, 1852, 
purchased eighty acres of land on section 27, 
Dunn township. Mr. Tusler's possessions 
then consisted of a yoke of three old steers, 
two heifers and four sheep, and after live years 
of work had succeeded so admirably as to be 
able to take his family to Pennsylvania on a 



visit. lie added to his original purchase 
until he owned 175 acres. In the spring of 
1878 he came to Stoughton, and since that 
time has always taken an active interest in 
the upbuilding of this city. lie has served 
as Assessor of Duna township three terms, as 
Supervisor several terms, and has also held 
many other offices of his township. 

Our subject was married July 9, 1843, to 
Kcichel Bindley, then of Warren county, 
Pennsylvania, but a native of England, having 
come to the United States when only six 
years of age. They have had four children: 
Henry M., Herbert M., Horace M. and Helen 
M. The latter is the wife of E. F. I^age, of 
St. Cloud, Minnesota. The mother died 
April 24, 1886. Mr. Tusler has in his sev- 
enty-first year made for himself a cane com- 
posed of 1,378 pieces. 



-^ 



^ 



ENNING FITCH, one of the leading 
unilertakcrs of Madison, Wisconsin, lo- 
cated at 123 West Main street, came to 
to this city in 1846, when the population was 
but 300 souls. After he came here he began 
to work in a furniture store Ixdonging to 
Darwin Clark, who was the oldest settler of 
the city, and in 1849 established himself in 
business on the corner of West Main street 
and Fairchild street, where he has since been, 
and where he now carries on undertaking 
business, and for a time diii job work in fur- 
niture. 

Mr. Fitch has always taken an active inter- 
est in politics, and has held several local offi- 
cial |)08itions at the hands of the Democratic 
party. He has been at the head of the Ceme- 
tery Association, which is owned by the city, 
and has looked after his own affairs without 
l)othering about others, and has thus built up 



PANE COUNTY, WTSOONSIN. 



4'.'0 



a tine property. He is tlie prujirietor of the 
Fitcli liloel^, a larii;c, two-story brick block 
built by him in 1871. Mr. Fitch came to 
Wisconsin from the Einpire State, liaviiig 
been born in Franklin township, Delaware 
county, iS'ew York, where he was educated. 
Later he went to Unadilla, Otsego county. 
New York, and learned his trade of cabinet- 
making, and soon after set out for the new 
west country, via the Erie canal and the lakes, 
landing at Racine, Wisconsin, where he did 
journeyman work for six weeks, and then 
came on to thi.s city. 

Our subject is the son of Dr. William Fitch, 
a native of Connecticut, who came of New 
England parentage, growing up iu his native 
State. He removed to Delaware county. New 
York and began the practice of medicine, 
where he spent the inostof his life, a few years 
of wliich were passed in Illinois. He died 
in Tompkins county. New York, at the age of 
more than three score years and ten. His 
wife, whom he had married in Delaware 
county, died there when past middle life, her 
maiden name being Hanna Follet. 

Our subject is the only one of the family 
living in the West; his brother William, who 
is older, lives in Tompkins county, New York, 
where he is practicing physician. 

Mr. Fitch was married in Dane county, 
Wisconsin, to Miss Roxy E. Oatlin, who was 
born and reared near the line between Yer- 
mont and New York. She came West with 
her parents in 1839. They were Horatio 
and Aurvilla (Farr) Catlin, and they lived to 
be seventy -six and eighty years, respectively. 
They were pioneers who had helped to de- 
velop Dane county, and Mr. John ("atlin, a 
brother of Horatio Catlin, was prominent in 
the early history of the State as secretary of 
the Territory, and as president of what is now 
the St. Faul & Milwaukee Railroad, and was 

20 



also priimincnt in local matters. Mrs. Fitch, 
the wife of our subject, has been one of the 
active and leading matrons of this city. Two 
brothers, Abijah and Horatio, yet live, the 
former in Madison and the latter in Maza 
Manie. 

Mr. and Mrs. Fitch have three sons and 
one daughter: John C, at present a furni- 
ture and undertaking dealer at Sun Prairie, 
who married Mary Beauregard Rosa, the 
wife of A. N. Briggs, a manufacturinir cheni- 
ist at Colorado Springs, Colorado; William 
D., associated with his father in business, 
married Rose Gibson, of Madison; and Fred 
F., who is a clothing merchant at Seneca, 
Kans?,s. 

|:ILLrAM T.OLSON, of Dane county, 
Wisconsin, was born in Dunkirk 
"^J township, tins county, Mai-ch 27, 
1859, a son of Torgram Olson and Anne 
Wettleson, natives of Tillemarken, Norway. 
The parents came to America in 1845, locat- 
ing in Dunkirk township, Dane county, Wis- 
consin. The father followed farming in his 
native country, also after coming to Amer- 
ica, but in 1859 he went to California, spent 
twelve years in mining in California and Ne- 
vada. In 1871 lie returned to his old home iu 
]>unkii-k, where they now reside. They have 
two living children: William T.,our subject, 
and Turena, wife of All)ert Torgusen, of 
Stoughton. 

AVilliam T. Olson was educated in the dis- 
trict schools of Dunkirk and in the high 
schools of Stoughton. At the age of twenty- 
one years he began farming and raising 
tobacco, in which he met with good success. 
In the fall of 1890 he purchased the Revere 
Hotel at Stoughton, but in the spring of 




480 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



1891 sold out and again began farming and 
tobacco raisinff, togetlier with buying leaf- 
tobacco. In the summer of 1891 he erected 
his handsome two-story residence on West 
and Main streets. Mr. Olson has rented his 
farm, and now devotes his entire attention to 
buying and selling leaf-tobacco, representing 
a lartre leaf-tobacco house of New York. 

lie was married September 18, 1888, to 
Susie Alme, a native of Pleasant Spring 
township, and a daughter of John Alme. 
Mr. Olson is a Democrat in his political 
views, and religiously is a member of the 
Lutheran Church, known as the Synod. 



fAMES B. KERR, one of the promising 
young members of the Dane county bar, 
is the subject of the present brief notice. 
He was born in Reloit, Wisconsin, Septem- 
ber 28, 18(57, a son of Alexander and Kath- 
erine (Brown) Kerr. His father was born in 
Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and his mother was 
a native of Shirley, Alassachusetts. The 
father is the well-known Professor of Greek 
at the Wisconsin State University, and was 
the father of two sotis. our subject and 
Charles II., who is a pul)iisher in Chicago, 
Illinois. Professor Kerr came to this city in 
1870 and accepted the Chair of Greek in the 
University, which he has lield with great 
efficiency. 

James B. was sent in youth to the common 
schools, where he received a foundation edu- 
cation, upon which he later built when he 
entered the University of Wisconsin in 1885, 
where he took the classical course, grad- 
uating in the class of 188'J with the degree 
of B. A. Elected to a Fellowshij), for one 
year he taught Greek, but in the fall of 1890 
he entered the law school and graduated in 



the spring of 1892. During that time he 
had been a student with Pinney and San- 
born, and now is a member of the firm of 
Sanborn & Kerr. 

Mr. Kerr is a Republican in his political 
views and has become prominent in the party 
work in the present campaign. He is a very 
bright and intelligent member of the legal 
profession, receiving recognition throughout 
the county. After his first year of gradua- 
tion he received the degree of A. M., and is 
one of the most scholarly members of the bar 
in the city. A great grief was the death <>f 
his beloved motiier in July, 1890. 



^LE WETTLESON, a successful farmer 
of Dane county, Wisconsin, was born in 
Pleasant Spring township, this county, 
December 14, 1847, a son of Wettle Tronson 
and Susan (Jacobson) Wettleson. The par- 
ents jame from Norway to America in 1843, 
where the father engaged in farminij, tuit in 
his native country was a jeweler. He died 
when our subject was six months old, after 
which the mother married P. S. Asmundson, 
and they located on section 2(3, Pleasant 
Spring townsiiip. He died in February and 
she in October, 1890. 

Ole Wettleson, was reared on a farm, and 
at the age of eighteen years, in March, 18G5, 
enlisted for the late war, in Company E, 
Fifty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, 
under Colonel H. J. Lewis, and Captain 
Walter G. Zustroev Kuessoev. He served 
principally in Missouri and Kansas, l)ut did 
not participate in any noted battles. He was 
mustered o!it at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, 
July 2(3, 1805. In March, 1866, he engaged 
on a passenger and mail route for the Wells, 
Fargo & Co.'s overland stage in Montana; in 



DANE COUNTY, Wr.SCONaJN. 



431 



the fall of 1868 commenced work on the 
Union Pacific Railroad, in Salt Lake City; 
in the summer of 1869 began farming in 
Wisconsin; in 1872 began the same occupa- 
tion in Richland county, and six years later 
bought his present farm of 160 acres on sec- 
tion 28. Mr. Wettleson is enijaaed in sen- 
eral farming and stock-raisin^ij. 

He was married in May, 1870, to Christy 
Erdahl, of Pleasant Spring township, and 
they have had five children: Susan R., Louis 
William, Josephine, Peter and Charles Grin. 
Politically, Mr Wettleson is identified with 
the Republican party, socially, is a member 
of Stoughtoi) Lodge, G. A. R. ; and re- 
ligiously, is a member of the Lutheran 



Churcli. 



-^^^'^'^'^'^^?^ 



fOIIN CORY, one of Madison's leading 
contractors and builders, was born at 
Brighton, Essex county, Vern)ont, May 
18, 1838. son of James .ind Deljorah (Mor- 
I'ell) Gory. His father, a native of New 
Hampshire, remained in that State until the 
time of his marriage, when he moved with 
his young wife to Vermont. She was a na- 
tive of Canada, but was reared in the Green 
Mountain State. Tiiey had three sons and 
seven dauirhtei-s, John being the eighth l)orn. 
His father was by occupation a farmer and 
lumberman, and in the year 1852 moved with 
his family to the State of Wisconsin and 
located in Dane county, whei'e he purchased a 
farm in Sun Prairie township and engaged 
in farming. There the mother died that 
same year. The father survived her until the 
spring of 1890, when his death occurred in 
California. 

The subject of our sketch was brought up 
to agricultural pursuits, and during his early 
boyhood days attended the district schools a 



portion of the time. Later, he had better 
educational advantages; attended the acade- 
mies at Watertown and Sun Prairie, and 
completed a course in science and mathe- 
matics at the Waterloo Institute, Waterloo, 
Wisconsin. 

In September, 1861, he enlisted in Com- 
pany G, First Wisconsin Infantry, serving 
in the Army of Tennessee until October 8, 
1862, when at the battle of Perryville he 
was first wounded in the right arm, but con- 
tinued in the fight until receiving another 
wound in the left wrist, when he was com- 
pelled to leave the field. He was discharged 
at Louisville about February 1, 1863. 

On arriving at home he commenced his 
scliooling at Sun Prairie, and while tlwre 
helped to organize acompanyof sixty troops, 
and was, on the resignation of the first Cap- 
tain, although only Second Sergeant, elected 
as the Captain by every vote in the company. 
In the fall of 1864, he with others, organized 
a company of heavy artillery, and was made 
Sergeant; went with the company to Vir- 
ginia, and in July, 1865, returned as Second 
Lieutenant. 

On arriving at home he was married to 
Miss Anna L. Lyon, a music teacher in the 
Waterloo Institute, and came to Sun Prairie, 
where he engaged in the carpenter business 
until 1870. Tliat year he came to Madison, 
and engaged in contracting and buildinn-, to 
which he has since devoted his, time and at- 
tention. He has built many of the elegant 
residences of this city, and constructed 
churches, school buildings a,nd other public 
and private, buildings at various points in the 
Stf^te. About 1873 he took a full course in 
the Northwestern Business College, then 
conducted by B. F. Worthing. Mr Cory has 
three children, two daughters and one sou: 
Mary E., Edwin L. and Anna L. G. 



432 



BIOGRAPHlCAh REVIEW OF 




Mr. Cory is politically a Republican, re- 
ligiousiya Baptist, and sJocially a member of 
the Good Temp larsforovcr tweuty-tive years; 
also a member of the Temple of Iloiior, in 
which institution be has held the highest 
ofiices in the lodges. He is also a member 
of the G. A. R., and also of the Foresters. 

^ARTIN V. GUNZOLAS, of Dane 
county, Wisconain, was born in Jef- 
ferson county, New York, April 3, 
1835, a sou of John and Evoline (Hart) Gnn- 
zolas, both born near Amsterdam, Fulton 
county, New York. His people were origin- 
ally of Holland and German descent, and 
both grandfathers fought in the Revolution- 
ary war. The pat(!rnal grandfather was also 
a soldier in the war of 1812. In 1849 the 
parents of our subject came to Rutland town- 
ship. Dane county, Wisconsin, where the fa- 
ther engaged in farming. They reared a 
family of seven children, four sons and three 
daughters, and the youngest son w-as killed 
in the late war at Ship's Island. 

Martin V. Gunzolas' attended school in 
Dane county, and was engaged in farming in 
Rutland township from the age of twenty- 
one years to 1861. He then followed the 
same occupation in Jones county, Iowa, two 
years; in the fall of 1863 returned to his for- 
mer home in Rutland township, and in 1885 
sold out and came to Stoughton. Mr. Gun- 
zolas was then employed in the sale of farm 
machinery for the firm of William Deering, 
but, finding the work too hard, resigned his 
position after three years. He now makes a 
specialty of the sale of the Fort Atkinson 
watTons and carriages, also handling harness 
and the Stoughton wagons. 

Our subject was married March 20, 1856, 



to Margaret Groat, then of Dnnn township, 
Dane couTity, but a native of Canada. To 
this union have been born three children: 
Henry Ethan (named after Ethan Allen), 
Addie S. and Riburie A. Mr. Gunzolas af- 
filiates with the Republican party and for 
two years served as Township Treasurer of 
Rutland township. Socially, he affiliates with 
the Odd Fellows of Stoughton, and the K. of 
P., and religiously, is a member of the Meth- 
odist Church. 




y^^ICHAEL IVERSON, a physician and 
\»«u|; surgeon of Stoughton, was born in 
^^^^ Bergen, Norway, November 30, 1861, 
a son of Iver and Maria (Iloegh) Iverson. 
The father was a leading watclnnaker by pro- 
fession and still resides in Norway as a well- 
to-do man, on his villa in the charniing 
" Kalverdale "' near P>ergen. Michael was 
educated in the Latin school of Bergen, also in 
the University of Christiania, where he grad- 
nated in 1882 with examen artium (A. M.), 
then the next year passed examen philosophi- 
cum. He then studied medicine for seven 
years and graduated at the reguhir medical 
college of Christiania, Norway, in 189U. Ho 
was also for one year, 1885-'86, a student 
under the well-known Prof. Weidersheim, at 
Freybnrg, Germany, and was his assistant in 
anatomy and dissection for si.\ months. Mr. 
Iverson came to America in 1S!)1, locating in 
Stoughton, Wisconsin, where he is engaged 
as a physician and surgeon, giving special 
attention to the treatment of the eye and 
ear. lie speaks with facility the English 
and German languages. 

He was married i'l August, 1891, to Ilelga 
Eide, daughter of Eide, the stateagronom of 
Sondpyord, Norway. Mr. Iverson is one of 



DAIiE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



433 



the most prosperous physicians of tiie city^ 
and his tine qualitieations entitle liiin to t!ie 
confidence and patronage of the pul(li(; in 
general. Notwithstanding he has been here 
less than two years, he has built up a prac- 
tice far beyond his most saguine expectations 
and is a rival to those of life-long residence. 

fOHN II. STARCK, one of the enter- 
prising citizens of Madison, Wiscon- 
sin, was born in Germany, near the 
river Rhine, in a Rhine province, September 
23, 1838, son of John and Helen (Mick) 
Starck, both born and reared in the same 
province, which land was soon after turned 
over to France. The business of the father 
was the manufacture of pottery and smoking 
pipes, coining to America in 184(3, when our 
subject was seven years of age. 

Tiie first location of the family was in Mil- 
waukee, Wisconsin, and here the father reared 
his seven children, our subject being the old- 
est. Here John Starck, Sr., lived until his 
death, in 1866, in the month of October, and 
the affliction so overcame the mother that 
she died in the same month, within one week 
of her husband. Mr. Starck had been in the 
business of pipe manufacture at the time of 
his death. 

Our subject went to the common schools 
of Milwaukee, but soon found it advisable 
to enter into business, therefore he began 
learning the carpenter trade under John 
Mailer and remained with that firm from the 
time he was eighteen until he was about 
twenty. In 1877 he came to Madison and 
entered into business of contracting here 
upon his own responsibility, remaining in 
the business until nine years ago, having de- 
voted his whole time to it. 



In 1883 our subject started a planing mill 
on Washinirton avenue and there encraijed in 
the manufacture of sash, doors, blinds and 
everything used in thc^ construction of build- 
ings. He has erected some of the leading 
business blocks in this city and did the wood- 
work on the Dane county courthouse. He 
did all of the contracting on the new Presby- 
terian Church, the Third Ward School, the 
State dairy and cow building, and also the 
armory. 

The marriage of our subject took place in 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 22, 1861, to 
Miss Mary Ann J5aullesbach of that city, and 
they have become the parents of eight chil- 
dren, as follows: Helen C, Mary Mathilde 
Marquetta M., Prince A., F. Edward, Mary 
J., May R. and John A. One of these is de- 
ceased. Mrs. Starck died February 17, 1887, 
and he was remarried in September, 1887, 
with Elizabeth Storm of Madison. His fam- 
ily are all gone except the two youngest chil- 
dren. 

Mr. Starck is a Democrat in his political 
opinions and in his religious belief is a Ro- 
man ("atholic. He has been recognized as a 
man of ability, both in Milwaukee and Mad- 
ison. During his residence in the former 
city he held the office of Alderman, and since 
his residence here he has been twice Alder- 
man of the P^ourth ward. 

The beautiful churches at Waunakee, La 
Crosse, Richland Centre, Pine Bluff, Mil- 
waukee and West Bend testify to the skill 
and taste of our subject. 

1^ AMUEL CHOLVIN,a well-known resi- 

"^^1 dent of the city of Madison, Wisconsin, 

^* is the subject of this sketch. He was 

born in Mifflin, Iowa county, Iowa, July 1, 



434 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



1850, a son of Francis and Martha (Wilson) 
Cholvin. The father was born in France, 
near Paris, in 1812, and his mother in Mount 
Vernon, Ohio, in 1820. The father was a 
smelter of lead ore by trade, and came to 
Wisconsin in 1834, locating at Galena, later 
removing to Potosi, but in 1840 settling 
down in Iowa county. lie died in Dubuque, 
Iowa, in 1890, but the mother is still living. 
Our subject has two brothers and two sisters, 
as follows: Josephine married Louis Poyvin; 
Mary married Jerome S. Richie; Alfred is a 
farmer at Dubuque, Iowa; and John is a 
merchant at Denver, Colorado. 

Our subject was given a public-school edu- 
cation at Dubuque, Iowa, subsequently taking 
a course at Bailey's Commercial College in 
the same city. After he had closed his 
school books he went into agricultural life, 
locating at Wellington, in Monroe county, 
and remained there until he came to Madi- 
son in 1889. During this time he was en- 
gaged in general farming and stock-raising, 
and since his removal to Madison he lias car- 
ried on his farming through tenants. For 
some time he has been conducting a general 
store at Harts, Wisconsin, and a sawmill, but 
has discontinued his interest in the latter. 
He has line improvements upon his farms, 
and is especially pleased with his success in 
the raising of tine cattle. 

In 1889 our subject came to Madison, 
where he has a fine residence. He was mar- 
ried December 16, 1875, to Miss Sidonia 
Waller, the daughter of Simon Waller, a 
broker of Dubuque, Iowa, who died when 
Mrs. Cholvin was but sixteen months old. 
She was reared in tliat city and attended the 
public schools. Two children have been born 
to Mr. and Mrs. Cholvin: Mamie A., born 
December 30, 1876; and Julia J., April 29, 
1884. One little one died in infancy, but 



Mamie and Julia attend school at Madison, 
bright and intelligeut children. 

Our subject is a Republican in politics, and 
has held the office of chairman of the County 
Committee, and is one of the most respected 
citizens. 






/?fOHN C.JOHNSON, a successful busi- 
ness man of Dane county, Wisconsin, 
was born in Norway, October 8, 1848, 
a son of John and Anna Johnson, both born 
and reared in that country. The father, a 
shoemaker by trade, came to America in 
1867, locating in Stoughton, AVisconsin, 
where he still resides. The mother died 
about eighteen years ago. 

John C, the subject of this sketch, re- 
ceived a district school education, and began 
life for himself as a farmer in Blooming 
Grove township, Dane county. In 1879 he 
was employed as salesman in a sample room 
in Stoughton, and one year later embarked 
in the same business for himself, continuing 
that nine years. One and a half years after- 
ward he purchased thirty acres of land in 
the city limits, subdivided ten acres, which 
was known as the John C. Johnson addition, 
and later subdivided ten acres more, known 
as Johnson's addition. In 1882 our subject 
erected a handsome two-story brick building 
on the corner of Main and Paige streets, 
and also has considerable other property- 
lie was married in this city, May 1, 1877, 
to Emma Johnson, a native of McFarland, 
but educated in Stoughton, Wisconsin. They 
have five living children: Elmer, Roy, Clyde, 
Irving and Victor. Two of their children, 
Ernest and Ernie, who were twins, died in 
infancy, aged respectively seven and nineteen 
months. Politically Mr. Johnson affiliates 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



435 



with the Democrats, and has served as Alder- 
man of the Second Ward of Stonglitoii. 

;if«^ILLIAM S. WOOD, engaged in the 
" 1/ \/!i leaf-tobacco business in Stouerhton, 
\- --iF^i was born in Stanstead county, Can- 
ada, Deceml)er 31, 1852, a son of Ilirain 
O. and Lucy A. (Wheeler) Wood, also natives 
of that county. The father's people crane 
from England, and the mother's from Mont- 
pelier, Vermont. The parents were married 
in Canada, in and reared a family of six chil- 
dren, four sons and two daughters. The 
father, a farmer by occupation, died in 1860. 

AYilliam S. Wood, the subject of this 
sketch, attended school until fourteen yeai's 
of age, and then began work in a hotel in 
Coaticook, ('aiiada, where he remained until 
1874. He then remained two years in Mil- 
waukee; in 1876 took charge of the Lake 
George Hotel, at Lake George, New York; 
the following summer went to Faribault, 
Minnesota; in December, 1876, engaged in 
general merchandising with liis brother 
Geoi-ge, at Stoughton, under the firm name 
of Wood Brothers, and in 1880 our subject 
sold his interest and began keeping the 
Houston House of this city. Since 1882 
he has been in the employ of A. Cohn tt 
Co., of New York, in buying Wisconsin 
leaf tobacco. Mr. Wood takes no active in- 
terest in politics, but votes with the Repub- 
lican party. He has served as Alderman of 
the second ward of Stoughton two terms, 
and is also chief of the tire deparment of 
this city. Socially he holds the otiice of P. 
C. of the K. of P. 

September 10, 1884-, Mr. Wood was united 
in marriage with Carrie Pierpont, who was 
born in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, August 17. 



1857, a daughter of Hon. H. S. and Lidia A. 
(Gardner) Pierpont, natives of New York. 
The father was a lawyer by profession. Our 
subject and wife have two children: Hiram 
O., born February 12, 1886; and Pierpont, 
August 12, 1890. 



tV S C O M B. C L A R K E.— Prominent 
'■I Kii among therepresentati ve business men of 
Madison, Wisconsin, is Mr. B. B. Clarke, 
the well-known general agent for Wisconsin, 
of the C. Aultman & Co., manufacturers of 
threshers and engines, of Canton, Ohio. Mr. 
Clarke was born near the Natural Bridge in 
Rockbridge county, Virginia, June 24, 1851, 
and is descended frotn one of the old fami- 
lies of that State. The first of the Clarke 
family in America were two brothers who 
came in the Mayflower and subsequently set- 
tled in Virginia, in the neighborhood of Har- 
per's Ferry. 

The grandfather of our subject was Wood- 
son P. Clarke, who was a soldier of the war 
of 1812. His son, James F. Clarke, father 
of our suliject, was a Virginian by birth, and 
was a man of prominence in Rockbridge 
county. He was a colonel of militia, and 
superintendent of the Buffalo Forge, one of 
the largest iron concerns in the locality. He 
married Lucy F. Boyd, of Boyd's Tavern, in 
Albemarle county, Virginia. In September 
1858, he started with his family for Texas, 
where he expected to make his future home, 
l)ut, while en route changed his mind and lo- 
cated in Arkansas county, Arkansas, where 
he became bookkeeper for a large supply 
house. When the late war began he enlisted 
in the Confederate army and became Colonel 
of an Arkansas regiment, in which one of his 
sons was a lieutenant. His death occurred 



436 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



in 1863, and the followingyear his wife died, 
thus leavincj our subject an orphan at a ten- 
der age, and in the most uncertain and trou- 
blesome ot times. lie was left without means 
of support, and made bis home practically 
among strangers, so far as blood ties go. The 
same year of his mother's death, he joined 
several families who were refugees to the 
Korth, and with them was carried inside the 
Union lines l)y an Indiana battery. Subse- 
quently he made his way into Indiana and 
found employment on a farm, where he re- 
mained until he reached his twentieth year, 
working morning and evening during the 
winter for his board and attending school 
during the day for three terms. Leaving the 
farin in 1870 he went to Colfax, Indiana, 
where he secured a place in a drug store. lie 
continued in the drug store for about three 
years, raising himself from the lowest to the 
highest position in the establishment during 
that period. In 1874 he was appointed, un- 
der General Grant's administration, Postmas- 
ter at Colfax: a position he tilled until 1883. 
"When he took charge of the post oliice it paid 
a salary of $12.50 per month; when he left it 
the salary was SlOO per month. In 1877 
he entered the newspaper business by pur- 
chasing the Colfax Chronicle which he pub- 
lished until 1882, and then sold the plant, 
and in October of the same year took the 
road for Robinson & Co., of Richmond, In- 
diana, manufacturers of threshers and en- 
gines. 

He remained with this firm, traveling over 
five states until 1885, and then took a posi- 
tion with the William Deering Co., in the 
binder line. In 1888 he left the Deering 
people and went with the Birdsall Company, 
of Auburn, New York, with which house 
he was in 1889, when lie fell ill with an 
attack of typhoid fever. During this time 



his residence was in Indiana, but upon re- 
covering from his protracted illness he 
found it necessary to leave the State in 
order to find a more congenial climate. 
His reputation, at this time, as a machine 
man, was established and well known among 
all manufacturers, and no sooner was it known 
that he would make a change of location than 
he was offered, and accepted, the general 
agency of the State of Wisconsin by the 
C. Aultman & Co. On May 1, 1890, Mr. 
Clarke came to Madison a total stranger, 
being, in fact, without an acquaintance in the 
entire State. At that time the business of 
his company in Wisconsin was in a bad and 
mixed condition, in fact, was no business at 
all. He opened headquarters, to use his 
own expression, in a grip-sack in the Hotel 
Ogden. As the business grew apace he re- 
moved to an adjoining wareroom in the 
hotel building, then into an alley in H. G. 
Dodge's coal yard. In a brief time, how- 
ever, owing to his ability as a hustler, the 
business in the state had increased to such 
an extent that large and fitting quarters were 
necessary and the company leased ground on 
the corner of East Washington avenue and 
Blount street, and the present large and 
commodious headquarters were established. 
In two years' time Mr. Clarke has built up 
the trade of his company from practically 
nothing to the largest, by far, of any other 
company doing business in the same line 
in the State. He employs nine traveling 
salesmen, and the business now aggregates 
over $100,000 annually. Credit for all this 
is due entirely to Mr. Clarke, whose ability, 
as a manager and salesman is recognized by 
his company and competitors as second to 
none in the Northwest. 

In January, 1892, Mr. Clarke organized 
the Union Transfer and Storage Company 



DANE COUNTY, WTS00N8IN. 



437 



of Madison, which company was incorpor- 
ated wit!) a paid-up capital of !?10,00U on 
January 27, 18'J2, with himself as president, 
a position he holds at the present. 

Mr. Clarke is a inemher of all the Masonic 
lodges of Madison, from the Blue Lodge up 
to and including the Knights Templar, and 
is also a member of the Indiana Traveling 
Men's Association. Mr. Clarke is a self-made 
man in ail that the term implies. Left 
without parents at a time in life when they 
were most needed, and at a time when his 
surroundings were calculated to stunt his 
growth morally', rather than stimulate and 
spur him on to a useful life; he passed 
through trials and hai-dships seldom exper- 
ienced by the average man and worked his 
way unaided to a most useful and respons- 
ible position in life, and the present finds 
him au honored citizen of one of the lead- 
ing cities of the Northwest, with a still more 
promising career opening up before him. 

Personally Mr. Clarke is one of tiie most 
genial and sociable of men. Possessed of tine 
conversational powers, of keen wit and ready 
humor, he is a most pleasant and agreeable 
companion, as well as a worthy and suljstan- 
tial member of society. 

Mr. Clarke was married October 9, 1873, 
to Miss Mahettie B. Watkins, of Colfax, In- 
diana, and to the companion of his joys and 
sorrows, he gives all the credit of his success. 
Mrs. Clarke has been all that the name im- 
plies, a devoted wife, and model mother. 
They have three children, all boys, and in 
sickness and health, in prosperity and adver- 
sity, Mr. Clarke has always been sustained 
by the devotion of this faithful companion. 



/^IIAUNCEY 15. WELTON, prominent 
i|k in the social, political and business cir- 
^1 cles of Madison, Wisconsin, is a gentle- 
man of sterling qualities, and is in every re- 
spect deserving of the success he has attained 
in life and of the high esteem in which he is 
held by all who know him. As such it is 
eminently littingthat some personal mention 
be made of him in the history of his county. 
Chauncey B. Welton was born in Medina 
county, Ohio, September 1, 1844. He grew 
to manliood in his native State and was a 
student in an academy when the great civil 
war came on. llis patriotic spirit was at 
onc3 tired, and in the fall of 1862, still in bis 
'teens, we tiud him enrolled upon the army 
list. He joined Company I, One Hundred 
and Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under 
Captain AVilcox and Colonel J. C. Casement. 
The command to which he was attached was 
in Kentucky until the fall of 1863, when it 
crossed over into Tennessee. The regiment 
was assigned to the Second Brigade, Third 
Division of the Twenty-third Army Corps, 
and was with Burnside at Knoxville, and 
afterward went with Sherman as far south as 
Atlanta, then I'eturned with the corps to 
watch Hood. He participated in the defense 
of Nashville. His regiment and company 
took part in the battles of Knoxville, Resaca, 
Altoona, Atlanta, and many others. At the 
battle of Uesaca the One Hundred and Third 
Ohio left one-third of their number on the 
Held, killed or wounded. Mr. Welton, how- 
ever, escaped, and with the exception of a few 
days spent in hospital, reported for duty all 
the time. At the close of the war he was 
honorably discharged at Cleveland, Ohio. 

From Ohio Mr. Welton moved to Kalama- 
zoo, [Michigan, where he began his business 
career. He conducted a clothing store at 
that place for some time, then came to Wis- 



438 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



consin and located at Rocktoii, where he car- 
ried on tlie hiisiness of <reneral luerchant. 
His next move was to Windsor, Dane county, 
and from tliere he came to the State capital. 
He is now the leading dealer in this city of 
gents' furnishing goods, hats, caps and 
clothing, being located at No. 15 West Main 
street, in a tine business portion of the city. 
Here he has had a prosperous trade for the 
past nine years. 

Mr. Welton is a member of tiie C. C. 
Washburn Post, No. 11, G. A. li., of Madi- 
son, of which he is a Past Couniiander. He 
is now Department Commander of the State, 
having been elected in March, 1892. Socially, 
he affiliates with the Blue Lodge, Chapter 
and Commandery, A. ¥. & A. M., of Madi- 
son. He also belongs to the I. O. O. F. and 
the Modern Woodmen. In politics he is a 
sound Republican. His social and business 
career, like his army service, has been marked 
by earnest, energetic action and strict fidelity. 
Such men Madison is proud to see in her 
commercial life. 



fA M K S B L A K K, a retired farmer of 
Mazo Mariie, Dane county, was born in 
county Clare, Ireland August 15, 1835. 
His parents, Henry and Margaret (Mangner) 
Blake, were natives of Limerick and Clare 
counties, respectively. They were the parents 
of five children: Patrick, James, George, 
Henry and Mary. The mother and two sons, 
Patrick and George, died of cholera in Ire- 
land, in 1848. In 1852 the father and re- 
mainder of the children came to America, 
locating in Canada, but in the same fall came 
to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, one month later 
went to Janesville, and remained thereabout 
three years. While there both our subject 



and his father worked on the Prairie du 
Chien railroad. Mr. Blake then began farm- 
ing in Kock county, later conducted the Oran 
Bacon gristmill in Green county one year, 
and then bought eighty acres of land at Blue 
Mound, Dane connty. He was engaged in 
farming and milling on that place fifteen 
years, then ran the Summer Side farm in 
Black Earth valley ten years, and in 1889 
purchased twelve acres of land in Mazo Manie, 
where he has since lived in retirement. 

Mr. Blake was married in 1857, to Cath- 
erine Diunem, a native of Ireland, and who 
came to this country in 1851. They have 
reared eight children, namely: George, 
Patrick, Henry, Jane W., John J.. Margaret, 
Kate, Ellen and Lizzie. A.11 the children 
have gone from home except John J. and 
Lizzie. The former will graduate at the 
State University in June, 1893, and the latter 
will graduate at the high school of Mazo 
Manie in June, 1893. Mr. Blake affiliates 
with the Prohibition party, has served on the 
grand and petit jury several times, and also 
on the United States petit jury. Religiously, 
he is a member of the Catholic church. He 
deserves much credit for his high standing 
and business ability, having come to this 
country with no education, and was long 
afterward taught to read by his employer. 



fOSEPH McFARLAND, a farmer of 
Dane county, Wisconsin, was born in 
Scotland, in 1842, a son of Andrew 
McFarland, who was born in 1801. The 
latter's father, Robert McFarland, was a 
farmer by occupation, reared a family of nine 
children, and died in Scotland at a ripe old 
age. Andrew McFarland was reared to farm 
life, and received a good conimon-sch(icil 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



439 



education. lie was married in Scotland to 
Margaret Shearer, and while in tiiat country 
was engaged in hauling merchandise, and 
also had a stage coach line from Glasgow to 
Chapel Hill. They buried one daughter, 
Margaret, at the age of about four years, a 
bright and lovely little creature, and the only 
daughter ever born to them. This was a 
severe blow, and from which the father never 
recovered. In the spring of 1851 they came 
by an American sail ship, Liberty, with 
Captain Peabody, to America, landing in 
New York city after a voyage of from May 
16 to July 4. After landing they came by 
canal and lakes to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 
and then by team to Columbia county, a 
distance of 140 miles, over new roads and 
through woods and inarsiies. They were 
obliged to unload their household goods 
several times during the journey. Mr. Mc- 
Farland settled on 100 acres of Indian land, 
then unsurveyed, but marked out by trees. 
He erected a rough log house, roofed with 
marsh hay and sod, no floor, a fireplace, and 
a stick and mud chimney built on the outside 
of the house. Three years later the sawmills 
came, and they laid a Hoor in their dwelling. 
After the survey was made they sold their 
land for $600, antl bought 120 acres of land 
in Dane township, paying $5 per acre, where 
they erected a small board shanty, and began 
farmintr with an ox team. The father died on 
this farm in 1863, at the age of sixty- two 
years, and the mother died two years later. 
Joseph McFarland, the subject of this 
sketch, received but a limited education, and 
remained at house until his parent's death. 
He then purchased forty acres of land near 
Lodi, to which he has since added until he 
now owns 112 acres of fine land. He was 
married at Lodi, March 22, 1874, to Ellen 
Wilson, a dauorhter of John and Marian 



(Nealson), Wilson native of Scotland. They 
came to America in 1850, arriving in this 
connty June 4, and Mrs. McFarland was 
born July 4, one month later. Her grand- 
father Wilson, was farmer by occupation, and 
her grandfather Nealson, a shepherd. She 
was the sixth of nine children, six daughters 
and three sons. The father was accidentally 
killed by a team in 1864, at the age of fifty- 
seven years, and the mother died in Novem- 
ber, 1885, aged sixty-nine years years. Mr. 
and Mrs. McFarland have buried two chil- 
dren: Anna May, who died January 23, 
1890, aged fourteen years; and Koy, acci- 
dentally killed August 6, 1892, aged nine 
years. He was a bright boy, and his death 
was a severe blow to his parents. They have 
one son and a daughter living, Mary Jane, 
aged fourteen years; and Roy, aged seven 
years. 



^jlgiON. JOHN A. JOHNSON, president 
and one of the directors of the well- 
known manufa<'turing firm of Fuller & 
Johnson, is the subject of this sketch. This 
gentleman is also connected with the Gris- 
holdt Machine Company, and these two 
plants are among the most important manu- 
facturing interests of the Northwest. They 
employ about 300 men continually, and man- 
ufacture a general line of farm macliinery, 
and the Grisholdt Company manufacture tur- 
ret lathes, for turning iron. The agricult- 
ural implements are sold mostly in the West, 
while the turret lathes find sale chiefly in 
the East. Mr. Johnson has been the pro- 
moter and chief organizer of both factories. 
The agricultural implement shops were 
started in 18sl. The machine shojjs a little 
later. He has always been president of these 



440 



BIOGRAPHICAl. REVIEW OF 



companies, and has been an active worker in 
their management. The business has been 
steadily increasing and the fame of their 
machines has gone all over the Xorthwest. 
The directors of tlie Fuller & Johnson Man- 
ufacturing Company are: John A. Johnson, 
president; S. Higham, vice-president; W. C. 
Noe, secretary; and E. M. Fuller, treasurer; 
B. J. Stephens; Wayne Ramsay; ^I. R. 
Doyon and R. M. Bashford. 

He came to the United States from his 
native land, Norway, in 1844, and located in 
Wisconsin. For some years he was in Wal- 
worth county, Wisconsin, and began life here 
as a poor boy, but by dint of hard work and 
steady application, he has become independ- 
ent. He is a self-made man, and has lived 
to see the country grow up around him. He 
was the eldest of tive children, and was 
twelve years of age when the family landed 
in Milwaukee. They had borrowed money 
to come there from New York. The father, 
mother, and five children traveled on foot 
from Milwaukee to White Water township, 
Walworth county, a distance of fifty miles. 
They had sickness and not a cent of money, 
and were strangers among strangers. All of 
the family fell sick with fever and ague, 
except the mother, and she had to earn the 
living for the family for a time. However, 
the senior Mr. Johnson was able to borrow 
^50 from a Mr. Peck, a merchant at White 
Water, to whom he paid forty per cent inter- 
est, and with this §50 he bought forty acres 
of Government land. It was poor land, and 
it took him eight years to repay the $50. At 
that time he sold the land, and in 1852 
removed to Dane county, settling at Pleasant 
Spring, on a farm, where he died ten years 
ago, a^ed seventy-five. Hie name was Anders 
Johnson, and he was born near Skien, Nor- 
way. He came of pure Norwegian stock, 



and grew up a farmer boy. He was married 
near Skien, to Miss A. Killing Koven, who 
came of a long-lived ancestry. Her mother 
lived to be ninety years of age, two aunts 
lived to be ninety-five, her sister yet living, 
I is nearly ninety, and she herself, at eighty- 
j four, is still smart and active with all her 
! faculties. She makes her home with her son, 
Oliver, who is a farmer of Dane county, 
Wisconsin. Our subject has also two sisters 
living, both married brothers and live in 
j Minnesota. Two brothers of subject, Hans 
and Ole were both in the Union army, and 
the former was a Lieutenant of his company 
and died in the army. Ole died a few years 
ago at Beloit, Wisconsin. He was Lieu- 
I tenant- Colonel of the Fifteenth Wisconsin 
Regiment, in which he had enlisted as a pri- 
vate. 

Mr. Johnson came to ^[adison. in 1861, 
and began handling farming machinery, and 
was thus engaged for some years. Early in 
the '80s he was solicited, by his present 
partners to go into business with them. He 
took stock in the company, and was elected 
their first president, which oflice he has 
satisfactorily filled ever since. 

He was for a time a member of the firm 
of John Thompson and company, of Beloit, 
manufacturer of plows. In this way he 
became familiar with the business. 
' Mr. Johnson was married in Milwaukee, 
' Wisconsin, to Miss Kaia, N. M. Kildahl, 
who was born in Christiansand. Norway, and 
came, when a young girl to the United States, 
with her parents. The family settled in 
Milwaukee, where the father soon died, but 
the mother lived to be eighty-five years old. 
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, of this notice, are the 
parents of four sons and one daughter, 
namely: Frederick A., a mechanic in the 
works of his fatlier, married Emma Rosen- 



DANE VOUNTY, WISCONtilN. 



441 



Stengel, a daughter of Professor Rosenstoiigel, 
of the Wisconsin State University; Ida, at 
hoine, a graduate of the State University; 
Carl, H jjradiiate of the State University, is 
employed as a mechanic in his father's shops; 
Hobart is now a student in the University, 
and Maurice is in the city high school. Mr. 
and Mrs. Johnson are pleasantly situated at 
No. 316 Wisconsin Avenue. He and his 
sons are all Republicans, and Mr. Johnson 
has represented his district one term in the 
State Legislature, and one term in the State 
Senate; has lieen County Clerk of Dane 
county for eight years, and for many years 
has been a member of the Township Board, 
of which ho has served as Chairman for 
several terms. 

fOLONEL (JIIARLES COOLEY, was 
born iti Utica, Oneida county, New 
York, July 19, 1847. His father, War- 
ren Cooley, was born in Livingston county. 
New York, May 16, 1823. His father, Alex- 
ander Cooley, Jr., was born in the Connecti- 
cut river valley, ami the great-grandfather of 
our subject, as far as known, was alto born in 
Connecticut. He removed from that State 
to New York previous to the 1812 war, was a 
volunteer in that war, and was severely wound- 
ed in the battle of Sackett's Harbor. Warren 
Cooley's father, Alexander C'ooley, Jr., was 
also in the battle of Sackett's Harbor with his 
father, A. Cooley, Sr. He was a farmer, and 
in addition to agricultural pursuits, engaged 
in the lumber business. He first settled in 
Lewis county, and from there removed to 
York, Livingston, county, ami in 1822 moved 
to Villenova, Chautaiuiua county, where ho 
bought land, engaged in fai-niing, and resided 
there until his death. 



The grandfather of our subject was a young 
man when his parents removed to New York 
and was encratred in farmiuir and the lumber 
business with his father and brothers, Robert 
and Harry, in Lewis county. The family all 
removed to JJvingston county at the same 
time, and from there to Chautauqua county. 
He bought a tract of land in tiie town of 
Villenova, at once erected a log house, and 
commenced to clear a farm. There were no 
railroads or catials in the county for years, 
consequently no convenient markets. The 
people lived principally off of the product of 
theii- land and tlie wild game that abounded. 
The grandmother of our subject used to card, 
weave and spin, aiul dressed her children in 
homespun made by her own hands. Stand- 
ing tim!)er had no value, and largo trees 
were cut and the logs rolled together and 
burned. L'rom the ashes they used to manu- 
facture black salts, which would always sell 
for cash. Farm products were readily ex- 
changed for goods at the store. Our subject's 
grandfather lived on his place five years, when 
the log house was burned, and lie bought an- 
other tract of land two miles distant, and 
there im])roved a farm and resided until his 
death. The maiden name of his wife was 
Lydia Soloman, born in Lewis county, and 
died at the home of a son in Chautauqua 
county. She reared three daughters and fi\e 
sons. 

The father of our subject received liis pri- 
mary education in the pioneer schools of 
Chautauqua county. He was fourteen years 
old when his father died, and went to live with 
a Quaker family, who two years later moved 
to Utica, and he received his education in the 
city schools there. At the age of nineteen 
he commenced clerking in a general stoi-e in 
Utica, and remained in that position a lew 
months, and then entered into i)usiness in a 



443 



BIOORAPUIGAL REVIEW OP 



luinber yard for a time. He finally engaged 
in mercantile business in Utica in 1855, then 
came to Wisconsin and located in the town 
of Fort Winnebago, and bouglit a farm, and 
farmed for a short time, and then sold out 
and bought land near Lodi, in Columbia 
county, and farmed there until 1885, and 
then came to Madison, where he lias since 
resided. 

On iS'ovember 5, 1844, he married Miss 
Harriet Isabella Martin, who was born in 
England, the daughter of Andrew and May 
(Wilkins) Martin, who were natives of Eng- 
land, and who came to America in 1830. 
The mother of our subject died in August, 
1877. She i-eared five children: Charles F., 
Antoinette, Edward, Oscar and Minerva H. 
Our subject received his early education in 
the public schools of Utica, and advanced in 
the public schools of I'ortage and Fort Win- 
nebago. He assisted his father on the farm 
until his sixteentii year, and then lie enlisted 
in Company C, Twenty-third Regiment Wis- 
consin Volunteer Infantry, and served one 
year, when \u' was discharged un account of 
ill health, and returned home. He soon re- 
gained his health and returned to the army 
and re-enlisted in Company A, Thirty-sev- 
enth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and 
served until after the close of the war. He 
was in the Army of tlie Potomac, and partici- 
pated in the battle ijefore Petersburg in 
June, 18f)4, and was preserit at the mine ex- 
plosion in July of the same year. At the 
close of the war he was honorably discharged 
but with impaired iiealih. After a time he 
went to Nortii Dakota and was em])loyed by 
the North Pacific Railroad in the construc- 
tion department for two years. In June, 
1872, he made his advent into Madison, and 
was at that time the fortunate possessor of a 
pair of horses and a wagon and $150 in cash. 



1 He established a wood yard and commenced 
i business in a small way, and from that be- 
ginning has developed his present business. 
His yards now occupy four lots, witb shed 
room for 0,000 tons of coal and 2,000 cords 
of wood. 

May 12, 1872, he was married to Miss 
Julia Frederickson, who was born near Mad- 
ison, Wisconsin, a daughter of Peter and 
Julia Frederickson. Mr. and Mrs. Cooley 
have five children: Harry, Alexander, Fanny, 
Ida and Sarah. Our subject served as a 
member of the staft" of General Rusk, and lie 
is a member of the G. A. R., and a Republi- 
can in his political belief. 

|ROF. HERBERT CUSHING TOL- 
j?J MAN, Ph. D., professor of Sanskrit in 
the University of Wisconsin, widely 
and favorably known as a ripe scholar and 
cultured gentleman, was born in South 
Scituate, Plymouth county, Massachusetts, 
November 4, 1865. His parents, James 
and Mary (Briggs) Tolman, were natives 
of Scituate, where tiiey were reared and 
married. On the paternal side, the Professor 
is eighth in descent from John Alden, who 
came over in the "Mayfiower" from England. 
His maternal ancestors were equally illustri- 
ous, havinor come to America from ETiyland 
about the time of the Revolution, settling in 
Massachusetts. Their name was originally 
Bridge (French. l>u Pont), which has been 
corrupted to Briggs. Prof. Tolmaifs father, 
who was a tack manufacturer of South Scitu- 
ate, removed thence to Hanover, in the same 
State, when the subject of this sketch was 
fourteen years of age, wliere they have ever 
since resided. They were the parents of 
two children: the subject of this notice and 



DANE COUNTY, WlSCONtilN. 



443 



a daughter, Morgianna, who is instructor in 
French in the lii";]! school at Abiiio-ton, 
Massacliusetts, 

Profet^sor Tohnan obtained his preparatory 
education in the public schools of his native 
town. At the age of fourteen years he en- 
tered tiie Rockland High School, whence he 
was graduated in 1884. Tliat same year 
he entered Yale College, graduating at that 
noble institution in 1888, with the dearee of 
A. B. While there he was the recipient of 
the Freshman's premium for Latin compo- 
sition and in the junior year received the 
Winthrop prize of §100 for the most thor- 
ough acquaintance with the Greek and Latin 
poets. In his senior year he was awai'cled 
the Berkley prize for Latin and Greek schol- 
arship, and was chosen member of the Phi 
Beta Kappa society. He was one of twelve 
chosen to deliver addresses on Commence- 
ment day, and was given the appointment of 
a three years' Fellowship in Latin, Greek and 
Sanskrit. Two years later he received the 
degree of Pliilosophia^ Doctor, and was made 
Assistant in Indo-European language at 
Yale College. After one year in this posi- 
tion, he resigned to accept one in the Uni- 
versity of Wisconsin, which he assumed in 
the fall of 1891. In 1892 he was appointed 
assistant professor of Sanskrit, which posi- 
tion he now holds. 

Besides his labors as an instructor, the 
Professor has done much literary work. He 
and President W. II. Harper, of the Chicago 
University, have collaborated in the writing 
of a text-book, of eight books, of Cfesar's 
Gallic Wars. Prof. Tolman has also written 
an Old Persian Grammar and a translation 
of Persian inscriptions. In connection with 
Prof. Alexander Kerr, of the Wisconsin Uni- 
versity, he lias edited the Gospel of Matthew 
in Greek. He has assisted in the editing of 



several other texts of the classical authors. 
Prof. Tolman is at present encjaired in writino- 
a couple of indices of words to tlie Sanskrit 
Sutras. 

(_)n August 26, 1891, he was married to 
Mary B. Wells, of Wetherslield, Connecticut, 
a native of Jacksonville, Florida, who was 
educated at the Female Seminary in New 
IJritain, Connecticut, and was for three years 
in tlie Yale School of Fine Arts. 

The Professor was elected a member of the 
Iloyal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and 
Ireland (il. 11. A. S.), and receiveii from that 
honored English society an invitation to be- 
come a contributor in Griental subjects to its 
journal. l>otli he and iiis wife belong to 
the Congregational Church, to which they 
render much valuable aid. 

Few instructors are better qualified for 
their work than Pi-of. Tolman, who brings to 
his position eminent ability, a wide experi- 
ence and unusual energy. 



^• ^ ■• | ' 4^ '^ 



tON. RASMUS B. ANDERSON, the 
Norse scholar, was born in the township 
of Albion, Dane county, Wisconsin, 
January 12, 184G. His father, of Norwegian 
stock, was a Quaker, who came from Norway 
in 1836, at the head of the first large com- 
pany of Norwegian eniigrancs who reached 
America. His mother, whose ancestry for near- 
ly two centuries ])resents one uni)roken line 
of military officers of high rank, was a woman 
of remarkably beautiful character, equipped 
witli tiiose virtues whicli are tlie adorn- 
ment of her sex. To this young woman, Abel 
Catherine Von Krogh, Bjorn Anderson was 
married in 1830. It can hardly be realized 
by an xVnierican what consternation and l)it- 
terness of feelinur the marriage of this refined 



444 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



daiicrhter of a military officer with a peasant's 
son caused. The fact, too, that the husband 
was a Quaker and hence not a member of the 
State Church, served to increase the indigni- 
ties with which the young couple were treated 
on every hand. There was the right stuff in 
both of them, however, and they determined 
to seek their fortunes in that land beyoud the 
sea. whose star was beginning to appear 
above the horizon, beckoning to the oppressed 
of Europe. Having arrived in New York 
Bjorn Anderson and wife, with a few other 
families proceeded to Rochester, New York, 
where they lived two years, the husband 
working at tlie trade of a cooper. At the end 
of this time they moved to a Scandinavian 
settlemeut. in LaSalle county, Illinois, where 
they also remained two years, and finally set- 
tled in the wilds of Wisconsin. They were 
the first couple that took up their abode in 
the town of Albion and tlie tale of hardship, 
which that fact carries with it, seems but a 
sad romance to a younger generation. But 
during all the trials of this pioneer life neither 
one flinched. The chief characteristic of each 
was will; he was bold, restless and pushing, 
she was gentle, quiet and persevering. This 
combination of qualities brought success, and 
in a few years they were comfortably situated 
on a large and fertile farm, but Bjorn Ander- 
son was not long to enjoy the fruits of his 
labor. Amouf scores of others he became a 
victim of the cholera, in 1S50. The mother 
lived until 1885, and experienced the pleasure 
of seeing one of her sons, the subject of this 
sketch, honored by the country of her adop- 
tion. 

It was one of such antecedents and under 
the circumstances to which we have briefly 
alluded that Rasmus B. Anderson was born. 
As he grew up he diligeutly attended the 
public school and also received instruction 



I from a Norwegian Lutheran clergyman. In 

I the latter part of the '50s a college was 
founded bv the Norwegians, later known as 
Luther College, located in Decorah. Iowa, 
and here he became one of the first students. 
The teachers in the school were Norwegians 
who had been educated in Europe. Their 
ideas of discipline and paternal authority 
galled the independent spirit of young An- 
derson and he became the leader of an embryo 

. rebellion. The authorities did not find him 
disposed to yield and so to maintain peace it 

i was thought necessary to expel him. His 
progress in his studies, especially in his lan- 
guages had been quite remarkable and hence 

I in spite of his expulsion he became, in 1866. 
Professor of Greek and modern languages in 
Albion Academy near his home. On account 
of his success at this school he attracted the 
notice of the authorities of the University of 
Wisconsin, at Madison. Having severed his 

: connection with Albion Academy he spent the 
spring term of 1869 as a post-graduate student 

j in the University of Wisconsin, at the end of 
which time he was made an instructor of 
lancrua:;es in that institution. He served in 
this capacity until the summer of 1S75, when 
the professorship of Scandinavian languages 
and literature was created for him. Before 
this time he had lectured on Scandi- 
navian subjects and had, as an instructor, 
tantrht the Scandinavian lansuages, and 
had also founded a Scandinavian library 
in the University. This project received 

! the Cordial support of the famous Norse 

', violinist, Ole Bull, who on the 17th of 
ilav, 1S72, Norway's natal day, gave a 
concert in Madison in aid of the enterprise. 
Prof. Anderson and Ole Bull were very warm 
friends and Madison was for some years Ole 
Bull's American home. Together they con- 
ceived many a scheme for the spread of the 



BASE cooyrr, Wisconsin. 



4« 



fame of Xorvvay and the Norseman. Among 
other things, they formed a plan and started 
a fund for the erection of a monnnient in 
honor of Leif Erikson and this monument 
was erected in Boston, in 1887. 

In 1872 Prof. Anderson visited Norway, 
in company with Ole Bull, to extend his ac- 
quaintance with the literature and scholars of 
Northern Europe. On this trip he met the 
Norse poet, Bjornson, with whom he traveled 
on foot tliroii'j'h some of the most delio-htful 
parts of Norway. Several years later, Bjorn- 
son visited America and made a lecturing tour 
among his countrymen throughout the North- 
west, under the auspices of Prof. Anderson, 
at whose home in Madison he was a frequent 
guest. 

Pi'of. Anderson has been a prolific writer 
and began to write for the press at the age of 
nineteen and has ever since been an extensive 
contributor to both Norwegian and American 
periodicals. He has also contributed to John- 
son's Universal Cyclopedia, McClintock & 
Strong's Cyclopedia, Kiddle and Schem's 
Tear Book of Education, The American Sup- 
plement to the Encyclopedia Britannica and 
the last edition of Chamber's Encyclopedia. 
His interest in the American common school 
system has been great and in an active con- 
troversy some years ago, with the Norwegian 
Lutheran Clergy in the >|orthwest he made 
himself widely known for his defense of it. 

Prof. Anderson has lectured extensively, 
both in this country and in Scandinavia. In 
1874 he spoke in the house of the poet 
Longfellow, to a select audience of celeb- 
rities on the subject of Norse mythology 
and in 1877 he delivered a course of four 
lectures upon Norse literature, at the Pea- 
body Listitute in Baltimore. As an author 
of books he has won an enviable reputation. 
He began his career in 1872, with the pub- 

80 



iication of a collection of Norse folklore 
stories, called Julegave, now in the seventh 
edition. In 1874 he published a little book 
in Norwegian entitled ■• Den Norske Maal- 
sag," and also his first book in English, 
" America not Discovered by Columbus," 
which gives a short account of the discovery 
of America by the Norsemen. Prof. Ander- 
son's most important contribution to litera- 
ture, " Norse Mythology," appeared in 1875. 
It is ari exhaustive and systen^atie presenta- 
tion of the religion of the old Northmen, and 
is the only adequate treatment of the subject 
in the Euolish languafe. It has been well 
received, both in this country and in Europe, 
and has been translated into French, German, 
Italian and even into Norse. His next pub- 
lii;ation was " Yiking Tales of the North," 
which appeared in 1877. This work con- 
tains a translation of the two old Norse 
sagas into English and the Swedish author. 
Bishop Tegner's poem, '• Frithjofs Saga," is 
based upon them. This work .also contains 
an introduction on Sacra literature and a 
biography of Tegner. In 1880 he published, 
" The Younger Edda,"' a translation from old 
Norse. This book is, as it is sometimes put, 
'• The New Testament of Norse Mythology." 
DuriuLT the years l^Sl and 1882, he super- 
intended the translation and publication of 
Bjornson's novels and stories in seven vol- 
ume>. In 1884 he published a translation of 
Dr. F. W. Horn's •■ History of the Literature 
of the Scandinavian North, from the Earliest 
Period to the Present Time." His introduc- 
tion to Miss A. A. "Woodward's (Auber For- 
estier) translation of Kristofer Janson's '• The 
Spell-bound Fiddler,'" contains an interesting 
sketch of Ole Bull. 

In 1885 Prof. Anderson was appointed by 
President Cleveland fnited States Minister 
to Denmark, which position he held until the 



446 



BIOQRAPniGAL REVIEW OF 



autuiiiii (if 1889. Before receiving the 
appointment, in tlie fall of 1883, he had 
severed his connection with the university 
for the purpose of going into l)nsiness. Prof. 
Anderson proved a valuable man at the 
Dani>h capital, lie was thoi-oughly conversant 
with the language of the country before going 
there and iience was in a position to profit 
much from liis stay in the Athens of the 
North, where it was his good fortune to 
make the personal acquaintance of nearly all 
the scholars and artists of Scandinavia. Upon 
the election of President Harrison a petition, 
signed by the most prominent men of the 
three Scandinavian countries was sent to 
Washington asking for his retention at 
Copenhagen. While in that city he became 
very popular, not only in literary, but also 
in diplomatic and social circles. This did not 
prevent him, however, from being active in a 
literary way. In 1880 he published a transla- 
tion from the Danish, by Dr. Georg Brandes, 
" Eminent Authors of the Nineteenth Cen- 
tury." Dr. Brandes is the most distinguished 
literary critic in Scandinavia, the Taine of 
the North. In 1887 Prof. Anderson wrote 
the chapter on Ancient Scandinavian Religion, 
which was published in a London work, 
entitled, "Non-Biblical Systems of Uelii'ion." 
In 1889, London firms published his transla- 
tion from the Swedish of Dr. Victor Ryd- 
berg's monumental work, entitled, "Teutonic 
Mythology," and his revision of Samuel 
Laiug's translation of the " Heimskrimgla, 
or the Sagas of the Norse Kings," and liis 
translation of Dr. Carl Lumholtz' work, 
"Among Cannibals." 

Prof. Anderson now resides in Madison, 
Wisconsin, where he has a comfortable home. 
On July 21, 1808, he was married to Miss 
Bertha Karina Olson, of Cambridge, Wis- 
consin. She was born February 11, 1848, 



near Christiania, Norway, and came to this 
country with her parents when she was about 
four years old. 

Prof, and Mrs. Anderson have had five 
children, four of whom are living: Hannah 
Burena. born April 18, 1809, died April 18, 
1870; Carletta Cathriua, born December 4, 
1870; George Krogh, born November 7, 
1872; Hjalmar Odin, born June 7, 1876; and 
Rolf. Bull, born December 17. 1883. 

The literary work of Prof. Anderson has 
been enormous and even a partial list of his 
original writings and translations would 
outrun the limits of this article. 

lEY. EUGENEGROVERUPDIKE,the 
earnest and efficient pastor of the Con- 
gregational (Church at Madison, Wis- 
consin, was born in Tompkins county, New 
York, November 18, 1850. His parents were 
Lyman and Phofbe (Ammack) Updike, who 
were born, reared and married in Tompkins 
county, where his father was employed for 
many years as a carpenter and contractor. 
The genealogy of the family is traceable for 
eleven cenerations. to Holland. The Ameri- 
can branch is divided, that portion residing 
in New York spelling the nan.eOpdike. The 
subject of this sketch belongs to the ninth 
generation in this country. Mr. Updike's 
matern;d ancestors were Quakers, who came 
to New York State in a very early day. I?i 
1854 his parents removed to Dodge county, 
Wisconsin, then on the frontier of civiliza- 
tion, where his father pre-empted land and 
engaged in farming. He was thus engaged 
at the outbreak of the war. when he enlisted 
in the Twenty-ninth Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry, in which he served until 1863, 
when his death occurred on the Red river in 



DANE COUNTY, ]\ ISCONSTN. 



447 



Mississippi, and he was buried in Metnpiiis, 
Tennessee, tlius sealingr witli his life liis de- 
votion to the cause. The wortliy wife and 
mother still survives, and resides in I'eaver 
Dam, Wisconsin. They were the parents of 
three children: the subject of this sketch; 
Louise; and a brother, deceased. 

Dr. Updike, of thi.s biography, was four 
years of age at the time of his parent's re- 
moval to Wisconsin, where he was reared on 
a farm. His preliminary education was re- 
ceived in the common schools of his locality, 
and when nineteen years old, be entered Way- 
land Academy, in Beaver Dam, the same 
State, remaining there one year. He then 
entered Lawrence University, in Appleton, 
that State, at which he graduated in the sci- 
entific course, after which lie went to the 
Garrett Bil)lical University at Evauston, Hli- 
nois, one year. 

His first pastorate was in Montello, Wis- 
consin, where he had charge of a Methodist 
Episcopal Church for two years. He then 
removed to Delavan, in the same State, where 
he remained three years, going thence to 
Lake Mills. From 1883 to 1885, he was 
stationed in Kacine, the same State, after 
which he went to Milwaukee, and tliere took 
charge of the Sumnierfield Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, over which he presided three 
years. He was then transferred to Engle- 
wood, HIinois, a suburb of Chicago, remain- 
ing there until October, 1890. It was at this 
time that he accepted an oti'er from the Con- 
gregational Church of Madison, Wisconsin, 
and although reared a Methodist and for 
many years a pastor of that faith, his con- 
science acquitted him of all inconsistency in 
transferring his allegiance. The fact that he 
has lieen aljle to gatlier around him the larg- 
est congregation of any denomination in the 
State, is sufficient proof of his ability and 



earnestness. His success, probably, lies in 
the heartfelt interest which he takes in his 
work, lending to the power of the mind the 
diviner promptings of a revei'ent and loving 
heart. 

Dr. Updike was married September 7. 
187(3, to Miss Clara Favili, a native of Lake 
Mills, Wisconsin, who was educated at Law- 
rence University. 

As a citizen, Dr. Updike enjoys the deep- 
est respect and esteem of his fellow- men, 
while as a moral guide, his success is suffi- 
cient guaranty of his wiile and worthy in- 
fluence. 

fO H N R. M E L V I N.— The following 
sketch is written of one who, in his daily 
tasks, has had the lives of hundreds of 
his fellow-creatures in his care for many long 
years, whose careful eye, skilled hand and 
educated sense of hearing, combined with 
o-ood judgment, untiring vigilance and un- 
swerving devotion to duty, have made of him 
one of the most valued engineers in the em- 
ploy of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul 
Railroad. 

Our subject was born on the line between 
Vermont and Canada, and was tlie son of 
Morris Melvin,a native of Ireland, who came 
with his parents to America at an early day 
when he was sixteen years of age, settling at 
Burlington, Vermont, where he learned the 
trade of a ship carpenter, later becoming a 
farmer across the line in Canada, where he 
died at tlie age of eighty years. He was a 
crood aqd moral man, although belonging to 
no church creed. In Vermont he married 
Mary Troy, a native of Ireland, who had 
come to America with her parents, who set- 
tled where the city of Troy now stands. Her 



448 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW UF 



family became identified with the history of 
the State. She died at tlie old homestead 
on South river in Canada. Our subject is 
the second in a family of ten children, all of 
whom are now married except one sister, 
still living on the old homestead. One 
brother, Michael, was for many years an en- 
gineer also, but is now living a retired life 
in St. Paul. 

Our subject was reared at Montpelier and 
at Xorthfield, and there his raili-oad life 
began, as he assisted in the building of the 
culverts on the old Vermont Central rail- 
road when he was but twelve years of age, 
and after that was finished he obtained a 
position as fireman for several years, and be- 
fore he had been there long obtained a posi- 
tion as engineer on the same road. Forty- 
five years is a long time to have held the 
dangerous throttle of an engine and to have 
never had an accident, but such is the grand 
record of onr subject. 

Our snl)ject came West in 1852 and spent 
about fifteen months on the Chicago, Galena 
& Union Railroad, now the Northwestern, 
and then for a time was one of the engineers 
on what is now denominated the ''Q" road. 
He was employed on the Chicago, Galena & 
Union when the strap rail was used and the 
road only ran to Elgin, Illinois. The ter- 
minus of the Chicago, Milwaukee & Si. Paul 
railroad was then Madison, Wisconsin, and 
the present great Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy road was then called the (yhicago & 
Aurora and only ran to the latter city. Our 
subject has lived to see these three great 
systems developed and has been associated 
with their history. From 1854 until 1857 
our subject was on the soutii route of the 
Eastern Division of this road, with head- 
quarters at Milwaukee, an<l for five years he 
had charge of tiu- round house for the Chi- 



cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, with headquar- 
ters at Madison, but witli the e.xceptions 
named he has been the efficient and trusted 
engineer for jiassenger trains for the great 
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul road, over 
which so many thousands travel daily. He 
now has charge of the Western Division 
Milwaukee & Prairie Du Chien, and has a 
pleasant home at No. 1001 University ave- 
nue, in the city of Madison. He also owns 
other valuable residence ])roporty in tiie city. 

Our subject was married to Miss Frances 
P. Hart, who had been born in Ireland ami 
was quite young when her parents brought 
her to America. They settled some time in 
Vermont, but later moved to Milton Junc- 
tion, Wisconsin, where they passed the re- 
mainder of their lives. Airs. Melvin was 
well and carefully reared and has been a 
good wife and excellent mother. She has 
had no family of her own, but her warm 
heart has been filled with affection for a 
nephew and niece. The former is James 11. 
nighiaiid, w ho is now jxeneral freiijht agent 
of the St. Paul Railroad system, and the 
other, Catherine Hart, resides with Mr. and 
Mrs. Melvin. 

Our subject for five years has been an 
Alderman of the city, in all of the pul)lic 
affairs taking a prominent part. In political 
life he began as a Denaocrat, later became a 
Prohibitionist, but in his later life has re- 
turned to his old love, and now is a valueil 
member of the Detnocratic ranks, doing gooil 
service. He is a member of the order of 
Locomotive Engineers, being Second Assist- 
ant of the order in the Division No. 73! of 
Madison. 



^ 



V^ 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



449 



IHAKLES F. FORD, tlie well-known 
owner of the large niacliine and repair 
shops, located at 120 East Washington 
avenue, which business he established in 1S87, 
is the subject of the present sketch. Being a 
skilled niacliinist lie employs only the l>est 
workmen, giving constant employment to 
three or four hands all of the time. For 
twenty years our subject was with the Maili- 
son Manufacturing Company and for thirteen 
years was foreman of the shops. He came 
to the State in 1846 and settled in Rock 
county with bis parents, in 1848, settling in 
Cambridge, Dane county, and there young 
Ford learned the trade of blacksmitli in his 
father's shops. He after tliis worked at the 
trade of machinist, and when he came to 
Madison it was for the purpose of giving his 
children the advantages of an education. In 
this city he then became connected with the 
Madison Manufacturing Company as above 
stated. 

Our subject was born in Tioga county, 
New York, at the city of Oswego, June 22, 
1834. When twelve years of age he came 
West with his parents to WiscoTisin. In 
those days there were no railroads and the 
route to this county was overland with a 
wagon and team. After spending one winter 
near Janesville, Wisconsin, he spent two years 
in Shopiere in Rock county. In 1848 the 
father brought the family to Cambridge in 
Dane county and established a smithy and 
the father and son conducted this business 
for some time, when the father engaged in the 
mercantile business and about 1861 moved to 
Keokuk, Iowa, and there lived until his death, 
having been for some time retired from busi- 
ness. He was sixty-four years of age at the 
time of his death, and was named Nelson 
Ford. He was born of Connecticut parentage, 
and when young had removed to Oswego, New 



York, with his parents, and hail learned the 
trade of blacksmith with his father, Nelson 
Ford, Sr. Finally l)oth father and son came 
to Wisconsin together and Nelson Ford, Sr.. 
settled down at Argyle, La Fayette county, 
where he died when full of years. His wife, 
llulda (Arnold) Ford survived him some 
years, and her death occurred in Argyle 
when she was ninety-eight years of age. She 
and her husband were Baptists, good old pio- 
neer people. 

Nelson Ford, Ji-., was married in the Em- 
pire State to Miss Wealthy Eastman, who 
was born and reared in New York, coming to 
Wisconsin with her liusl)and, reared a family 
and died in Cambridge, Wisconsin, in 1861 
when she was not more than forty years of 
age. She and her husband were members of 
the Baptist Church, and were among the best 
people of the community, beloved and re- 
spected. Our subject was the first born in 
the family. His brother, Henry, is a resident 
of Beloit, Wisconsin, and is employed in the 
Eclipse Windirtill Company. A sister, Mrs. 
Rosilla Towne, is the wife of an attorney of 
Edgerton, Wisconsin. 

Our subject was married in Dane county 
to Miss Patience Safford, who was born in 
the East and came West when young with her 
parents, Philip and Catherine Safford, the 
father later becoming a resident of Sauk 
Centre, Minnesota, where he died some yeai-s 
ago. The wife and mother makes her home 
at the old farm in Stearns county, Minnesota. 
She is now past four score years of age, a re- 
spected lady in the community. Mr. and 
Mrs. Ford of this notice attend the Congre- 
gational Church, of which Mrs. Ford is a 
member. Mr. Ford is not a politician, but 
votes with the Republicans in political mat- 
ters. He and wife are the parents of three 
children, as follows: Oliver, deceased. He 



450 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



was a brilliant younw man, who died after his 
graduation from tlie State University of Wis- 
consin. Catherine is the wife of Fred Curtis, 
the leading photographer of Madison; and 
Estelle is the wife of Charles Abbott, leading 
marble dealer of Madison. 

tLE K. ROE, of Stoughton, Dane county, 
was born in Pleasant Springs township, 
this county, August 24, 1851, a son of 
Knud and Anna (Johnson) lioe, natives of 
Tellemarken, Norway. The parents came to 
America in 1839, locating in LaSalle couiitv. 
Illinois, two years afterward removed to Ka- 
cine county, Wisconsin, and in 1848 bought 
a Government tract of land in Dane county. 
The father was a great hunter, having hunted 
for bear in the old country, and deer in Amer- 
ica. He had the first ox team in the neiorhbor- 
hood, with which he was obliged to go to Mil- 
waukee to mill and market, and his neighbors 
all borrowed the oxen for the same purpose. 
Mr. Roe died in 1874 and his widow still re- 
sides on the old homestead, aged seventy live 
years. They were the parents of ten children, 
our subject being the fourth child, and five 
daughters and two sons are now living. 

Ole K., the subject of this sketch, assisted 
his father on his farm of 280 acres, and in 
1873 began life for himself on 100 acres of 
land. His sister, now Mrs. Thorson, kept 
house for him three years. April 9, 1888, 
he leased his farm and came to Stoucrhton, 
where he has one of the finest residences in 
Dane county, erected in 1891. For twenty 
years Mr. Roe has been engaged in the 
tobacco business, aiui now handles over two 
thousand cases annually. He votes with the 
Republican party, but takes no active interest 
in politics. In 1884 he was elected Treasurer 



of Pleasant Springs township, and in 1890 
was elected Alderman of the Second Ward 
of Stoughton. He is treasurer of the Stough- 
ton Driving Park Association, is a lover of 
fine horses, and is the owner of a number of 
blooded animals. 

Mr. Roe was married December 26, 1875, 
to Lena Felland, who was born and reared in 
Pleasant Springs township, Dane county, 
and is a daughter of Ole Felland, a farmer of 
section 24, this town.-^hip. To this union 
has been born four children, two now living: 
Carl A., born May 15, 1877; and Gustave, 
October 1, 1881. Mr. Roe is a member of 
the Lutheran Church. 

fO H N D. L E E, a resident of Madison, 
Wisconsin, was horn in Orange county, 
\ew York, January 21, 1827, son of 
Daniel and Sarah (Aber) Lee. The father 
was a farmer by occupation, who had come 
from England and located in New England, 
from where he afterward removed to New 
York. There were fourteen children in that 
family and almost all of them grew to ma- 
turity. John D. was given a common school 
education in Orange count}', New York, and 
then engaged in farming. In 1865 he came 
to Sparta, Wisconsin, where he engaged in 
the hardware business, first with a Mr. Simp- 
son, the firm being Simpson ct Company; 
afterward with a Mr. Baldwin, when the 
firm became Lee & Baldwin. 

Mr. Lee continued his business in Sparta 
until 1887, when he sold out, and in 1889 he 
removed to Madison, Wisconsin, in order to 
give his daughter the benefit of the educa- 
tional advantages of the capital. 

Our subject was married in Orange county, 
New York, in 1852. His daughter, Grace, 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



451 



graduated at the University of Wisconsin, in 
June, 1892, and now is an efficient teacher at 
Neillsviile, AVisconsin. In politics Mr. liCe 
is a Republican and upliolds the principles of 
that organization upon all occasions. lie is 
a worthy citizen and is highly respected hy 
all his friends. 



-Hfe 



=H»^ 



iRS. P:MMA ROBERTS TIl'RLE, 



jCWclK one or the pioneers or Dane county, 
-=2^^ residing in Blooming Grove, was 
born on the Isle of Anglesea, Wales, Decem- 
ber 11, 1827. Her father, Hugh Roberts, 
was born on the same isle and was the son of 
John and Anne (Hughes) Roberts. He spent 
his entire life in his native land. The maiilen 
name of his wife, mother of our subject, was 
Ann Smallwood, born in Caernarvonshire 
and died in Anglesea. 8he bore her husband 
eight children, as follows: Richard, the oldest 
son never came to America; Robert, John, 
Ann, Margaret, Perry. Mrs. Tipple catne 
to America and settled in Wisconsin; Mary 
married Richard Williams and settled in 
Wales. 

Mrs. Tipple was reared and educated in 
her native isle and resided there until 1849, 
when she came to America to join a sister 
and brother that had come before. She sailed 
from Liverpool, in the month of April, in the 
sailing vessel Andrew Foster and landed at 
New York, after a voyage of twenty- three 
days. This was a remarkably short voyage 
for those days. After landing she came di- 
rectly to Wisconsin, via lakes to Milwaukee, 
thence by team to Waukesha, where her 
brother and sister resided. There she met and 
married John Tipple. 

Mr. Tipple had settled in Dane county in 
the year previous, purchased land and built 



the little log cabin of the pioneer. Directly 
after mari'iage the young couple started in a 
wagon for the little home in the wilds of the 
then new country. In this little hut with no 
luxuries and but few necessities these brave 
young j^eople began housekeeping. The 
country was but sparsely settled, frame houses 
were more scarce than log houses are now. 
Wild game roamed at will over the country 
and much of the land was still owned l)y the 
(Tovernment. Mrs. Tipple is among the few 
i-eniaining pioneers of that time and many 
and interesting are the incidents that she re- 
lates of those exciting: times. 

Mr. Tipple was born in Norfolk county, 
England, and was the son of William and 
Frances (Strange) Tipple, natives of the 
same county, who lived and died in the place 
of their birth. Mr. Tipple, a brother, James 
and a sister, Maria, were the only members 
of the family to come to America. James 
settled in Dane county, improving a farm in 
Fitchburg. lie died at Waukesha. Maria 
married James Craneficld of Fitchburg. Mr. 
Tipple was reared and educated in his native 
land and remained as a resident of England 
until 1848, when he came to America, sail- 
ing from Liverpool, in the fall and landing 
in New York after a voyage of five weeks. 
He proceeded to I'uffalo and in the spring 
of 1849 made his way to Milwaukee and 
thence to Dane county, where he purchased 
400 acres of land in Bltchburg, Dunn and 
Blooming Grove. He was extensively en- 
gaged in farming until his death, which oc- 
curred July 22, 1887. 

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Tipple were 
as follows: Frances, wife of Aln-aham Mur- 
phy; Eliza, married David Roberts; Richard, 
William, Maria, Sarah, Mamie, Hugh and 
Emma. Richard is married and lives on the 
same farm when^ his parents first stai'ted 



453 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



housekeeping, but in a more commodious 
residence. However, the "old log house" 
still stands as a memento of the past. For 
forty-three years Mrs. Tipple has been a resi- 
dent of Dane county and is among the most 
respected and esteemed of its residents. 



fEROME SCOLEN, a farmer of Dane 
county. Wisconsin, was born in Talle- 
marken, Norway, January' l,1832,a6on 
of Swain and Eliza (Sevcrson) Scolen, natives 
also of Norway, the father born in 1797, and 
the mother in 18U5. In 1850 they came to 
America, locating in Dane county, Wisconsin. 
They were the parents of three children: 
Jerome, our subject; Mrs. Oliver Johnson, 
and Mrs. O. K. Tisbnrg. The father died in 
1870, and the mother in 1885. 

Jerome Scolen, the subject of this sketch, 
came to Pleasant Spring township in the 
spring of 1851, where he bought and im- 
proved a farm. Two years later he began 
learning to make sash, doors and blinds in 
Jauesville, remaining there about eight years, 
and in 1860 took charge of the home farm of 
250 acres of choice land. On account of ill 
health, Mr. Scolen rents bis place on the 
shares. In his political views, he affiliates 
with the Republican party, and at one time 
served as school clerk. He is a member of 
the Lutheran Church, to which he donated 
fifty acres of his best land for the erection of 
an orphan's home. He is a very benevolent 
gentleman, and has earned an enviable repu- 
tation among all classes and nationalities. 

Mr. Scolen was married January 1, 1868, 
to Rebecca Erickson, a native of Southern 
Norway, and who came to America shortly 
before marriage. 



AMESLIVESE Y.— A literary man 
writes a book; another writes one and 
the first is forgotten; a merchant builds 
up a great business and passes away and is 
no more remembered as his place is filled 
with another who can just as successfully 
carry on his business of buying and selling. 
The builder and architect erect monuments 
which will stand as mementoes of them long 
after their bodies have passed away. Look- 
ing at life in this way we are inclined to the 
opinion that the occupation of masonry and 
contracting is a very desirable one and one 
which reflects the greatest luster upon a city. 
Our subject located here in 1849 as a mere 
journeyman workman, but what he has be- 
come is testified to by the magnificent build- 
ings which have arisen under his wizard 
hand. llisfir.st large work was in the build- 
ing of the iirst county courthouse, and 
later he was engaged to build, on contract, 
the first buildings, the nucleus of the State 
University buildings at Madison. A large 
part of the buildings of the Insane Hospital 
are his work, and he was the contractor for 
the beautiful Methodist Episcopal Church, 
the German Catholic Church, one of the 
wings of the present State House, the stone 
work of the new courthouse, all of the city 
high schools, the stone work of the Govern- 
ment building, and tlie large and beautiful 
water tower of the city. 

Our subject was the builder of the first 
large stone block, known as the Fairchild 
block and has built many of the business 
houses and the stately private residences, 
which have made the city of Madison the 
subject of innumerable articles in the finest 
illustrated magazines of the day. The work 
on tlie State Bank is his and every traveler 
across tlie mighty Mississippi river at Rock 
Island has viewed some of his grand work in 



D^iNE COUNTY, WISCON.SIN. 



453 



the construction of the magnificent bridge, 
which i8 tlie pride of two cities. 

Our suhject was born in Lancastersliire, 
Enghmd, May 14, 1816, just ten days before 
the birth of the Queen. He grew up in 
his native country, where he learned the 
trade of a weaver, but later learned what he 
fancied nioi-e congenial, the trade of stone- 
cutter. When he was about twenty-one 
years of age, he married in his native shire. 
Miss Esther Welsh, who is now deceased. 
About the time of marriage he had planned 
to remove to Australia, but a fi-iend pur- 
suaded him to change his location and make 
his new home in the United States. He 
sailed from Liverpool, October 22, 1840, on 
the ship " Austriaconsin," and after a very 
stormy voyage of many weeks landed in New 
York city, January 7, 1841. The seas had 
swept the <lecks and almost one half of the 
100 passengers had died on the way, includ- 
ing the captain and the lirst mate. Our 
sultject had to turn in and help with the sick 
and also had to take a turn at the cooking. 
The exposure and anxiety resulted in a sick- 
ness to himself, and for some time be was 
sick in Staten Island Hospital. Finally he 
recovered but was distressed over the death 
of an aunt, a cousin, and the latter"s two lit- 
tle children, who had to be buried at sea. 
Fortunately his wife was not on this ill-fated 
vessel, but joined him some months later. 

After landing, our subject liegan woi-k in 
New Jersey, some eighteen miles from Pat- 
erson, going from there to Virginia, where 
he spent one year, then removed to Keutucky, 
every change being made with a view of bet- 
teriTig his condition. He spent seven years 
in Marysville, Kentucky, and then went to 
New York, where he joined his father who 
had emigrated with his wife to this country 
and settled on a part of John Brow's estate 



in Lewis county, New York, where the old 
people lived until death at the ages of eighty- 
four and seventy-three respectively. In re- 
ligion they were Methodists, becoming very 
prominent in the church. The name of the 
father was Henry and the mother was Sarah 
(Briggs) Livesey. The latter was well known 
and beloved in her English home, having 
filled a circuit as a Methodist preacher there 
and after coming to New York she still con- 
tinued her work and was known as one of the 
most fluent speakers of her day. 

While our subject was in New York he 
worked at his trade, but saw that greater op- 
portunities would be afforded him in his line 
in a newer locality, hence selected Madison, 
Wisconsin, as his home, and he has never 
had occasion to regret his choice. He has 
been unusually successful in his business 
ventures. On December 25, 1872, his wife 
was taken away. She was then lifty-two 
years of age and had always been a consistent 
member of the Episcopal Church. She was 
the mother of twelve children, four of whom 
are deceased, three dying in infancy, and one, 
Esther, being fatally scalded at the age of 
three years. The living are: Sarah J., the 
wife of Charles Askew, who runs pleasure 
boats on lake Monona; Alice is the wife of 
Peck Drake, a real-estate dealer of Lincoln, 
Nebraska; Joseph A., is a mason and con- 
tractor of Madison, and married Miss Jennie 
Young; William is a stonecutter of St. Paul 
and Minneapolis; Daniel B., is a resident of 
Seattle, Washington, where he is a mason 
and contractor and married Miss C. Golden- 
berger; James, Jr., a stonecutter in Madison, 
married Miss Mattie Hunt. 

Mr. Livesey was married in Madison to 
Mrs. Emma Bibbs, nee Newham, the widow 
of the late John Bibl)s, a druggist in this 
city, who died here June 7, 1873. He was 



454 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



born in SheiEeld, England, grew np there 
and was educated as a druggist, where he 
met and married liis wife. She was born 
and reared in the same citj. After the birth 
of two children they came to America, lo- 
cating in Madison, in 1854. Here Mr. Bibbs 
continued in his business as drnegist until 
his death. He was good a man and excellent 
citizen. Six children were born, three of 
whom are yet living: Arthur J., a grocer of 
Madison, who married Miss Kate McAllister; 
Bertha, who is the wife of Frank Rodger, a 
railroad engineer on the St. Paul railroad, 
running between Milwaukee & Waukesha, 
with headquarters at Waukesha; and Charles 
E. a contractor and builder of Bigstone Gap, 
Vermont, who married Miss Berenice Pratt. 
The children who died were: Paul U., a 
druggist now deceased, who married Miss 
Minnie Potter and left two children; Robert 
N., who died at the age of thirtj-tive, leaving 
his wife, Mrs. Mary (Thompson) Bibbs, and 
two children. He was killetl in a railway 
accident at the same titne as was his brother 
Paul. Emma died in infancy. 

Mr. and Mrs. Livesey are prominent peo- 
ple in this city. She is a devoted member 
of the Episcopal Church. In politics he is a 
Republican, and is one of the best known 
and most reliable contractors of the city. 
He can take a just pride in realizing how 
much he has done to build up and change 
the locality. The bogs are filled up and his 
present beautiful home is built where the 
ducks used to swim and where at one time it 
was too wet for the Indian to pitch his tent. 

fliANClS E. WALLACE, a farmer and 
resident of Fitchburg, Wisconsin, was 
born in (.'olerain, Franklin county, 
Massachusetts, October 22, 1832. His father, 



Zebina Wallace, was born in the same town, 
antl his grandfather, Seth Wallace, was born 
in the town of Lcyden in the same county. 
The great- grandfather of our subject was also 
named Seth Wallace, and as far as known was 
a native of the same State and of Scotch-Irish 
ancestry. He was a farmer and spent his 
last years in the town of Leyden. The grand- 
father of our subject moved to the town of 
Colei-ain, where he purchased a farm and 
paid for it with a half bushel of silver dollars. 
After living there many years he went to 
Wayne county, New York, spending his last 
years with his son Samuel in that county. 
The maiden name of his wife was Miss 
Hulburt, also a native of Massachusetts. She 
reared eight children, namely: James, Sam- 
uel. Seth, Zel)ina, Thompson, Ann. Esther, 
Susan and I^fary. The father of our subject 
learned the trade of tanner and shoemaker, 
which he followed in Colerain until 1840, 
then removed to Halifax, Vermont, where he 
followed his trade until 1858, then came to 
Wisconsin, where he purchased a farm in the 
town of Fitchburg and engaged in farming 
until his death. The maiden name of the 
mother of our subject was Luciiida French, 
born in Halifax, Vermont, and her parents 
were Ebenezer and Sally (Walkup) French, 
natives of Seekonk, Massachusetts, pioneers 
of the town of Halifax, Vermont, where they 
spent their last years. The mother of our 
subject spent her last years on the farm in 
Fitchburg. She reared nine sons, namely: 
William, Christopher, DeWitt, Clinton, Jona- 
than Childs, Francis E., Zebina, Washington 
L, Henry Clay and Joseph W. Zebina aud 
Henry are dead. 

At the age of ten years our subject went to 
live with his paternal grandparents. He at- 
tended school part of the time aud the re- 
mainder of the time assisted on the farm 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



455 



until he was fourteen, then started out and 
ever afterward cared for himself. He went 
to Brattleboro, where he was employed in 
a hotel for eighteen months, then went to 
Hartford, Connecticut, where he was era- 
ployed in a restaurant for six months, and then 
went to Boston, where he drove a bread wagon, 
selling the staff of life to the Bostonians. lie 
resided there until 1853, when he took a tri]) 
to Australia, sailing from Boston January 
19, landing at Melbourne June 7, following. 
He went to Bendigo, a few miles out from 
Melbourne and tliere engaged in mining, re- 
maining five years; returning via London he 
finally landed in New York. He visited in 
Vermont a few months and then came to 
Wisconsin. For several months lie was em- 
ployed in a hotel at Madison, then located in 
Fitchburg, where he engaged in farming, and 
in 1871 located on the farm he now owns 
and occupies. 

in 18G-1 he was married to Catherine Far- 
rell, born in Ireland, who came to America 
when young. They have fourchildren, namely : 
Francis, Joseph W., Hall Z. and Amanda. 
He has been identified with the Republican 
party since its formation. 

(HARLES E. I^ARISH, edit(;r and pub- 
lisher of the iStoughton Courier, was 
born in Albe, a suburban village of 
Troy, New York, October 24, 1850. His 
parents, William and Esther Parish, were 
natives of Oxfonlshire, England; emicrrated 
to America in the spring of 1850, and for a 
brief period made their home in Albe, New 
Y^ork. In the autumn of 1851 they resumed 
their march westward, and after several weeks 
of privation and hardship, traveling by steam- 
ship, railroad and oxcart, arrived in the vil- 



lage of Stoughton, Dane county, Wisconsin. 
It was then a mere hamlet in the wilderness, 
being composed of twelve houses and a school- 
house. The railroad was not then completed 
west of Milwaukee, and the family, together 
with other pioneers, suffered many hardships 
and privations. At the completion of the 
railroad business began to improve, buildings 
were erected and Stoughton began slowly to 
assume the appearance of a prosperous vil- 
lage. The father of our subject commenced 
taking contracts for excavating cellars and 
other work, in which he gave employment to 
a number of men, and thus, by frugality and 
economy, secured enough of the wildcat cur- 
rency of the period to enable him t<i ])iircliase 
a home. In 1855 he exchanged his village 
pro[)ei'ty for a farm in the town of Rutland, 
to which he then removed, and where the 
subject of this sketch spent the years of his 
boyhood. 

In 1869 Charles Parish entered Albion 
Academy, where he spent several terms as 
student and tutor. He spent the winter of 
1870 in company with T. J. Cuncingham, 
who was elected Secretary of State in 1890, 
and again, in 1892, in the office of the 
"Stoughton Reporter," then edited Ijy the 
brilliant Frank Allen. The following spring 
he re-entered Alliion Academy as a teacher 
of penmanship and elocution. During the 
summer and fall of 1872 Mr. Parish traveled 
as agent and reporter for the Black Earth 
Advertiser and Dane County Republican. 
The following spring he turned his atten- 
tion to farming, which he continued suc- 
cessfully until the frosts of August, 1875, 
ruined his cro])s and left him almost penni- 
less. A few days after the frosts our subject 
obtained employment as book and timekeeper 
for David Stephens, contractor of Science 
Hall, Madison, Wisconsin, and removed to 



456 



BIOORAPHIGAL REVIEW OF 



that city; during the succeeding winter 
traveled for the State Journal; the following 
summer obtained employment in the office 
of the Madison Democrat; during the fall of 
1876 acted as booic and time keeper for the 
contractor who erected the Blind Institute at 
Janesville; during the winter resumed work 
as correspondent for several newspapers and 
periodicals, writing at that time descriptive 
articles, jioetry, etc.; in May, 1877, purchased 
a half interest with George W. Currier in the 
Stoughton Courier, and a year later became 
sole owner and publisher, in whicli business 
he has ever since continued. In the winter 
of 1881 Mr. Parish was appointed proof- 
reader for the Assembly, and the following 
spring, upon the incorporation of Stoughton 
as a city, he was elected Supervisor for the 
Second Ward. This position he held until 
his removal to the First Ward in the fall of 
1885. The next spring he was elected Super- 
visor of the First AVard, and has since been 
re-elected several times. Mr. Parish is a 
stanch Republican in politics. For several 
years he was associated with lion. J. M. 
Clancey, Assistant Attorney-General, in the 
real-estate business, and during tlie boom of 
1884 '85 they sold a large amount of property. 
At present, besides publishing the Courier, 
he conducts a real-estate and insurance busi- 
ness. 

Mr. Parish was married November 12, 
1872, to Maud A., youngest daughter of Dr. 
M. Lewis and Juditii (Marshall) Belden, of 
Stoughton. 

IlIAKLES BEKNAilD, our subject is a 
well-known Gertnan-American citizen, 
of Madison, Dane county, Wisconsin, 
and one of the oldest of the pleasure-boat 



men and Ushers on lake Mendota; having the 
boat, Anna, and the new boat, the Columbia, 
carrying about one hundred persons. His 
fishing station is thoroughly equipped with 
all things essential to enjoyable indulgence 
in piscatorial pastime; while it is worth a 
long journey to encounter so jolly, fun-loving 
and clever story-telling a man as Charley 
Bernard. Those who know the man are not 
surprised that he should have so many patrons 
and so many warm friends. He established 
his station as far back as 1855, havingr come 
to Madison two years before and worked at 
his trade as a tailor; but love of the water 
and boats tempted him away from the 
"goose." 

Mr. Bernard may be termed, in fact a man 
of all trades, but he gives the lie to the old 
proverb about the jack of all trades, because 
he is good in all that he essays to do. Back 
in New York city he was a member of the 
marine band in the United States naval 
service; but a threatened order to the waters 
of China caused him to give up horn tooting 
and become a helper to a ship carpenter in 
the Brooklyn navy yard, where with his usual 
quickness he learned to be a boat builder. 
Later he enlisted in the Second United States 
Volunteer Artillery, Governor Bankhead, 
commanding; going first to Fort Hamilton, 
and thence south to General Taylor's army, 
and afterward to that of General Scott in 
Me.xico, where he took part in the battles of 
Palo Alto, Resaca, De La Palma and Mon- 
terey. Then with General Scott he partici- 
pated in the battles (bombardment) of Vera 
Cruz, being there offered a lieutenancy which 
he declined; and there saw close and hard 
fighting, being himself slightly wounded in 
the right leg by a bomb shell. Under the 
general last named he also fought in the bat- 
tles of Cerro Gordo, St. Angelo. San Anto- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



457 



Ilia, Goiitreras, Clienibiisco. King's Mills and 
Cliepultepec. In the last named battle he 
fonght with one arm in a sling, using a car- 
bine, he having been wounded by a shot 
through the shoulder in the battle of Chern- 
bnsco. In order to be present at the fight 
he had to give the hospital folks the slip. 
Our subject was also in the battle at the 
gates of the city of Mexico, and marcheil with 
the army into that city, he at that time being 
in command of a division of the battery. 
After peace was declared Mr. Bernard re- 
turned with liis regiment to Xew York city, 
where he was honorably discharged, at Gov- 
ernor's Island, September 2, 1848. He was 
a brave and faithful soldier and had he con- 
sented would have been promoted step by 
step to a considerable rank. A year was 
spent in New York city and then Mr. Ber- 
nard went to Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, 
remaining three years, working at the trade of 
a tailor, an imlustry he had learned in New 
York and then he came to Madison, with the 
purpose of going into the nursery business, 
but the partner who had preceded him with 
the object of Imying the lan(J had skipped the 
country, and so he fell back upon his trade of 
tailor, leaving that, as stated before, to go 
into his present business. 

Our subject was born in the grand duchy 
of Baden, near Friedberg, Germany, May 23, 
182-i, and came to the United States when 
only eight years old, with an ac(|uaintance, a 
man, being the first of his family to reach 
this country. He grew up in New York 
city, where he received schooling additional 
to what he had enjoyed in the old country. 
He has never been back to Germany and is 
thoroughly attached to America. His parents 
were Joseph and Margaret (Roth) Bernard, 
both of whoui lived and died in their native 
province, passing away at an advanced age in 



1850. They were descendants of a French 
famil}' that was exiled in the middle of the 
sixteenth century, and settled with a numl)er 
of other exiles at Leon, Germany. Three 
brothers of our subject emigrated to America, 
viz.: Benedict, deceased; Joseph, Street Su- 
perintendeTit of Indianapolis, a position he 
has held for many years; and Constantine, the 
younger brother, a retail clothing merchant, 
of Brooklyn, New York. 

Mr. Bernard was married in New York to 
Miss Margaret Gardess, a native of Havre de 
Grace, France, and came to this counti-y when 
fifteen years old, unaccompanieil. She died 
at her home in Madison, April 28, 1887, 
aged sixty-five. Seven children were born 
to her, namely: Gatharlne, died at the age 
of seventeen; Gharles, a painter, and chief 
engineer of the fire department of Madison, 
married Miss Mary McConnell: Maggie, 
wife of H. J. Van Culen; Henry, a painter, 
living at Madison, married Miss Nellie De- 
laney; William P., living at home and as- 
sisting his father; Anna, wife of Fred Pfaff, 
a candy manufacturer of Gincinnati; George, 
at home attending school. 

Mr. Bernard is a member of the Gatholic 
church, in which faith his wife died. He is 
a member of the Ancient United (J)rder of 
Druids, and has held every oflice in that 
order; and was a delegate to the last National 
Gonvention, held at Paterson, New Jersey, in 
1892. In politics he is a Democrat, iiut l»y 
no means a bitter partisan, believing it is 
possible for a man to differ with him without 
being a very bad man. 



fOHN HOWIE, a farmer of Dane county, 
Wisconsin, was born in Ayrshire, Scot- 
-i\;, land, in 1832, a son of Andrew Howie, 
a native of the same county. His parents. 



458 



BIOGRAPniCAL REVIEW OP 



John and Elizabeth (Hepburn) Howie, were 
also natives of Ayrshire, where they died 
in middle life. They had four sons: Andrew, 
father of our subject; John, who died in 
Scotland in 1855, in the prime of life; Will- 
iam, still resides in Scotland; and Robert, who 
came to America some years after his eldest 
brother, and resides on the Hudson river, 
New Yurk, where he is a retired contractor 
and builder. Andrew Howie was married in 
Scotland, to Mary, a daughter of Feter and 
Mary (Galbraith) Shaw. In the sprincr of 
1840 they came on the Scotch sail vessel, 
Romules, to America, landing in New York 
after a voyage of six weeks and three days. 
They tirst stopped for a few months in Pas- 
saic Falls, New Jersey, resided in Albany. 
New Y'ork, si.x years, and in the spring of 
1846 moved to Hope township, Hamilton 
county, that State, where the father and sons 
engaged in farming and lumbering. In 1855 
the father and sons came to Wisconsin on a 
prospecting tour, the family followiiii,' two 
years later, and they engaged in teaming in 
Madison. The family then lived on a rented 
farm near the Madison University, and in 
1859 purchased 166 acres of the farm now 
owned by our subject, for which they paid 
§2,000. This place was all prairie land, e.xcept 
fifteen acres of timber. The mother died in 
December, 1860, in her tifty-sixth year, leav- 
ing ten children. The father departed this 
lite four and a half years later, at the age of 
fifty-eight years, and both were buried on 
their farm. 

Neil Howie, the second son of Andrew 
Howie, and a brother of our subject, com- 
pleted a full course in the University Com- 
mercial School in the winter of 1867. During 
bis short earthly career he won a reputation 
for unswerving honor and integrity, and also 
for the most intrepid and undaunted courage. 



The following spring after his graduation he 
started alone from Madison, Wisconsin, for 
Pike's Peak, the new El Dorado, as it was 
then called, to search for gold. Taking the 
cars to Leavenworth, Kansas, he there joined 
an emigrant train, going across the plains 
with t.>\ teams. After a few days with this 
company, during which time they lost two 
men, May 22, in a terrible blizzard, he and 
one companion started out alone and on foot. 
They carried their ritles and a blanket, and 
arrived in Denver. Colorado, nearly three 
weeks before their train. Mr. Howie im- 
mediately traded his rifle for a miner's out- 
fit, and began prospecting with such success 
that he sold one of his claims for 84,500. 
The following fall he returned home to see 
his mother, but arriving only a few days be- 
fore death came to relieve her of suffering. 
In the spring of 1S61 he again started for 
Pike's Peak, with a horse team and camping 
outfit, and in company with several others. 
After remaining there two years with varying 
success, he emigrated to Montana Territory 
in the summer of 1863, and engaged in min- 
ing near Virginia city. While in Montana, 
in the rough and perilous time of tht road 
agents and highwaymen, he was known as 
the bravest of the brave, and distinguished 
himself several times in bringing many of 
the most dangerous to justice. He was one 
of the vigilantes, who redeemed that section 
from the reign of terror and most atrocious 
murders in the annals of modern history. 
One instance of \\\a bravery and valuable 
service deserves a special mention. In Jan- 
uary, 1864, when the vigilantes were organ- 
ized for the redemption of Montana, and 
while eni'a';ed in teaming, he met a notorious 
highwayman, nicknamed Dutch Wagner. 
The latter, in company with a bad Indian. 
was about to flee from justice. Mr. Howie 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



459 



urged two companies of freighters to help 
him secure this murderer, but they refused, 
and he resolved to take him siiiirle-handeil 
and alone. lie haileil hi in as he was riding 
away with his companion, saying: " Hello, 
Captain, I want to speak to you.'' The fel- 
low halted, and Howie's quick hand grasped 
his revolver, advanced toward the Dutciunan, 
he took hold of the barrel of his gun, and 
told hini to dismount and come with him. 
The man obeyed, and was taken to the liead- 
quarters of the vigilantes, and afterward 
hnng. Soon after this Mr. Howie was ap- 
pointed Deputy Sheriff; in May, 1867, was 
made Sheriff by Governor Edgerton; March 
22, 1867, was chosen Colonel of the Montana 
troops in the Indian war; appointed United 
States Marshall of Montana, by President 
Johnson; and later went to South America, 
where he died July 12, 1878, in the prime of 
life. This is another proof of the law of 
heredity. A brother of his grandmother, 
Adam Hepburn, distinguished himself as a 
member of the celebrated Scotch Greys, in 
the battle of Waterloo, and also in a personal 
combat killed two of Napoleon's cavalry. 
Mr. Hepburn was an active participant in 
the battle of Waterloo, where this combat 
took place. John Howie, the subject of this 
sketch, is engaged in farming on his line 
place of 200 acres, on section 33, Vienna 
township, Dane county. This lani was pur- 
chased by the father and three sons of Will- 
iam R. Taylor, and after the father's death 
our subject purchased the interests of his two 
brothers. He has given his attention prin- 
cipally to horticulture, and the place is now 
known as Pine Lawn, from the large number 
of beautiful trees of the pine family embow- 
ering it. Among these are the Norway, 
White, Scotch, Austrian, Gi'eyand Mo\intain 
pine, also several varieties of the spruce 



balsam and cedar. Many of these were 
planted twenty-eight years ago, and have at- 
tained a spread of forty-four feet, and fifty 
feet heigh th. 

Mr. Howie was married October 24, 1861, 
to Mary A. Lamont, a sister of Thayer G. 
Lamont. To this union was born four chil- 
dren: dean, eighteen years of age, is pursu- 
ing her studies at home, and also teaching 
music; Neil, aged seventeen years, works on 
the home farm; John, aged fourteen years, 
is attending school; and William Thayer, 
born August 17, 1889, has been reared by 
Mr. Howie's sister, Mrs. W. W. Potter, of 
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Mr. Howie met 
a heavy and sad loss in the death of his wife, 
August 17, 1889, in her forty-tifth year. 
Our subject was formerly a Republic;in, but 
now espouses the movement to abolish the 
American saloon. Ho has frequently been 
elected to otKces of trust by his fellow towns- 
men, and in 1889 vvas elected and served as 
Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. He 
is a member in good standing of Madison 
Lodge, No. 5, A. F. & A. M. 

(T ^ . (?) 



fOHN W. GREENMAN, a farmer of 
Dane county, was born in Fulton county. 
New York, May 7, 1833, a son of James 
(ireenman, who was l)orn in Rhode Island in 
1807. He was married in that State in 1828 
to Mary White, who was born at Sackett's 
Harbor, New York, November 21, 1839. 
Three years after marriage they moved to 
Fulton county. New York, wliere the father 
followed the carpenters' trade about forty 
years. zVbout 1882 tliey removed to South 
Dakota, where the fatlier died in 1885, aged 
seventy-eight years, and the mother about 
two years later, at the age of seventy-live 



460 



BIOGRAPHICAL HE VIEW OF 



years. Tliey reared a family of six children, 
viz.: William, who died in Buffalo, New 
York, at tlie age of nineteen years; Sarali, 
wife of Joseph Carr, of Gloversville, Fulton 
county. New York; John, our subject; 
Georj^e, a farmer of Washincrton; Alexander, 
a merchant of Kedfield, Dakota; and Charles 
F., a fanner of Iowa. 

John W. Greentnan, the subject of this 
sketch, learned the trade of half-bushel 
maker and carpenter in Adams, Jeffer- 
son county, New York. In the fall of 
1854 he removed to Aurora, Illinois, 
but later began fanning on rented land in 
Arlington township, Dane county, Wiscon- 
sin. In 1860 he purchased ei<);hty acres of 
his present farm, paying §20 per acre, 
erected a comfortable frame cottage, and in 
1887 added twenty acres to his original pur- 
chase, making a tine farm of 100 acres. lie 
also owns 100 acres in Dakota. Mr. Green- 
man makes a specialty in the raising of 
tobacco, having grown about 11,000 pounds 
in 1891 on seven acres of land. He keeps 
from five to seven horses of the Clydesdale 
and Norman breeds. 

Our subject was married in Jefferson 
county. New York, in January, 1850, to 
Melissa, a daughter of Abijah and Olive 
(Uemstreet) Tarble. Mr. Tarble was born 
at Loraine, Jefferson county, New York, 
March 10, 1812, and Mrs. Tarble at Rome, 
Oneida county. May 16, 1817. They came 
to Wisconsin and purchased a home near our 
subject in 1862, where the father died Jan- 
uary 15, 1885, aged seventy-two years and 
ten months, and the mother January 25, 
1892, in her seventy-fourth year. They 
were the parents of six children, namely: 
Joy J., who died in Aurora, Illinois, in Oc- 
tober, 18t)5, at the age of twenty-nine years; 
Elisha and Ed svard, farmers ot Washington; 



Mrs. Mary Hopper, of Seabrook, Kansas; 
Olive, now Mrs. James Knapp, of Ashland, 
Wisconsin; and Melissa, wife of our subject. 
Mr. and Mrs. Greenman have had four chil- 
dren: Edward J., born October 22, 1861, is 
at home, married Viola Hyde, a native of 
Dane county, and a daughter of George 
Hyde; Alice, born December 18, 1864, is 
the wife of Thorbin Omstad, of Washing- 
ton, and they have four daughters; Amy 
Grace, born August 19, 1868, is the wife of 
William Mcintosh, a farmer near Lodi, one 
son and one daughter; and Jessie D., born 
September 21, 1871, is now the widow of 
Andrew Quaman, and has one son, Robert. 
Mr. Greenman is a iiepublican in his politi- 
cal views, and religiously his wife is a mem- 
ber of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. 
One daufjliter, Jessie, is also a member of 
the same church. 

fAMES H. TOWNSEND, of Stoughton 
Dane county, was born in Pelham town- 
ship, Westchester county, New York, 
September 16, 1841, a son of James L. and 
Sarah (Dederer) Townsend, natives of the 
same county. Theyemigrated to Cambridge, 
Dane county, Wisconsin, in 1850. 

James U., the youngest living son, at- 
tended school until seventeen years of age. 
One year later, in 1860, he went overland to 
California, returning in 1863. 

September 9. 1868, Mr. Townsend was 
united in marriage to Miss Jenny Dow, a 
native of JeffersoQ county, and daughter of 
George and Janet Dow, of Cambridge, Wis- 
consin. They have had four children: Joan, 
Sarah Elizabeth (deceased in infancy), Isa 
Gavina and Georgia Dow. 

Mr. Townsend has always remained a resi- 
dent of Dane county. 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



4(il 



fREDERK; S. McCHESNEY was l.orn 
May 6, 1864, on his fatlier's farm, sec- 
tion 19, in the township of Vienna. His 
father, Rudolph McCliesnev, was liorn in 
1824, in Oswego county. New York, wliere 
he was reareil a farmer hoy in the backwoods 
on Salmon river. His father died wheti he 
was six or seven years of ao-e. His schooling 
was very limited and the most of his large 
business transactions have been done by mem- 
ory, he keeping but a small inemorandum. 
He came to Wisconsin, when he was twenty- 
three or four years of age, with Mr. Ezra 
Gheesbro, for whom he worked for some time, 
after which he went teaming' between Min- 
eral Point and Milwaukee. He has been an 
industrious and successful farmer and much 
respected l)y all. He died October 1, 18111. 

Wheti Mr. McChesney came here he was a 
single man, but when he was thirty-two years 
of age lie married Miss Hannah Sharp. She 
was born in the village of Easington, Dur- 
ham county, England, in 1834, the daughter 
of Job Sharp, who, with her two l)rothers, 
Robert and Joseph, came to this county. 
Joseph served as a volunteer in the Seventh 
Wisconsin Infantry and was wounded in the 
rioht arm in the battle of the Wilderness. 
He was veteranized and served thi-ouy:!! the 
war, having entered as a [irivate but was pro- 
moted to Commissary Sergeant. Our sub- 
ject's grandfather also served through the w\ar 
of 1812. There were seven in tlie family of 
our subject's father: the eldest, Rudolph I)., 
died at the age of five years; John C, a far- 
mer of Brown county. South Dakota, who 
had the first shinfde roof on his house for 
miles in that section, as his father had the 
fii'st shingle roof in this section. He is a great 
reader, being particularly noted in his school 
days for correct spelling and having made 
more than one teacher confess himself van- 
si 



(juislied; William 1!., dieil September 19, 
1881, at the age of nineteen years having 
been an invalid the greater part of his life. 

Our subject has not had as thorough a 
training at school as he would have desired, 
but he graduated at the Northwestern Busi- 
ness College at Madison, March 19, 1886, 
and is of a very ol)serving mind and possesses 
a good memory, both of which gifts are of 
more value than an unpractical education. 

After leaving school he traveled consider- 
able. He is a good wagonmaker but has 
never served an apprenticeship. His first 
effort to build a wagon was a success. His 
father was a natural mechanic. Our subject 
has also worked at the carpenters' trade, mak- 
ing of it a success. He bought tiie tools and 
business of the wagonmaker at Waunakee 
and took possession Noviunber 24, 1891, and 
although five or six men had started there at 
the wagon-making business they had made a 
failure of it, although they had served an ap- 
prenticeship at it. 

He moved to his farm, section 20, Vienna, 
SeptemlierO, 1892. He married Miss Amelia 
S. Breseman, a daughter of John Breseman, 
March 16, 1892. IVfr. ilcChesney is an Odd 
Fellow, is untramelled in religion and in 
])olitics, but believes in the golden rule as the 
law of life. 

Joseph B., is at home working the farm; 
Elizabeth A., died very suddenly of heart 
disease Januai-y 21, 1888, when nineteen 
years of age; Rose B., is a young lady resid- 
ing with her mother in the city of Madison. 

I^IMEON DE BOWER, a resident of 
1^1 Vienna townshi]), section 17, Wiscon- 
^^ sin, was born in Germany, in 1832. 
His father, Ede De Bower, was a laborer ip 



462 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



that country and died there at about the age 
of sixty-live. The mother of our subject 
was named (iesina (i'^olken) De Bower, and 
they reared four daugliters and five sons, all 
growing to maturity, except one son who 
died in childhood, three sons and two daugh- 
ters are still living. The mother died at the 
age of seventy-live years. 

Harry, Gert, our subject and Edward, were 
the sons of the family who came to America; 
and Deboi'ah, wife of Gert Harms, a lartre 
farmer in Butler county. Towa, and Tina, 
wife of John Pagel, who died in Kansas, in 
March, 1891, in middle life, leaving a family, 
were the daughters that came to America. 
Simeon and (rert were the first to come to 
America, makin<i; the trip in 1857 and set- 
tled here in this township, buying eighty 
acres togetlier. 

Our subject was married in June, 1870, to 
Mary Froh, dangliter of John and Sophie 
(Kopke) Froh. Mr. I)e Bower's first work 
was by the year for four years, at from $14 
to $16 per month, and then began farming 
his half of tiie eighty acres. This was 
wild prairie land, very stony, and cost some 
$9 an acre. He brought his wife to this 
farm, where a sister iiad kept liouse for him. 
From time to time he added to this forty, 
until in 1884 lie had eighty acres added to 
his other land, making his farm 258 acres 
in all. Eighteen acres of it is in timber. 

The family of Mr. Do Bower consists of 
three daughters and two sons, namely: 
Euiily, aged twenty, was educated in Madi- 
son and is now a teacher; Edward, aged nine- 
teen, earned a diploma at the Madison Busi- 
ness College; Louise, aged si.xteen, i^ a natu- 
ral student; Matilda, aged fourteen; and An- 
drew, aged twelve. ilr. Dc Bower does 
general farming,' keeps froiti six to ten 
horses, about thirty-live head of iiorned cat- 



tle, of which ten are cows. He fattens from 
forty to fifty hogs, while they raise a email 
flock of Shropshire sheep and grows from 
forty to fifty acres of corn, but raises more 
oats than any other crop, and some forty tons 
of hay. They are German Lutiierans. He 
built his house in 1SG8, and he paid for 
five thousand feet of lumber in it by working 
in the woods for three months in the winter. 
He spt^nt four winters in the lumber woods. 
In 1808 he built his granary and horse barn. 
In 18>>() he built his cow and hay barn, 76 x 
24 feet, with sixteen feet posts and contains 
thirty -one iiead of cattle and seven horses. 

Mr. De Bower was the first drafted man in 
this township and paid his $300 for a substi- 
tutes He was one of a club of eiglit who 
met this call in December, 1862. He has 
been a life long Republican and is an excel- 
lent citizen. 



LMON BELL, one of the prominent 
residents of Rutland, Wisconsin, was 
born in the town of Independence, 
Warren county, New Jersey, on February 15, 
1818. His father, Joseph Bell, was born in 
the same State, but Grandfather Isaac Bell 
was a native of Massachusetts, and was a 
soldier in the Revolutionary war, and died 
in Warren county. New Jersey, on the farm 
which his son Joseph worked, and which 
Grandfather Barker had given to Joseph's 
wife. Joseph also worked for otiiers, lived a 
quiet and peaceful life and died in his native 
State about 1879, aged eighty-five years. The 
maiden name of the mother of our subject 
was Elizabeth Parker, who was born in New 
Jersey, a daughter of Jonathan Parker. 
She spent her entire life in her native State 
and reared a family of seven children, as 



DANE COUNTY. WISCONSIN. 



4r, i 



follows: Lewis, onr subiect, Micajah, Delilah, 
Theodore, Abner, Catherine and Elias. 

(^ur subject was reared and educated in 
his native county. In his yo\ith there were 
no free schools, and as his father was in 
limited circumstances he grew up with very 
limited school advantages. lie was obliged 
to assist in the caring for the family, and 
gave his wages to his father until he was 
twetity years of age, when his father permit- 
ted him to take charge of his own affairs. 

After marriage our subject removed to 
Sussex county, where he rented land and re- 
mained there until 1848, when with his wife 
and four children he came west to Wisconsin. 
The long trip was made with teams to Mor- 
ristown, then by rail to New York, by steamei- 
to Albany, by canal to Buffalo, on by steamer 
again to Racine and then by team again to 
Cooksville, Rock county, where our subject 
rented a room for his family and started out 
to seek a location for a home in the wilder- 
ness. At that time Madison was a small vil- 
lage, and the surrounding country was but 
little improved. Soon he found a suitable 
locality and bought 120 acres of land on 
section 21, in Rusland township, paying 
$450 for the whiile tract. There were twenty 
acres of timber deadened; the land was broken 
and a log house constituted the improve- 
ments. The last of July found the family 
located on the new home. Fqr seven years 
after there was no railroad near enough to be 
of benefit to this section, and the most avail- 
able market was Milwaukee, and h^ made the 
trips there with i\n ox team. 

In 1852 our subject went to California. 
He started April 7, and niade an overland 
journey with oxen. At that time there were 
no white settlers Ijetween the Missouri river 
and California, except tlie Mormons at Salt 
Lake. In September our subject reached 



Whiskey Diggins in California, near the lo- 
cality' known as (xibsonville. He enga^ccl 
in mining in various parts until February, 
1855, when he returned liy way of the Isth- 
mus and New York, and arrived home poorer 
than when he went away. Since this experi- 
ence he has been engaged in farniins:, lindinff 
that the sure results of agriculture, although 
slower than the gain sometimes naade in 
other lines of business, are more reliable. 

Mr. Rell has improved his place and has 
erected go(jd buildings, making of it a com- 
fortable and pleasant home. He married 
March 20, 1841, Miss Mary Shampnor, who 
was born in Warren county. New Jersey, 
November 10, 1821. Her father, Thomas 
Shampnor is supposed to have been born in 
the State of New York, and became a boot 
and slioe manufacturer both in New York 
and New Jersey. He died in Tarrytown, 
New York, and was a soldier in the war of 
1812. The name of the mother of our sub- 
ject was Mercy Sutton, and she died in the 
town of Rutland, Wisconsin. She i-eared 
ten children, as follows: Mary, now Mrs. 
Bell; Samuel, Andrew Jackson, Thomas 
Steward, Elizabeth, Adeline, George, Eme- 
line and Silas. Mr. and Mrs. Bell iiave had 
an interesting family of eleven children, as 
follows: John S., Winfield S., Theodore F., 
Aaron, William, Adeline, Laura, Almon IL, 
Orsen II., Eva aiul Ilattie. Mr. and Mrs. 
Bell are members of the Free Will Baptist 
Church. He is a Prohibitionist in politics 
and he has filled various offices of trust, and 
for twenty years served as Justice of the 
Peace. He was three terms Tax Collector, a 
member of the Town Board, being Chairman 
of the same, and has also been superintendent 
of schools. 

Two of the sons of Mr. Bell served in tlio 
late war. John S. belonged to the Second 



464 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



Wisconsin Vulunteer Infantry, and was in 
the battle of iUill Run, where he was cap 
tureci and imprisoned in Libby prison for 
almost eleven months, havincr been severely 
wounded in the head. Winfield S. served 
in the Seventh Kegiment, "Wisconsin Volun- 
teer Infantry and was wounded in the arm in 
the battle of the Wilderness. Another son- 
Theodore, served it the Forty-second Wis, 
consin. 



/?fOIIX W. LEAKV, the subject of this 
brief sketch, was born at New Diggings, 
La Fayette county, AV^iscousin, May 25. 
1858. His parents, Dennis and Mary (Tobin) 
Leary, emigrated to this country from county 
Cork, Ireland, when young, and like so many 
of their race brought to this new and strange 
land the sole inheritance of honest hearts and 
willing hands. 

The first years of John's life were spent at 
New Diggings, thence on a farm in Moscow, 
Iowa county, and finally, in 18(37, on the old 
homestead still in the possession of the fam- 
ily, in Blue Mounds, Dane county. The 
lather, a miner and farmer by occupation, died 
in 1883, after a lingering illness,leaving John, 
the eldest son, heir to the care of a widowed 
mother and large family- 

John's early life was anything but enviable. 
His experiences were those of hardy man- 
hood, not tender years; his father being iin 
invalid, upon the boy at an early age devolved 
the many cares and hardships of supporting 
the household. The homestead was heavily 
mortgaged, and at one time the last cow was 
sold fur debt at Sheriff's sale. But with the 
niidaunted courage, begotten of years of trial 
and toil; with the true spirit of a pioneer 
and the indomitable will of a conqueror, 



John won advantage from adversity, over- 
coming obstacle after obstacle, till plenty 
displaced poverty, and the humble home was 
redeemed. Now, during the crisp, fall 
months he would feed a thresher, and again 
from farm house to farm house pile high, 
from his good circular saw, the winter's fuel, 
that the interest on the debt, the taxes on the 
home, might be paid, and the loved ones made 
secure. Then taking a short respite from 
vexing toil, he would spend each winter a 
month or two in the district school in the 
wood, where his thirsting soul drank deeply 
of the facts and truths of reader and his- 
tory. 

Though at majority he had never entered 
a higher institution of learning than his 
home district school, still he always hungered 
for more knowledge, and courageously hoped 
on for a higher education. 

All conies to him who learns to wait, and 
in 1881 a favorable circumstance enabled hiin 
to spend the winter of 1882-"83 in the high 
school at Ean Claire. The spring and summer 
months of '83 he worked the farm, and 
applying for entrance at the Platteville Nor- 
mal School at the opening of the fall term, 
was one of two out of fifty-eight applicants 
who reached the required test. The experi- 
ences of his boyhood had taught him to value 
time and opportunity; he now made most of 
both. Having finished a four years' course 
in twenty-two months, he graduated in June, 
1SS6. Then followed two years of teaching, 
one in the graded school at Blue Mounds, and 
the other as principal of the high school at 
Black Earth. In 1888 he entered the College 
of Law, Wisconsin State University, and 
graduated the- following June, 1889, a dis- 
tinguished member of his class. Entering 
at once on the practice of his profession in 
the city of Madison, his character and ability 



DANE COUNTY, WTSGOySTN. 



465 



soon won recognition, and in the fall of 1890 
he was elected District Attorney of Dane 
county over the alilest man on the Ilepnblican 
ticket. Henominated in 1S92, he was again 
elected, runninjj ahead of his ticket. 

On June 30, 1891, Mr. Leary was joined 
in wedlock with Miss Celia Severson, an 
amiable and accomplished young lady, the 
daughter of Iver and Martha Severson, of 
Black Earth, Wisconsin. A bright little 
daughter, Mary Celia, was born to this happy 
couple, April 22, 1892. 

Ill politics Mr. Leary is a Democrat; in 
religion a Catholic. As a public officer he 
is faithful, painstaking and efficient; as an 
orator he is convincing, so earnest is the 
presentation of his theme. He is an untiring 
student of the law, devoting all his spare 
moments to this, his favorite study and 
chosen profession. 

A kind son and brother, a model hus- 
band, a valuable citizen and creditable official, 
this boy born in poverty and reared in priva- 
tion, stands now on the threshold of a brill- 
iant career. 



'>'^i^i:^\t5<^ 



W. THOxMPSON, a farmer on section 
12, township of Burke, was lioni in 
'® the town of Bristol, Addison county, 
Vermont, April 20, 1823. His father, Solo- 
mon, was born in Connecticut, and there 
learned the trade of shipbuilding. Later, he 
went to Vermont with his wife and two chil- 
dren, making the removal with teams, lie 
resided in the town of Randolph for a time, 
then moved to Starksborough, thence to 
Bristol Flats, Addison county, bought an im- 
proved farm, and resided there until his 
death, in 1830. The maiden name of the 
mother of our subject was Clarissa Waldo, 



who was born in Connecticut and spent her 
last years on the hdiiie farm in Bristol. Our 
subject received his early education in the 
district school, advanced by attendance at the 
high school at Bristol. In bis younger days 
there were no railroads or canals, conse- 
quently no convenient markets, tiie people 
living chieHy off the productsof their lands. 
The father raised tlax, kept sheep, and the 
mother used to sjiin and weave, and dressed 
her children in homespun clothing made by 
her own hands. Our subject lived with his 
mother until the age of fourteen, and from 
that time on cared for himself. He obtained 
his start in life by working on the farm by 
the month and so continued until 1846, then 
with his bride came to Wisconsin, via the 
most convenient and expeditious route at that 
time. They started, April 20, from Ver- 
gennes, via lake Champlain to Troy, thence by 
Erie canal to Buffalo, thence by lakes to 
Milwaukee. There were thirteen who wished 
to come to Dane county, and together they 
employed a teamster to bring them here. 
The roads were in a very poor condition and 
the men walked a good portion of the way. 
They finally arrived at Sun Prairie, May 20, 
just one raontli from the time they started. 
At that time the country was very sparsely 
settled, and much of the land was owned by 
the Oovernment. Deer and other wild game 
were plentiful. Our subject soon purchased 
a tract of land, now included in his present 
farm. A log house and ten acres broken 
constituted the improvements. The family 
moved into the log house and occupied it ten 
years. He has placed all his land under cul- 
tivation, has erected a substantial brick house, 
frame barn, has planted fruit and shade trees, 
and otherwise improved the property. 

For some years after he came here, there 
were no railroads and Madison was simply a 



406 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



village. He did all his farm work and mar- 
keting with oxen, in fact u>ed to take his 
family to " meeting" and visiting in an ox 
team. 

He was married March 18, 1846, to 
Miss Sarah M. Colljns, who was born in 
Monkton, Addison county, Vermont, July 
18, 1822. Her father, Alson Collins, was 
born in the same town, and her grandfather, 
Daniel was born in Milford, Connecticut, 
while her great-grandfather, also Daniel Col- 
lins, as far as known, was a life-long resident 
of the Nutmeg State. The grandfather was 
one of the pioneers of the town of Monkton, 
where he located when a yonng man, pur- 
chasing a tract of timber land and improving 
a farm which he occupied many years. He 
spent his last days in tiie village of Monkton. 
The maiden name of his wife was Sarah 
Smith, a life-long resident of Monkton. The 
father of Mrs. Thompson was a farmer and 
life-long resident of Monkton. The maiden 
name of the mother of Mrs. Thompson was 
Jerusha Hardy, born in Monkton, a daughter 
of Silas Hardy, who was formerly a resident 
of New Ilampshii-e, who, accompanied by 
his wife, removed from that State to Ver- 
mont, making the journey on horseback. 
They were early settlers in the village of 
Monkton. He bought timber land, built a 
log house in the wilderness, and lived there 
nntil he died. The maiden name of his wife 
was Polly Flag, a native of New Hampshire, 
and she died in Monkton. The mother of 
Mrs. Thompson was a life-long resident of 
Monkton. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have 
five living children, namely: Nettie, Charles 
H., George E., Elmer E. and Harvey L. Mr. 
and Mrs. Tiiompson are members of the Con- 
gregational Church. He was formerly a 
Whig, but has been a Republican since the 
formation of the party. This is a fine old 



New England family and enjoys the respect 
and esteem of all who come in contact with 

them. 

fOHN J. SUHK, president of the Ger- 
man American Bank, Madison, Wiscon- 
sin. The bank was established in 1871, 
and has been very successful. The obliging 
cashier is F. W. Suhr. Our subject came 
to this city in January, 1857. He was born 
May 27, 1836, in the free city of Bremen, 
one of the oldest and most loyal cities of 
Germany. He is a member of the Madison 
Fi'ce Library Board and of the Board of Edu- 
cation, and is an ex- President of the Turner 
Society. 



l^jgAPOLEON B. VAX SLYKE, presi- 
dent of the First National Bank of 
Madison, Wisconsin, was born in Sara- 
togo county, New York, December 21, 1822. 
His father, Daniel Van Slyke was born in 
Onondaga county. New York, and the grand- 
father of our subject, Gerrett Van Slyke, 
was born in Herkimer county, New Y'ork, of 
early Holland ancestry. He was a farmer 
and spent his entire life in his native State. 
The father of our subject adopted the profes- 
sion of civil engineer and had charije of the 
construction of the Chesapeake and Ohio 
Canal, from Georgetown to Harper's Ferry. 
He was also engaged with De Witt Clinton, 
Jr., in the construction of the ship canal, con- 
necting Savannah and Ogeechee rivers in 
Georgia. He died in Onondaga county. New 
Y'ork, in 1831, aged thirty-one years. The 
maiden name of the mother of our subject 
was Laura Mears, a native of Montgomery 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



467 



county, New York, who died iu Onondaga 
county, New York, in 1842, aged thirty-eight. 
The maternal grandparents of our suhject, 
James and Ltmis Mears, were natives of Ver- 
mont, who came to Wisconsin and spent their 
last years liere, the grandfather jiving to the 
age of ninety, and thegrandinotlier to the age 
of eighty-tive years. 

The subject commenced adult life as a far- 
mer from 1844 to 1850, in Cayuga county, 
JSew York, and then engaged in business at 
Syracuse, New York, thence became to Mad- 
ison, Wisconsin, early in 1853, where he or- 
ganized the Dane Countj' Bank, subsequently 
changed to the First National. When the 
civil war broke out he was Assistant Quarter- 
master of the State until the Government 
took charge of supplying the army; and was 
then in the United States Quartermaster's De- 
partment until the war closed. He was com- 
missioned from Captain to Lieutenant-Colonel 
in this department, and had full charge of 
furnishing all quartermaster supplies for the 
Wisconsin sokliers throughout the State. 
Since that time he has been president of the 
First National Bank, No. 144, the successor 
of the Dane County Bank. lie was Ilegent 
of the Stale University for many years and 
chairman of its executive committee for 
twelve years. He is now the president of the 
Wisconsin Bankers' Association and an active 
member of the executive council of the Amer- 
ican Bankers' Association. He is also vice- 
president of the Savings, Loan and Trust 
Company and president of three or four other 
corporations. 

He was married in 1844, at Sennett, in 
Cayuga county, New York, to Laura Sheldon, 
a native of New York, and a daughter of 
Hon. E. W. Sheldon, by which marriage 
there are two children, Laura and S. W. 
Sheldon. He was airain married in 1859, 



to Annie Corbett, daughter of Cooper Cor- 
bett, of Corbettsville, New York, and by this 
marriage has but one son, James M. 

Ho has been one of the most successful 
l)usiness men of Madison and prominently 
identified with all the interests of the city, 
county and State. He was largely instru- 
mental in making the first substantial im- 
provements in the city, in erecting the City 
Hall and in selecting tiie site for and im- 
proving Forest Hill cemetery. For a time 
he engaged in the lumber business iti north- 
ern Wisconsin. Intelligent, capable and pro- 
gressive, honorable, generous and courteous, 
he holds a deservedly' high position in the es- 
teem of his fellow-men. 



FORGE E. FESS, deceased.-Our sub- 
ject, while living, was one of the well- 
known citizens of Madison, Wisconsin, 
having been for many years the genial host 
of one of the leading hotels of the Capital 
City. Mr. Fess was born in Gloucester- 
shire, England, March 18, 1816, reared there 
by English parents, and learned the trade of 
shoemaker. He was yet a young man when 
he left the home of his nativity and came to 
America. After landing here he made his 
way to Milwaukee and secured a position as 
steward on a Michigan lake steamer, in which 
position he remained for some time. While 
serving in that capacity he fell overboard 
and was nearly drowned, being finally rescued 
with a boat hook. He looked to be dead, but 
some charitable ladies insisted on having him 
taken to a drug store, and after strenuous 
efforts was restored to consciousness, but was 
sick for about six months. After his re- 
covery he canje to Madison in 1842, and en- 
gaged as cook in Webster'e restaurant, the 



468 



BIOGRAPETGAI. REVIEW OF 



latter being an acquaintance of his in Mil- 
wauivee. Later he engaged with the Ameri- 
can Ilonse, where he remained some time; 
tlien accepted the position of caterer for ex- 
Governor Farwell, of this city. Although 
Mr. Fees started here as a very poor man, so 
industrious was he and so faithful to all 
duties imposed, that in time he began to 
accuiiiuUite money of his own, and finally 
was able to build the Fess House. This hotel 
was only a small one at first, but so success- 
ful was he in pleasing his patrons that busi- 
ness increased until he became one of the l)est 
known innkeepers in the city, and accommo- 
dated a large percentage of the traveling pub- 
lic. All who knew him felt assured that they 
would receive nothing but the best of atten- 
tion at his hands. He was respected as a 
good and generous man, and had many 
friends in Madison and this part of the State. 
Independent himself in political views, he 
believed in allowing others the same privi- 
lege, lie cheerfully gave of his substance 
to support the Methodist Church, in which 
he held membership, and was equally willing 
to aid in any good work. 

Mr. Fess was the only member of his fam- 
ily who came to this country to remain, 
although he hiid a brother, Harry, who spent 
three years here, but is now living in Queens- 
town, Australia, where a brother, John, is 
also living, having become very wealthy. 
Another brother, Charles, died in England, 
although his family now reside in Australia. 
The parents of our subject lived and died in 
their native land, the father passing away in 
Gloucestershire, and the mother in the same 
shire. The former was an overseer in a 
factory. 

Our subject was married in Madison, to 
Miss Anna D. liossback, born in Wynou, 
Saxony, Germany, November 13, 1832, daugh- 



ter of Mathias and Dora F. (Wentzeh) Koss- 
back, natives of Germany. The mother died 
in her native land in 1840, when only thirty- 
two, leaving her husband with four little 
children, one of whom was only a few weeks 
olil. Seven years later, in 1847, the husband 
started with his children to America, sailing 
from Bremen harbor to Quebec, Canada, 
where he arrived after a voyage of eleven 
weeks. From Quebec they proceeded to 
Milwaukee by boat; thence over the un- 
broken country to Blue Mounds, Dane county, 
where Mr. Rossback, assisted by his aged 
mother, who came with them, settled his 
little ones on a Government claim, which he 
proceeded to cultivate into a comfortable 
home. Six years after landing his motlier 
died of the dreaded cholera, when sixty- six 
years of age. He continued to reside on his 
farm for some years, but later retired to the 
Fess House, and remained until his death 
there, six years later, at the age of eighty-two 
years. He was a noble, good man, a public- 
spirited citizen and a true Christian. Mrs. 
Fess was the only daughter of the family, 
but has three brothers, namely: Jeremiah, 
John Casper and John Conrad, all of whom 
are farmers in the northern part of Wiscon- 
sin, and all are blessed with families. iS'o 
woman was ever a truer helpmate to her hus- 
band, in the best sense of the w'ord, than was 
Mrs. Fess. She directed all the culinary 
operations, and it was largely due to her aid 
in this department that the Fess House 
gained so wide-known a reputation for its 
homelike cookery and service. When the 
death of Mr. Fess occurred, December 5, 
1875, at the Fess House, Mrs. Fess took the 
reins of the establishment into her own hands, 
and for sixteen years continued to carry on 
the business, maintaining the excellence of 
service for which it was famed. Quite re- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



469 



ceiitly she turned the business over to lier 
son, George Fess, Jr., who is now the present 
successful manager of this well-known hos- 
telry, which was more than doubled by his 
mother during her reign of sixteen years. 
George £. is the eldest child of his parents, 
and married Miss Delia McMahoou. John 
W., the second child, still resides at home, 
while Charles, Edward and Anna D. are also 
at home, the latter being an artist of no 
mean ability. 

Mrs. Fess was married again, her second 
husband being Mr. Perry Doolittle, a native 
of Boone county, New York, who came west 
to Wisconsin, locating at Dayton, Green 
county, where he remained some years, em- 
ployed as a carriage finisher and cabinet- 
maker, lie died in Madison, February 21, 
1887, aged sixty-one years. 



I^ON. WILLIAM IIENKY ROGERS, 
an honored resident of Madison, Wis- 
consin, who is widely and favorably 
known as an able lawyer and upright, 
whole-souled man, was born in Mount Morris, 
New York, March 15, 1850. Ilis parents 
were John and Julia (Buckley) Rogers, both 
natives of Ireland, the former born near Ar- 
mour and the latter in county Cork. Of 
their four sons and three daughters, the sub- 
ject of this sketch was the second in order of 
birth and the oldest son. 

When Mr. Rogers, of this notice, was but 
two years of age, his parents emigrated from 
the Empire State to the western wilds of Wis- 
consin, which was then on the frontier of 
civilization. Here they settled on some wild, 
unimproved land in Dodge county, to the 
cultivation of which the older members lent 
their strenuous efforts. When the subject of 



this sketch was twelve years of age, the tirst 
break iu the family was made by the father's 
enlistment in the war, and during his father's 
absence he attended to the work on the farm. 
After the close of the struggle and the return 
of the head of the household, the subject of 
this sketch attended the country schools. In 
18(38 he entered the Marshall Academy, in 
Dane county, at which he graduated in 1871. 
He then entered the preparatory department 
of the State University at Madison, where 
he pursued a scientific course and gi'adiiated 
in the class of 1875. In the fail of the same 
year he became a student in the law depart- 
ment of the same institution, where he com- 
pleted his course in June, 1876. He was 
afterward nominated by the Democratic party 
as District Attorney of Dane county, to 
which office he was elected by a majority of 
700 votes, showing at t)nce his popularity in 
the vicinity. After serving his term of 
ofBce, Mr. Rogers began the practice of law 
in partnership witli R. B. Smith. He was 
not, however, to be long relegated to private 
life, for in 1883 he was elected Alderman of 
the Second Ward, and by that body elected 
President of the CJommon Council and mem- 
ber of the Board of Education, which posi- 
tions he held two years. In 1885 he was 
appointed Assistant United States Attorney 
of Wesher district, in Wisconsin, in which 
capacity he servetl with ability and honor 
four years. Having thus a.scended in public 
oflice, he was, in the spring of 1891, elected 
Mayor of Madison, defeating his Republican 
opponent by a phenomenally large majority; 
and in 1892 he received the unanimous nom- 
ination of both parties for the same office. 

Upon assuming the duties of his office in 
spring of 1889, he found the streets of 
Madison unimproved and many of them in 
an almost impassable condition. He at once 



470 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



made street improvements a specialty of his 
administration, and with skill, energy and 
marked executive ability he had in a 
short time worked up a strong sentiment in 
favor of macadamizing the streets, and during 
the first season three miles of streets were 
thus paved and there existed a constantly 
growing sentiment in favor of continuing the 
work. Accordingly, the work tvas continued 
the second season with like enenrv and dis- 
patch, and so on until now every principal 
street of the city, many of them extending to 
the outer limits of the corporation, are well 
macadamized; and no person can he found 
who is opposed to the enterprise. 

It is also due to the foresight and energy 
of Mr. Rogers that electric-car lines have 
been established and are in full operation, 
and many other improvements made; so that 
Madison is now in the lead, in respect to 
municipal improvements, among the progres- 
sive cities of the Northwest. The parallel, 
indeed, to the work of " Boss" Shepherd in 
Washington during the days of Grant, is so 
nearly perfect that Mr. Rogers has actually 
been dubbed the " Boss Shepherd " of Madi- 
son. 

In 1883 Mr. Rogers formed a law partner- 
ship with Mr. Hall, under the firm name of 
Rogers & Hall. Another member was added 
to the firm, in the person of Congressman 
Bushnoll, in May, 1891. Besides his pro- 
fessional duties and j)ublic offices, Mr. Rogers 
has continued to retain his interest, assumed 
when a young man, with Levi Gesswold, of 
Dodge county, in the threshing machine 
business. In the fall of 1892, Mr. Rogers 
accepted a fiattering offer made him by the 
Equitable Life Insurance Company of New 
York, to become their general agent. His 
territory in the insurance field will include 
Illinois and Wisconsin. The Equitable com- 




pany is the greatest insurance organization in 
the world and has been in existence since 
1859. 

^ILLIAM B. BENSON, one of the 
( prominent self-made men of Rutland, 
was born in Schaghticoke, Renssel- 
aer. New York, November 28, 1808. His 
father, John Benson, was born in one of the 
New England States, and his father, Joel, 
served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war 
and spent his last days in Ripley, Chautau- 
qua county, New York. The father of our 
subject removed from his native county to 
Chautauqua county, after learning the trade 
of wheelwright. He made the removal in 
1810, and was one of the early settlers of 
Ripley. Here he bought a tract of land 
from the Holland Purchase Company, on 
which he built a log house in the wilderness. 
A part of the time he followed his trade and 
the remainder of the time improved his farm. 
In 18-10 he went to La Porte, Indiana, and 
died there the same year. The maiden name 
of his wife was Mary Birch, a native of one 
of the New England States. Her father, 
Thomas Birch, was a farmer by occupation, 
who removed from New York to Indiana and 
became one of the pioneers of Deer Prairie, 
La Porte county. He secured Government 
land, improved it, and resided there until his 
death. The mother of our subject died on 
the hotno farm in Ripley. 

Our subject attended the pioneer school of 
Ripley, taught in a log house, and remained 
with his parents until he reached years of 
maturity. He was reared to farm life and 
has always followed agricultural pursuits. 
Mr. Benson resided in Chautauqua county 
until 1S4G, when he came to the Territory 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN . 



471 



of Wisconsin, and was accompanied by bis 
wife and tbree cbiklren. Tbey made tbe 
journey overland and were nineteen days on 
tbe way. Tbey tirst located in Milwaukee 
county. At tbat time tbe country was but 
sparsely settled and mucb of tbe land was 
owned by tbe Government. Altbougb tbe 
land sold for $1.25 an acre be was too poor 
to buy it, and so was obliged to rent. In 
184:8 be moved to Green county and boiigbt 
eigbty acres of Government land, in tbe town 
of Brooklyn, altbongb tbe land was all un- 
settled at tbat time. Tbere were no railroads 
for years, and wbeii be was in Walnut be 
was obliged to baul bis grain to Racine, 
thirty miles away. Mr. Benson tirst built a 
log cabin on bis land in Brooklyn and re- 
sided on tbe farm until 1885, and durino; tbe 
time built a set of frame buildings and im- 
proved tbe land. In 1885 be removed to tbe 
town of Brooklyn, and now lives retired. 

Mr. Benson married in 1836, November 
27, Miss Smyrna Pratt, born in Lee, Oneitla 
county. New York, June 1, 1819. Her 
fatlier, Spencer Pratt, was born in Maine, 
and was tbe son of Marquis and Polly (Obap- 
man) Pratt. Her fatber was reared and mar- 
ried in bis native State and removed from 
tbere to Oneida county and became one of 
tbe pioneers of tbat county. He first bougbt 
timber land and built the log bouse in wbicb 
Mrs. Benson was born. He was a mason by 
trade, and found it more profitable to follow 
his trade and hire men to work the farm. 
He j-emoved from Lee to Vienna, same 
county, from tbere to Erie county and tlience 
to Ri])ley, where be spent bis last days. Tbe 
maiden name of bis wife was Polly Tyler, 
born in Maine, daughter of Daniel and Polly 
(Chapman) Tyler, tbe former of whom was a 
soldier in the llevolutionary war. 

Mr. and Mrs. Benson bave seven livinir 



children, namely: Ezzan, Martha J., Mary, 
Polly, Jobanna, William S. and Charles. 
Mr. Benson has been a member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church for forty-seven years, 
and is a stanch Republican in politics. Mr. 
and Mrs. Benson have passed tifty-sLx years 
of happy wedded life and now are enjoying 
tbeir declining lives surrounded by the com- 
forts their industry bas procured for them. 



fORNELIUS D. JOHNSON, a promi- 
nent resident of Oretron Township, Wis- 
cousin, is the subject of this sketch. 
He was born in tbe town of Chemung in 
Cbemung county. New York, July 21, 1839. 
His fatber, Solomon Johnson, was born in 
W^alton, Delaware county, and bis gi'and- 
fatber, also Solomon, was a native of New 
\ ork, where he engaged in farming and in 
tbe lumber business. He removed to Penn- 
sylvania, where be carried on tbe lumber 
business and resided a few years, but finally 
returned to AValton, where be passed his last 
days. The fatber of our subject was reared 
in Delaware county, and as bis father had 
done, be engaged iii farming and tbe lumber 
business, for a time runninfir a saw eneine in 
a sawmill in Cbemung county. 

In 184G be came to tbe Territory of Wis- 
consin, accompaTiied by bis wife and twocbil- 
dreu, and tbere bought a tractof land on section 
31 of what is now Dunn Townsbi|), building 
here a log house, which was tbe first home of 
tbe family in Wisconsin. Those were trying 
times. All tbe grain bad to be hauled 
by ox team to Milwaukee as there were no 
railroads. It required great faith to l)elieve 
that the time would ever come wben life could 
be made easy in those wilds, Imt those who 
labored bard lived too see much comfort be- 



472 



BIOGRAPHICAL RE VIEW OF 



fore they passed away. Here Mr. Johnson 
improved the farm, erected buildings and re- 
sided there until 1875, when he removed to 
the village of Oregon and lived there until 
his death, in August, 1877. On December 
29, 183G, he was married to Miss Polly 
Baker, who was born in the town of Cum- 
inington, Massachusetts, March 29, 1816. 
Iler father, David, as far as known, was a 
native of the same place. Until 1818 he 
lived there, but then with teams removed to 
Sidney in Delaware county, where he bought 
a tract of timber land, cleared a farm and re- 
sided there until Ids deatli. The maiden 
name of his wife, the grandmother of our 
subject, was Rebecca Hill, and as far as known 
she was born in Massachusetts, but died on 
the farm in Delaware county. The parents 
of our subject had a family of seven children: 
Cornelius; Leroy, deceased; Demaris; Amelia 
K. deceased; Horace; Frank, deceased; Shel- 
don, deceased. 

Our subject was seven years of age when 
he came to AYisconsin with his parents, and 
remembers the incidents of pioneer life here. 
At this time Madison was but a small place, 
and the surrounding country was but sparsely 
settled, a portion of the village of Oregon 
beino- included in his uncle's farm. He at- 
tended the pioneer schools, the first one being 
kept in a log house. The seats were made 
of slabs with wooden pins for legs, and they 
had no desks. He commenced when young 
to assist on the farm, and resided with his 
parents until he was twenty-one years of age, 
but soon after went to learn the trade of car- 
penter. 

After marriage he operated his father's 
farm three years and then resumed the trade 
of carpenter and has since continued this. 
December IS, 1867, he married Lucy M. 
Jones, who was born in Fenner, Madison 



county. New York, and iier father, Samuel 
Jones, was born in the same town, and his 
father, Baker Jones, was born July 1, 1768; 
was married March 4, 1790, to Zeporah Baker, 
who was born April, 1768. They both spent 
their last days on the farm at Fenner. The 
father of Mrs. Johnson was reared and mar- 
ried in liis native State. He inherited the 
old farm and resided there until 1858, when 
he removed to Genesee county. New York, 
and lived there five years, when he came to 
Dane county, where he lived until about 1874, 
and then moved to Clay county and bought a 
farm near Spencer, where he still resides. The 
maiden name of the mother of Mrs. Johnson 
was Lucinda Cook, and she was born in Fen- 
ner, Madison county. New York, a daughter 
of David and Lucinda Cook, who died in 
1849. She reared six children: David, Free- 
man, Arnold, Daniel, Laura and Mrs. John- 
son or Lucy. 

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have one daughter, 
Mabel L., who is a graduate of the Oregon 
High School. He is a Prohibitionst and is 
also a member of the Village Board. 



H^ON. ALLEN R. BUSHNELL, now rep- 
resenting the Third Congressional Dis- 
trict of Wisconsin, wliich includes the 
counties of Dane, Iowa, Orant, La Fayette 
and Green, was elected two years ago by the 
Democratic party of this district, and is the 
second member of his party so elected since 
1860, and was the first when the tight was 
squarely between two candidates of the two 
great parties. For four years he lield the 
office of United States District Attorney for 
the western district of Wisconsin when it was 
an appointive office under Cleveland. Also 
our distinguished subject was for one term a 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



473 



JRepresentative in tlie State Legislature from 
tlie Lancaster district of Grant county, Wis- 
consin, and was also District Attorney for 
two tenns of Grant county, and as this was 
in 1860 his talents were recognized while he 
was still quite a young man. 

Mr. IJushnell resigned the office of District 
Attorney and enlisted as a private in the 
army, in April, 1861, when the first call was 
made for troops, joining the Platteville 
Guards, which became Company C, Seventh 
Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers, Colonel 
Ilobinson and Captain Nesmith coinmandiiio;, 
but before the company had left the State 
Mr. Bushnell was elected First Lieutenant. 
He was assigned to the Army of the Poto- 
mac, and their regiment was one of those 
from the West used to make up what became 
known as the Ircm r)rigade, and was com- 
manded by (Generals Kiifus King and John 
Gibbon, and later by Generals Lysander, 
Cutler, Sol Meredith and Ed S. I>ragg, and 
in the reo^ular ortranization of the ai'mv it 
was made the First Lrigade, First Division of 
the I'^irsl Army corps. 

Mr. Bushnell was in many active engage- 
ments and after some brave fighting he was 
promoted to be Captain of Company C, and 
was so identified until he gave out physically. 
He became disabled at Belle Plain after the 
battle of Fredericksburg, and in March, 1863, 
Mr. Bushnell resigned on a surgeon's certiti- 
cate of disability ami came to Ohio, wliere 
he was treated by his father for some time, 
who was a prominent physician of Hartford. 
Finally, when recovered, he returned to 
Platteville, Grant county, Wisconsin, from 
which place he had eidisted, and resumed his 
practice of law. 

Li 1864 Ml'. liusluH'U moved t(i Lancaster, 
Grant county, and there received an appoint- 
ment as District Attorney, to till the place 



of Judge Mills, who had been elected Cir- 
cuit Judge. lie resided in Lancaster until 
the spring of 18!J1 and then removed to Mad- 
ison and made this city his permanent, as it 
had previously been his official residence 
while LTnited States Attorney. 

While in Congress Mr. Ijushnell was a 
member of the Committees on the Flection of 
Piesident and Vice-President, Senators and 
Representatives in Congress, and of Private 
Land Claims. 

This distinguisiied gentleman was a native 
of ( )hio, bavins been born in Hartford, Trum- 
bull county, Jidy 18, 1833, and was the son 
of Dr. (-reorge W. and Sally (Bates) Ijushnell. 
The latter was the daughter of Deacon Elihu 
Bates, and both Mr. and Mrs. Bushnell were 
natives of Hartford county, Connecticut. 
Dr. Bushnell was the son of Daniel Bush- 
nell, who, in turn, was the son of Captain 
Alexander Bushnell, who served throti.;h the 
entii'e Revolutionary war and who had his 
son in his company during the latter part of 
the war. The family was founded in this 
country by one Francis Bushnell, who came 
from England on the good ship. Planter, and 
from him it is supposed most of the l]ush- 
nells of the United States are now scattered. 
Tiie family became pioneers from Connect- 
icut in the Western Reserve in Ohio, where 
they became prominent, and where Dr. 
George Willis Bushnell, the father of our 
subject remained all his life. He was an 
active practitioner of medicine, born August 
11, 1800, died August 7, 1892, and was bur- 
ied on his ninety-second birthday. Ilis wife 
had been born in 1802 and died in 1866. 
Both were members of the Christian Church. 
Our subject obtained his education, pursuing 
a S]>ecial course with a view to the legal pro- 
fession, at the Hartfoni High School, and 
then attended Oberlin College, and then tlie 



474 



BIOGRAPHICAL BBVIEW OF 



Western Reserve Elective Institute, at Iliram, 
Ohio, and was there wliile President Garfield 
was a tutor. He knew Mr. Gartield well 
and boarded witli the father of Mrs. Gar- 
field, and was appointed by young Garfield 
to act as Chief Justice Marshall in a play, 
which the latter wrote for the students of 
the college, representing the trial of Aaron 
Burr for treason. 

After completing his studies Mr. Bushnell 
came AVest, in 1852, and taught sciiool that 
same year at the Block Ilouse Branch, near 
Platteville, Grant county, Wisconsin. After 
this he went back to Ohio, but in 1854 he 
came again to Grant county. He read some 
law in Ohio. In Wisconsin he became a 
student in the office of Judge Stephen (). 
Payne, at Plattville, and was admitted to the 
bar at Lancaster, in the fall of 1857. De- 
cember 1, 1857, lie put out his sign and be- I 
gati to practice alone. He lias at diti'erent 
times had partners in bis profession and is 
now in the firm of Bushnell, Rogers & Hall, 
at Madison, which was organized early in 
1891. 

The first marriage of our subject took place 
in Lancaster, Wisconsin, to Miss Laura F. 
Burr, a daughter of Deacon Addison Burr, 
from Vermont. She was partly reared and 
educated in Lancaster, Wisconsin, and died 
in their home at Lancaster, in August, 1873, 
leaving three children, only one of whom 
survives, Mabel, a young lady, at home, a 
graduate of the State University of Madison. 
Mr. Bushnell was a second time married to 
Miss Mary F. Sherman, who was born and 
reared in Lancaster, Wisconsin, and was the 
daughter of Cyrus and Fannie (I'arbei') Sher- 
man, now deceased, but formerly proniinent 
citizens of Lancaster. 

Mr. I'uslinell is a live social man, is a 
member of Grant Chapter and Lancaster 



Lodge, A. Y. & A. M., in which he has filled 
every office from High Priest, down. He 
became a Mason soon after he reached his 
majority, at Jerusalem Lodge, No. I'J, of 
Hartford, Ohio, where Joshua R. Giddings, 
Governor David Tod and other prominent 
Ohio men were made Masons, and is also a 
member of Tom Cox's Post, G. A. R., Lan- 
caster, Wisconsin. 



ORYDEN SARGENT, is a retired 
farmer of Dane county, now residing in 
Brooklyn, Green county, Wisconsin, 
and is numbered with the pioneers of 1845. 
He was born in Chesterfield, New Hamp- 
shire, January 27, 1821, being a son of Edwin 
and Sarah (Stoddard) Sargent, also natives of 
Chesterfield. Erastus Sargent, grandfathe. 
of our subject was a great-grandson of Digory 
Sargent, who resided in Sudbury, Massachu- 
setts, in 1C85. (See History of Chesterfield, 
New Hampshire.) 

Edwin Sargent, father of our subject, was 
born December 16, 1793, was reared a farm- 
er, married young and was poor. Farming 
did not seem to repay him for the labor e.x- 
pended, and he endeavored to supplement his 
income by working on shoe lasts, and he 
industriously kept on until his death in 1871 
in the State of New Hampshire, all his life 
e.xcept a few years he spent in Vermont. Of 
his family of nine children, our subject was 
the third. He was reared on a farm and at- 
tended tlie village academy as his father's 
means and the time at his disposal would 
allow, but there were many mouths to feed 
and he was obileged to early put his shoulder 
to the family svheel. At the age of twenty- 
one he earned enough money to provide 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



475 



himself with one term of sclioolim'- at New- 
herry, Vermont. 

Very lightly equipjied as to tiiiaiices, in 
1843 our subject started west to tiiid his for- 
tune, going out into the world alone. The 
State of Illinois was to be his Mecca, so with 
high hopes he entered tlie old stage which 
conveyed him from llrattleboro, Vermont, to 
Troy, New York, and thence by railroad and 
canal to BufFalo, on the lakes to Cleveland, 
by stage to Beaver on the Ohio river and 
then by steamboat to Galena, Illinois. Here 
he traveled around looking for something to 
do and ere long engaged a school near Free- 
port, Illinois, at ?>13 per month with board. 
After filling this contract he went to Evans- 
ville, Wisconsin, where was located a New 
Hampshire friend and there engaged to teach 
a term of school for live months at $14, later 
going to Wyota, where his fortunes improved 
two dollars a month, as here he encaged for 
ten months at $16 per month. Here he en- 
tered forty acres of land and soon after located 
on section 34, built a shanty and lived alone, 
keeping busy clearing his land. In 1846 he 
returned to Vermont and as he had proved 
that he could make a comfortable home in 
the great west, he married Miss Lucy W. 
Hutchinson, a native of St. Johnsbury, Ver- 
mont, born September 22, 1846, a daughter 
of William and Azuba (Page) Hutchinson. 
After marriage the young couple came to 
Wisconsin and settled in the shanty. At 
length he liecame the owner of 220 acres of 
land, although when he came to this State he 
had but a few cents. 

Looking over the liroad acres of the farm 
of our subject, one who understands pioneer 
life can well understand the ui-.reinitting la- 
bor that has brought this place to its present 
perfection. A short time was spent in 
teaching, but the most of it on the farm. He 



is a Prohibitionist in his |)olitical l)elief, 
formerly a Republican, and has held the otKce 
of town superintendent of schools. In his 
religious belief, Mr. Sargent is liberal. He 
and his good wife have had four children, 
these being: William Eilwin, a lawyer of 
Los Angeles; Emma J., died in infancy; 
Grace A., the wife of Daniel Wackman, of 
Brooklyn and Charles H., at home. 

ELS P. JOHNSON, a farmer, residing 
on section 15, Vienna t(.)wnsliip, Dane 
I county, Wisconsin, was born in Norway 
as, also, were his father, mother and grand- 
father) in the year 1840. Peter Johnson, 
the father, and the mother, whose maiiien 
name was Gertrude Nelson, were both born 
in 1813. The grandfather, John Johnson, 
after living an honest and respected life, 
died on the old home farm where his ances- 
tors had lived for several generations. The 
wife of this old gentleman Ijore him five 
children, namely: Eric, James, Peter, Anna 
and Michael. Eugesether, or Engesather, 
Bergen Stiff, was the dwelling-place of this 
worthy family, and the posterity of this son, 
as well as some others, have added the name 
Engesether to their own. Michael was first 
of the family to come to America, in the 
year 1845; followed seven years later by 
Peter, fathei' of our subject, with his wife 
and four sons and two daughters, including 
Nels, at that time twelve years old. Two 
daughters have been added to the family of 
Peter since the emigration to this country. 

A small sailing craft of a capacity of Init 
100 passengers, the Jurgen Brunkost, took 
them on at Bergen, Norway, and it was 
nearly forty-two days later when they landed 



476 



BIOGRAPHICAL ItBVIEW OF 



in New York. Sixteen days more were con- 
sumed in getting to Milwaukee by canal and 
lake. Eric Johnson met them there (Eric 
now bears tiie name of Engesather) and 
piloted them to Vieima township. The party 
readied Milwaukee July 5, 1852, having but 
a few hundred dollars in all, which they in- 
vested in land upon their arrival here. The 
first purchase made was 140 acres, with a 
few small improvements, about one-half be- 
ing prairie. Heartily they went to work 
and soon had built a ?mall losj cabin, and in 
the good times which followed prospered 
greatly. After living in this cabin seven 
years a nice two-story house was erected, 
which, with some subsequent additions, is 
now the home of the youngest son, Nels 
Johnson. Later, from time to time, 140 
acres additional were made to the tract, thus 
forming a snug farm of 280 acres. Beside, 
Mr. Johnson bought a farm of 160 acres in 
ant)ther part of the township. Previous to 
the getting of the last 140 named, he pur- 
chased 320 a^Tes in Mitchell county, Iowa. 

Tiie good mother of this family died in 
about the year 1877. aged sixty-four years, 
and tiie fatiier in 1S86, at the age of seventy- 
four. Nine children were the fruit of the 
union of tliis couple, namely: Anna, wife of 
Ole Farness; Nels P., the subject of this 
sketch; John, a farmer in Minnesota; Eric, a 
practicing attorney of Decorah, Iowa; and 
Nels Johnson, the youngest son, living on 
the homestead; Emily, wife of Lars Grinde; 
Carrie, wife of C. O. Johnson, a farmer of 
the neighborhood; Mellie, wife of Andrew 
Iliisebo, a farmer in Minnesota; and one 
cliild, who is dead. 

The subject of our sketch was married, at 
the age of thirty years, to Julia Erickson, 
daughter of Herman and Susan (Larsen) 



Erickson, both of Norway, where she was 
also born. 

Her parents came over to this country in 
1854, bringing witli them four daughters 
and one son, who was drowned in the lake, at 
tiie age of eleven years, while on the way to 
Milwaukee. One daughter was born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Erickson after leaving Norway, but 
all the children are dead except Martha, wife 
of John L. Eggumm of this county. The 
parents of the last named are a venerable 
couple, being about eighty-two years of 
age, living with the subject of this sketch. 
Mrs. Erickson is very feeble and both are 
liable to pass away soon. 

Mr. Johnson buried his first wife, Julia, 
in Septemljor, 1887, aged thirty-nine years. 
She left him six children, namely: Gertrude, 
died December 7, 1878, aged about seven 
years; Lina, born February 2, 1873; Peter, 
born July 8, 1876; Henry, born November 
13, 1878; Gilbert, born March 1, 1881; Ed- 
ward, boi-ii June 8, 1883; all living at home. 
Our subject was married again in 1888 to 
Randi Nelson, daughter of Nels Hansen. 
She was born in Norway and came to this 
country in 1886. Two children have been 
born of this marriage, namely: Joseph, born 
May 30, 188!); Arthur N., born September 
5, 1890. All of the children that are old 
enough are receiving excellent instruction in 
the English branches and in Norwegian. 

Air. Johnson has a farm of 153 acres and 
is regarded as one of the most thoroughly 
neat and prosperous farmers in the town- 
shij). He has just erected and completed a 
barn 26 x 106 feet and a lean 78 x 16, affording 
ample stable room for thirty head of stock. 
Mr. Jolinson raises corn, oats and tobacco 
principally, and a vai-iety of stock. Our 
subject is a member of the Norwegian 
Lutheran Church. In politics he is a stead- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONijlN. 



477 



fast Republican, and lias been Assessor and 
Supervisor of the township. Mr. Johnson is 
highly respected by all who know hitn. 

^^ILAS U. riNNEY, one of the Jus- 
tices of the Supreme Court of Wis- 
consin, and one of the foremost citizens 
of the State, was born in Crawford county, 
Pennsylvania, March B, 1833, and is the son 
of Justin C. and Polly M. (Miller) Pinney. 
The ancestry of the Pinney family in Amer- 
ica dates back to the early colonial days, the 
first members having come from Somerset- 
shire, England, in 164:2, and settled in Elling- 
ton, Connecticut. From that State they re- 
moved to Massachusetts, and at P>ecket, in 
that State, Justin C. was born. In 1815 
Aaron Pinney, grandfather of our subject, 
removed to Crawford county, Pennsylvania, 
where this son was reared to manhood and 
married Polly M. Miller, the daughter of a 
prominent clergyman who had settled in 
Crawford county in 17U2. In 1846 Justin 
C. Pinney removed his fauiily to Dane 
county, Wisconsin, then the frontier of the 
Northwest, and located on a tract of lanil in 
Windsor township, where he followed farm- 
ing the balance of his life. liis death oc- 
curred in 1803. 

Oui- subject was but thirteen years of age 
when he came to Wisconsin. I^^e was reared 
on the farm, and attended the schools of the 
vicinity, both public and private, his parents 
intending that he should become a surveyor. 
However, when sixteen years of age, he began 
teaching school in Dane county, and in 1849 
began reading law. In 1853 he entered the 
law otHce of Messrs. Vilas and Remington, 
of Madison. ile was admitted to the bar in 
the Circuit ami Supreme Courts in 1854, and 

3 2 



in May of the same year formed a partner- 
ship with Messrs. L. P>. Vilas and Samuel 
H. Roys, under the firm name of Vilas, Roys 
and Pinney. This partnership was subse- 
(juently, in 185G, limited, by the retirement 
of Judge Vilas, to ^lessrs. Roys and Pinney, 
who continued together until the death of 
Mr. Roys in August, 1857, when Mr. Pinney 
was alone in the practice until Fel)rnary, 
1858, at which time J C. Gregory formed a 
partnership with him under the firm name of 
Gregory & Pinney, and in Octoljor fo^owing 
Chauncy Abbott became a member of the 
iirm, the style then Miecoming Abbott, (-ireg- 
ory & Pinney. In 1860 another pai-tner was 
admitted to the firm in the person of James 
M. Flower, who remained in the business for 
two years. h\ 1863 Mr. Abl>ot retired, and 
in 1879 the partnership of Messrs. Gregory 
and Pinney was dissolved. The latter portion 
of the period Charles IST. Gregory was a 
member of the firm. Mr. Pinney then prac- 
ticed alone until 1880, when Mr. A. L. San- 
horn became his partner, and this partqersliip 
continued until January, 1892, when our 
subject became a member of the Supremo 
lionch, he having been elected the previous 
year. 

Judge Pinney has served the people of 
l^adison f^nd Dane county in different posi- 
tions of ti'ust and responsibility, having been 
elected Alderman and M:iyor of Madison, and 
to a seat in the State Legislature. He has 
written three volumes of reports, known as 
" Pinney's Wisconsin," and reported one 
volume of the i-egular series of Wisconsin 
Reports. 

Judge Pinney was married on March 3, 
1856, to Mary M. MuUiken, a native of 
Farmersville, Cattaraugus county. New York, 
the dauirhter of Samuel MuUiken, a native 
of Vermont. One son, Clarence, was born 



47S 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



to Judge Pinney and wife, who died at the 
age ot twenty years, a most promising and 
interesting vounu^ man. An adopted daugh- 
ter. Bessie, also died at the age of twenty- 
one years. 

Mr. Pinuey enjoyed at the har a large and 
lucrative practice, in which he was quite 
successful, and argued many of the most im- 
portant cases in Wisconsin for about twenty 
years before he retired from the bar. Cases 
in the Supreme Court argued by him will be 
found in eighty consecutive volumes of the 
Wisconsin Reports. 

lEUPwEND VEERliUSEN, one of the 
leading farmers of Westport township, 
born in Hanover, Germany, in 1821, is 
the subject of this sketch. His father, Harm, 
was also a native of Hanover, where he 
pursued farming. His wife, mother of subject 
was Gretke Williamson, and they lived 
and died on their farm in Germany, 
where they reared seven children, two of 
whom died young, but the remainder grew 
to mature years. Three of these live came to 
America, namely: Folkert, who resides on 
his farm in Champaign county, Illinois, and 
is a wealthy, retired farmer, seventy-five 
years of age and has five children; our sub- 
ject is the ne.xt; and William, the youngest, 
died in March, 1890, in the city of Madison, 
when about sixty-eight years of age. He left 
three children, who are well provided for by 
his estate. 

Our subject came to Wisconsin in the 
summer of 1847 when it was yet a Territory. 
He embarked at P>remen on a sailing craft of 
Denmark, which was a large three- mast ves- 
sel, carrying about 350emigrants. The voyage 
consumed about six weeks, but the trip was 



a safe one and they landed at Quebec. Ashe 
brought some money with him he was able 
to purchase land immediately upon arrival 
in Wisconsin and his first farm consisted of 
eighty acres, which he bought for §2.50 
per acre. It is now the site of the Asylum 
barn. On this land he built a large, hewn 
los house, as no lumber could be obtained. 
Within three years of his arrival in AVis- 
consin he married Barbara Schantz. native of 
Switzerland, daughter of John and Barbara 
(Miller) Schantz, who came to the Territory 
in 1846. having sailed from Havre. France, 
to ^ew York, and although the trip was a long 
one it was enjoyable from its novelty. They 
settled in Bloomiuij Grove, where they accu- 
mulated about 200 acres of laud and died 
there, aged seventy aud eighty years, respect 
ively. They had two daughters and one son, 
and these children have increased the 200 
acres to 350. 

Our subject bought his eighty acres in 1851. 
The coimtry was a wilderness, although not 
swampy. There were no roads here at that 
time. Later he sold his eighty acres for $4U0 
and then bought his present land for #3 50 
per acre. On this land he soon built a good 
log house, one story high, with a sleeping loft 
above and soon after opened a tavern, where lie 
' did a flourishing business, having oftentimes 
I as many as twenty to thirty for meals and 
lodging, but his prices were very low. In 
time he discovered a good stone quarry on 
his land, which he operated extensively before 
the asylum was started. The Governor of the 
State, Mr. Farewell, came with a committee 
and selected the stone. 

Our subject is a good mechanic, although 
he never served an apprenticeship, and laid a 
portion of the wall of his present house, iq 
1854 and his stone barn in 1855. He added 
fifty acres to his original eighty acres ^nd 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



479 



now owns 130 acres. lie (lid an extensive 
business in tavern keeping until isfil, when 
he retired from that business. Eicrhty acres 
of his land are under cultivation, but he has 
done more in wood and land specuhition, 
buyincr timber land, marketing the wood and 
selling the land, (^ver 800 acres have passed 
through his hands. He was Justice of the 
Peace from 1860 to 187G and served as 
Supervisor one term and as School Trustee 
for over twenty. During the war our subject 
voted the Republican ticket, Init of late is a 
Democrat. On his farm he carries on 
general farming and is very successful in it, 
as in all his other enterprises. 

Our subject and his wife are meinbers of 
the Lutlieran Church. Of their nine children, 
only one is dead, Henry, who passed away, 
in 1885, when about twenty-seven years of 
age, leaving a widow and two sons and one 
daughter, who reside on their farm in Burke, 
Dane county. His wife was a Miss Vahlen. 
The eight living children of our subject are 
as follows: Mary, wife of Herman Schmeltz- 
kopf, of Madison, three sons and one daugh- 
ter; Sarah, wife of Ernest Darling, a railroad 
employe of North Freedom, "Wisconsin; 
Nellie A., wife of Edwin Eales, County Clerk 
of Potter county. South Dakota, and speculates 
in lands; Ben Hardus, resident of a Chicago 
suburb, where he engages in merchandising; 
Lilly, at home; AVilliam, at home, a young 
man; Lulu and John, also at home. 



fACOB G. PATTERSON, a farmer of 
Dane county, was born in New Hamp- 
shire, February 22, 1830, a son of Aaron 
Patterson, who was born in the same State in 
1803. He married Catherine Grapes, a na- 
tive of Maine, and they had two sons and one 



daugliter: Jaeol), our subject; Edward, a far- 
mer i)i Colel)ro(jk, New Hampsiiire; .lane, 
wife of Albert Lovering, a farmer of West 
Point, Wisconsin. The mothcir died in New 
Hampshire in 1852, at the age of forty-seven 
years, and the father died in 1859. 

Jacob G. Patterson, tlie sulijiict of this 
sketch, was reared to farm life, and at theatre 
of twenty-one years became a stage coach dri- 
ver. He soon afterward ran a line of his own 
from Stratford, New Hampshire, to Canaan, 
Vermont, which lie continued ten years. In 
1857 he came to Lodi, Wisconsin, with the 
view of engaging in tiie railroad business, but 
after reaching that city concluded to farm on 
rented land. In 1860 he purchased 120 acres 
of his present farm, which then contained a 
small frame slianty, 12x14 feet, where they 
lived three years. They had then a cash 
capital of $2,000, and paid §40 per acre for 
the land. In 1863 Mr. Patterson erected a 
good frame house, 16 x 24 feet, with an L, 14 
X 18 feet, and one and a half stories high. He 
has added to his original purchase from time 
to time, until he now owns 625 acres in one 
body, where lie is engaged in general farm- 
ing and stock raising, making a specialty in 
the raising of tine horses and Durham cattle. 
He keeps an average of seventy head of cat- 
tle and fourteen horses, in which he is as- 
sisted by his youngest son. In his political 
views he is a stanch Democrat, and socially, 
has been a member of the Masonic fraternity 
for many years. 

In April, 1852, Mr. Patterson married 
Sarah Gamsby, a native of Stratford, New 
Hampshire, and a daughter of Victory and 
Almira (Schoff) Gamsby, also of that State. 
Her father was killed by a falling tree in 
1850, in his fiftieth year, and his widow is 
still living, aged eighty-seven years. Mr. 
and Mrs. Patterson burie<l an iiifant son in 



480 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



New Hampshire. They have four living 
children: Horace L., a ranchman of Portland, 
Ore<ron; Elmina J., wife of Richard Rickol- 
sen, of Lodi, Wisconsin; Albert E., who is 
engaged in farming adjoining his father, 
married Delia Cummings, of Colebrook, New 
Hamj)shire, and they have one son and two 
daugliters; and Frank W., aged twenty-four 
years, is nnmarried, and is engaged in farm- 
with his father. 



fAMES F. MILLS, one of the oldest and 
best known engineers of the Chicago, 
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, has 
been with this road since August 19, 1867, 
and in the employ of this company since 
1859. Mr. Mills was born in Portland, 
Maine, September 20, 1841, and was only 
two years old when he came with his parents 
to Wisconsin. They settled on low laud at 
Black Earth, Dane county, and continued 
there for years, then removed to Cross Plains 
town.-hip, Dane county. The father, James 
Mills, went to California in 1849, in com- 
pany with others. 'I'lie party crossed the 
plains, but he was delayed in Salt Lake City 
for some time on account of sickness, so that 
it was about a year from the time of starting 
when he arrived at the gold section. They 
established a claim, wliieh tJiey worked. He 
had arranged to return home after making 
some money, but was never heard of after 
this by his family. He was in the prime of 
life when he disappeared. His widow has 
since been a resident of the old home at Cross 
Plains, Dane county, and is now an old lady 
aged seventy-five yt^ars. In spite of her age 
siie is very active, and bears her years better 
than many a younger person. She has 
monrned the death of her husband for many 



years, knowing tiiat nothing but the dread 
messenger itself could have kept him from 
her and his family. 

Our subject grew up on the old homestead 
until he was ten or twelve years of age, when 
he felt that it was time for him to begin to 
support himself, so the brave little fellow 
started out, engaging in whatever came to 
hand, a few years later engaging as brake- 
man on the railroad, changing from that to 
the position of fireman. Before lie became 
^f age the tocsin of war was sounded, and lie, 
like many another brave young man, rushed 
to the aid of his country, enlisting in Com- 
pany D, a railroad company, commanded by 
Captain Filbrooks, the shop foreman. Tiiey 
were consigned to the Twenty-fourth Wis- 
consin Volunteer Infantry, and served in the 
battle of Perryville, Kentucky, and Mur- 
freesboro, Tennessee, and also at the battle 
of Chickamagua, Tennessee, September 20. 
1863, where our subject was captured by tlie 
enemy and taken to Richmond, to the Libby 
prison, and afterward to Danville. A while 
later he was changed to Andersonville 
prison, where he sutlered with different ones 
for fourteen months, hut finally was ex- 
changed in November, 18()4. It was not in. 
tended to exchange him, but he fortunately 
made his escape with a number of prisoners 
who were exchanged. After being paroled 
two months he ioincd his regiinont and re- 
ceived an honorable discharge, after a service 
of two years and ten months. Although 
never wounded he had some narrow escapes 
in many of the battles. His intense suffer- 
ings in Andersonville prison were more ter- 
rible than the most painful wounds, and he 
is deserving of as much, if not mure pity on 
that account than if he had suffered from the 
effects of severe hurts obtained on the field of 
battle. He is a member of the C. C. Wagl^- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSFN. 



481 



burn Post, G. A. II., No. 11. In politics he 
is a good Republican, and takes an interest 
in local matters. Socially, he is connected 
witli the Master Masons. 

Mr. Mills has been a most capable passenger 
engineer on what is known as the East End, 
or Kockford division of the Chicafro, Mil- 
waukee & St. Paul railroad. During the 
past thirty years of faithful service he has 
lost only about two months, an<l lias never 
had aTiy serious accident. lie is well known 
on the road and is prominent among the en- 
gineers and other railroad men, being a mem- 
ber of the Order of Railroad Engineers, Div- 
ision JMo. 73 of Madison, in which he has 
held the minor offices. 

Mr. Mills was married at Plack Earth to 
P. M. Eouttell, I)orn in New York, Onondaga 
county, in 1845, but came West after receiv- 
ing a high school education in her native 
State. She then attended tlie State Univer- 
sity of Wisconsin at Madison for some time, 
later engaging in teaching until her marriage. 
She is a very intelligent lady of tine mental 
attainments. She has been the mother of 
five children^ one deceased, namely: Jimie, 
died when abont seven years of age in 1881. 
Those living are: Jennie K., at liome, a finely 
educated young lady; Charles E., a fireman 
on the East End, Prairie du Chien Division 
of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul rail- 
road, lives at home; Omro B., a delivery 
clerk in Madison; and Philip L., at home. 



^ 



^ 



iRTHUR W. JENKS, a farmer of Dane 
county, was liorn on his present place, 
November 25, 1855, a son of Amos D. 
Jenks, who was born in New York, in 1830. 
The latter's fatiier, Hiram Jenks, a native of 
the same State and a mechanic bj' trade. 



came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1855, and 
later located in Madison. Amos B. was then 
twenty- tive years of age, and tiie father and 
son owned at that time only one horse apiece 
and $100 in money. They first worked land 
on the shares, and the son then took up forty 
acres in Vienna township, which he sold one 
year later for .$100. This money proved 
more beneficial to iiim than any thousand 
he afterward made, as they saw very hard 
times the first few years. Mr. Jenks ne.xt 
purchased eighty acres on section 11, near 
the present home of our subject. In J 886 
he and his wife removed to Kingsbury county, 
South Dakota, where they still reside. They 
bought a large tract of land, but have since 
given each of their children 100 acres, or its 
equivalent. Considering his start with about 
$100, Mr. Jenks has been very successful, 
and the accumulation of his fine property has 
been acquired b}' honest toil. 

Arthur W. Jenks, the subject of this 
sketch, was married August 25, 1884, to 
Miss Anna Berry, a daughter of Christian 
and Eva (Obrecht) Berry, natives of Switzer- 
land. The father came to America when a 
young man. After reaching Dane county, 
Wisconsin, lie had but little means, worked 
for wages a few years, and then purchased 
eighty acres of land in iJerry township, which 
he sold within a few yeai's. During the late 
war he enlisted in the Eleventh Wisconsin 
Regiment, Company A, served one and one- 
half years, was slightly wounded at Fort 
Blakeley, and Mrs. Jenks still has the bullet 
that wounded him. His early death, Decem- 
ber 24, 1877, at the age of fifty years, was no 
doubt caused by his e.xposure in the army. 
The wife died six months later, in her thirty- 
fourth year. They had buried two sons, 
Christian and John, both in infancy. Their 
living children are: Anna, wife of our sub- 



483 



BIOGRAPUIGAL REVIEW OF 



ject; Theodore J., twenty' years of age and a 
young lawyer of great promise; and Henry 
G., aged seventeen years, and a farmer and 
student. Mr. and Mrs. Jenks have two chil- 
dren: Roy W., born June 10, 1885; and Eva, 
aged one and one-half years. In his political 
views Mr. Jenks is a Prohibitionist, and re- 
ligiously, both he and his wife are members 
of the Methodist Church. 



->'^:^i^;it5<- 



,YD1A JUDD JENKS, widow of the 
late Hiram Jenks, was born in Honeoye 
Falls, New York, February 27, 1804. 
Hiram Jenks was born in Cazenovia, New 
York, July 22, 1804, and died on bis farm 
in Dane county, Wisconsin, January 6, 1892. 
They were married at Cohocton, Steuben 
county, New York, by Rev. Elisha Bronson, 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and be- 
gan life together at Sparta, Livingston county, 
that State, where three sons and one daughter 
were born. The father was a wheelwright 
and shoemaker by trade, and also followed 
fanning. For a number of years he had an 
extensive shoe business, was afterward pro- 
prietor of a carriage establishment, but later 
sold his farm and business and came to Wis- 
consin, landing near Milwaukee in the spring 
of 1854. In connection with his sons he 
purchased 300 acres of school land in this 
county, and forty-seven acres of this tract has 
been the home of this aged couple since the 
advent of the railroad here. Mrs. Jenks is 
still in good healtli for one of her age, and 
both she and her husband were members for 
many years of tlie Methodist Church. Their 
children are all living, viz.: Hiram I)., who 
was converted and joined the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church at the age of twelve years, and 
after reaching maidiodil ciitcri'd the ministry; 



Araos D., whose history will be found in the 
sketch of Arthur W. Jenks; Sherwood, a 
traveling salesman of Milwaukee, is now 
tifty-eight years of age; and Martha, aged 
fifty-four years, is the wife of Salmon E. 
Cowles, and resides on the home farm with 
her mother. Hiram i)., the eldest son, lias 
been a devout Christian from his early child- 
hood (perhaps in answer to the fervent desire 
of his mother) is now sixty-seven years of 
age, and is still active in the Methodist 
Episcopal ministry. Mrs. Jenks has twenty- 
five great-grandchildren, twenty grandchil 
dren, twelve sons and eight daughters. 

tEVI KITTILSEN, a])rominent business 
man of Dane county, Wisconsin, was 
born in Nummedahl, Norway, July 21, 
1845, a son of Ivittiland Anna (Lie) Kittilsen, 
uativesof the parish of Flesberg, Nummedahl, 
Norway. The father, a farmer by occupation, 
came to America in 1853, and his death oc- 
curred from cholera, in Green county, Wis- 
consin, in 1854. The mother died iu Utica, 
Dane county, in 1889. They were the par- 
ents of ten children, all of whom remained 
in the old country but Levi and Anne, a 
daughter. The latter came to America after 
the removal of the parents. 

Levi Kittilsen, the youngest child of the 
family, was educated in the common schools 
of Moscow, Iowa county, and Perry, Dane 
county, Wisconsin. lie can speak both the 
Norwegian and English languages withc(jual 
fluency. He was reared on his father's large 
farm, and in 1862 began life for himself in 
Dane county, with 140 acres of land. He 
has since added to that place until he now 
owns 204 acres, all under a fiiu^ state of cul- 
tivation, ami where lie is engaged in the 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



483 



raising of tobacco. In 1889 be came to 
Stougiitoii, an<l for tbe past two years bas 
been a member of tbe tobacco firm of Levi 
Kittilsen & Co. They erected a large brick 
warehouse, 108 x 37^ feet, with a capacity of 
4,000 cases, and a hydraulic elevator. Mr. 
Kittilsen has been engaged in tbe raisingof to^ 
bacco for twenty-two years, and for nineteen 
years has, off and on, been a buyer and stdler 
of the same. The firm now have a large trade 
and one of tlie finest warehouses in Wis- 
consin. 

Our subject was married July 3, 1865, to 
Anne (). Holtan, the first white child l)orn in 
Christiana township, Dane county. To this 
union have been born ten cliildren, eight now 
living: Carl, Otto, Andrea, Albert N., Ber- 
nard G., Christian Olives, Sophia Louisa, 
Alma Maria, and Clara Bullette. A son and 
daughter died in infancy. Mr. Kittilsen 
votes with the Republican party, and has 
served as Sujiervisor and Chairman of his 
township. Religiously, the family are mem- 
bers of the Lutheran Church. 
• 

I^EV. JOHN U. BAKER, an honored 
^? and respected retired farmer of Madi- 
~3(y^ son, Wisconsin, is now to be found at 
No. 227 West Oilman street. 

Mr. Baker was boru in Cornwall county, 
England, February 6, 1815. His parents, 
Digory and Thomasine (Uglow) Baker, na- 
tives of the same county, were reared there 
and the mother always made it her home, 
dying there when over si.xty years of age, 
but the father came to the United States and 
died at the home of his children, when sev- 
enty-two years of age, in Iowa county, Wis- 
consin. He and his good wife were mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church all 



their lives. Our subject is one of nine chil- 
dren boi-n to these good people, seven of 
whom were sous, and two daughters, all of 
wham grew to maturity and came to the 
United States, settling in Wisconsin. All of 
these children married, except one son, and 
three of them are still living. This family 
all settled in Iowa county, where they reared 
such large families that the place is known 
as " I>aker Settlement." They were all suc- 
cessful and became leading and prominent 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
Few families can show so many representa- 
tives who are in the enjoyment of health atid 
who display so great bodily strength. 

Our subject and a brother, Edmund, were 
tbe first to try their wings, setting sail from 
Plymouth, England, April 24, 1837, and 
landing in Quebec after a seven weeks" voy- 
age. From there they made their way, via 
St. Lawrence river and Lake Champlain, to 
the United States, locating in the Keystone 
State for tbe period of one year, when they 
were joined by another brother, and ail three 
then journeyed to Iowa county, Wisconsin, 
where they were joined some years later by 
the other members of the family. Our sub- 
ject was one of the pioneers of Iowa county 
and settled on a piece of wild land. He was 
young and unincumbered with either wife or 
family, so was free to work and improve his 
farm. This land he obtained at a very low 
figure and he had the pleasure of seeing it 
advance in value as the country settled up 
and he improved his farm. On this farm he 
erecteil buildings and added to his posses- 
sions until at the time he left it he was the 
owner of 500 acres of as good land as could 
be found in the county. At the time of his 
removal to Mailison he subdivided it into 
several farms, which he still owns. Mr. 
Baker has the honor of beinij one of the old- 



484 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



est citizens of this part of Wisconsin that is 
still living. 

Mr. liaker came to the Territory of Wis- 
consin ten years before it was admitted in- 
to the Union and has seen all the different 
changes in the State where he has lived. 
There is no doubt hut he greatly aided in 
the upbuilding of his portion of the State 
and in making it one of the best educa- 
tional communities in the West. In 1876 he 
came to the capital city to give his children 
the advantage of the superior educational 
privileges offered there. 

Our subject was married in Racine coujity, 
to Miss Elizabeth Dale, born in Cornwall 
county, England, not many miles from Land's 
End, England, in 1825. She is the daughter 
of Edward and I'eggy (Harry) Dale. The 
entire family came to the United States in 
1842, and settled on a farm in Racine county, 
Wisconsin, when the county was new and un- 
broken, and here the father and mother im- 
proved a fine farm, where they lived until 
their death, which occurred when both of 
them were very old. Tlie family was noted 
for its strength and longevity, and every 
member of tliis family ivas a good and 
worthy citizen. Mrs. Baker has a brother 
and sister still living and has lost three broth- 
ers and a sister, all of whom lived to be 
grown. 

The children born to our subject and his 
wife are as follows: Edward Dale Haker, a 
farmer of Dane county, was educated at 
Platteville, Wisconsin, and married Lydia 
Ellsworth, of Iowa county, Wisconsin; .John 
Turner, of Merrill, Wisconsin, married Mary 
Vanderbee; Elizal)8th, wife of John Osborne, 
a business man of Scranton City, Iowa; Anna, 
formerly a teacher, was educated at I'lattc- 
ville, is tlie wife of Albert Watkins, ex- 



Postmaster of Lincoln, Nebraska, where he 
resides and is now an Attorney of the city, 
havins sradnated from the Wisconsin State 
University; Joseph Ugiow, a farmer in 
Thayer county, Nebraska, and is married to 
Mary Rolling, of Wisconsin; Nicholas Dale, 
a commercial traveler, with headquarters at 
Omaha, for an agricultural implement house, 
of Chicago, was educated in the law depart- 
ment of the Wisconsin State University; Os- 
mon C, a graduate of the Wisconsin State 
University, and now in a bank in Lincoln, 
Nebraska, still single; Alma, educated at the 
State University, wife of Rev. Samuel W. 
Trousdale, Ph. D., pastor of First Methodist 
Episcopal Church of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is 
a graduate of Wisconsin State University; and 
Clara D., graduate of Wisconsin State Univer- 
sity, formerly a school teacher, is now the wife 
of William Flett, a resident of Merrill, Wis- 
consin, where he is an attorney, who is also a 
graduate of the Wisconsin State University; 
Carrie, an ancient classical graduate of the 
State University of Wisconsin, a teacher of 
the Madison High School; Lillian Dale, a* 
graduate of the same course as Carrie, a for- 
mer teacher at Lake Geneva and e.x-ward 
principal of Madison City. Five of the chil- 
dren have graduated from the State Univer- 
sity of Wisconsin. 

Mr. Baker is a local preacher, a Trustee 
and Class Leader in the Methodist Church, 
which position he has held for years, both in 
Madison and Iowa county. His wife and 
most of his children are active members and 
workers in the same church. Mr. Baker is 
a prominent Democrat, as are his sons, and he 
has held various local offices in Iowa county. 
In spite of his age Mr. Baker is very active 
and is engaged in church work to an exten- 
sive deeree. Few men have done as much 
good as this gentleman has in a private way, 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



485 



and none are more worthy and deserving of 
praise than the Kev. John IJaker, tlie es- 
teemed subject of this brief sketch. 



fOHN G. MUELLER, a brewer of Plea- 
sant ]5ranch, Dane county, Wisconsin, 
■^Ki was born in Racine, tliis State, July 4, 
1860, a son of John C. and Paulina (Bauer) 
Mueller. The father, a blacksmith by trade, 
followed that occupation in his native coun- 
try until coming to vVmerica in 1854. He 
then worked two years at his ti-ade in New 
York, and next was employed twenty- three 
years by J. I. Case & Co., of Racine, Wis- 
consin. Mr. Mueller was principally reared 
by an aunt, landed in this country without a 
dollar, and is now living a retired life in 
Racine. In his political views he affiliates 
with the Democratic party. The mother of 
our subject was born in Ranis, Germany. 
The parents reared a family of four children, 
viz.: John G., our subject; Louisa, who was 
married June 7, 1883, to August Brunkow, 
a partner of John in the brewery, and they 
have one child; W^illiam, at home; and 
Charles, also at home. 

John G. Mueller remained at home until 
thirteen years of age, and for the following 
live years was employed as a painter by J. L 
Case & Co., of Racine, Wisconsin. At the 
age of nineteen years he went to Weyauwega, 
Wisconsin, where he I'jarned the cabinet- 
makers' trade, and three years later returned 
to Racine. He was then employed at his 
trade there until 1884, and in that year pur- 
chased the brewery he now owns, also erect- 
ing his fine residence the same year. Mr. 
Mueller was married May 25, 1886, to Miss 
Johanna Morstenberg, who was born in 
Springtield, Dane county, Wisconsin, April 



18, 1861, a daughter of Henry and Louisa 
(Millei-) Worstenberg, natives of Wurtem- 
burg, Germany. The parents came to Amer- 
ica in 1856, locating in Dane county, Wis- 
consin, where the father died at the age of 
fifty-seven years. The mother still resides 
on the old home farm in this county. They 
were the parents of ten children, three now 
living, namely: John, at home; Rickey, mar- 
ried, and has three children; and Johaima, 
wife of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Morsten- 
berg were among the earliest German pio- 
neers of this county, where they lived many 
years in a log house with no floor, and an old- 
fashioned chest, which they brought from 
Germany, served as a table. Our subject and 
wife have one son, George J., born September 
11, 1888. Politically Mr. Mueller afliliates 
with the Democratic party, and his flrst 
presidential vote was cast for Grover Cleve- 
land. Socially he is a tnember of the L O. 
(). P., No. 158, of Middleton, and also of 
the German Maennerchor of tiie same place. 
Religiously both he and his wife are members 
of the Lutheran Church. 

j^EN^. PETER J. JONES, of Mazo Manie, 
^k Dane county, Wisconsin, was born in 
"^^ Ozaukee county, Wisconsin, January 
27, 1861, a son of Peter and Margaret 
(Sumacher) Jones, the former a native of 
Liege, P>elgium, and the latter of Luxem- 
burg, same country. Roth came to America 
in childhood. The father was well educated, 
for the past thirty years has been engaged in 
teaching, and now resides at Holy Ci'oss, 
Ozaukee county, Wisconsin. 

Peter J., the second of six children, three 
of each sex, flrst attended school at Mt. Cal- 
vary, Fond ilu Lac county, Wisconsin, where 



486 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



he spent five years. He then spent three 
years in the medical department of the Uni- 
versity of Montreal, Canada, then entered 
the St. PVancis Ecclesiastical College, gradu- 
ating there in June, 1885, and was then 
given a charge at Eagle, Waukesha county, 
Wisconsin. One and a half years afterward 
Mr. Jones came to Mazo Manie, where he 
has since remained. He found only a feeble, 
old frame church, and after laboring assidu- 
ously, a noble structure of worship was 
begun in 1890. This was completed in 1891, 
at a cost of $18,000, and is a monument to 
the energy and perseverance of our subject. 
The congregation now numbers ninety-two 
families, principally Irish. Rev. Jones also 
organized a school in this city, which is now 
under the charge of the Dominican Sisters. 
Three teachers are employed in this school, 
besides a professor of music, and our subject, 
who teaches German and constitutional law. 
In addition to his Mazo Manie church, he 
also has a charge at Blue Mound, consisting 
of seventy families, and one at Mill Creek, 
Iowa county, of forty-five families. Rev. 
Jones is a hard-working man, and has done 
much for his cause and people. 



ilELS J. ELLESTAD, a member of the 
Town Board of Blooming Grove, was 

L liorn in Norway, August 9, 1841. His 
father, John N. Ellestad, was born in the 
same country, in 1805. He learned the trade 
of shoemaker, and followed that calling in 
his native land until 1848, then catne to 
America, sailing from Bergen, May 17, 1^ 1~^. 
accompanied by his family, consisting of 
wife and four children. The little party 
landed at New York, July 4 following, and 
came directly to Dane county, settling in 



Blooming Grove, where the father purchased 
a tract of land in section 23. A greater 
portion of the land was timber, and all was 
uncultivated. On this land Mr. Ellestad 
built a log house, and immediately com- 
menced to improve his property. He con- 
tinned to reside on this land until his death, 
which occurred November 11, 1891. The 
mother of our subject is still living. She 
reared ten children, nine of whom are still 
living, and three of these nine are in Bloom- 
ing Grove. The other six have chosen Iowa 
as a place of residence. 

Our subject was seven years of age when 
his parents emigrated to America, so he re- 
members the incidents of the ocean journey. 
After arrival the family made their way 
across the country to Wisconsin, via the 
canal from Albany to Buffalo, thence via 
lakes to ililwaukee, when the remainder of 
the journey was made with ox teams. The 
country was sparsely settled, and deer and 
other kinds of wild game were plentiful. 
All the grain had to be hauled to Milwaukee 
with o.\ teams. The parents of our subject 
were in very limited circumstances, so be 
commenced at once to assist his father on the 
farm, and made the best of the opportunities 
offered him to secure an education in the 
pioneer schools. Those early days of indus- 
try were of incalculable benefit to him, as 
they inculcated habits of usefulness and fru- 
gality that have never been forgotten. He 
has always followed his calling of farmer, and 
is now the successful owner of 214 acres of 
land on sections 23, 2G and 27. 

In 1862 our subject married Annie Nelson, 
born in Norway, daughter of Tolef Nelson. 
Mr. and Mrs. Ellestad have eleven chil- 
dren, namely: Julia, Mary, Annie, John, 
Tolef, Niels, Peter, Martin, Willie, Albert 
and Emma, (^nr subject and his family are 



DANE COUNTY, WISGONISIN. 



4S7 



members of the Lutheran Church. In poli 
tics he is a Democrat, and has served as Town 
Treasurer and member of the Town Board 
for several years. He is also a member of 
tlie Cottage Grove Insurance Company. Mr. 
EUestad and family are highly respected 
throughout the entire community. 

I ALTER MOODY DICK, a popular 
resident of Dunn township, Wiacon- 
b^sjl^ sin, a gentleman who made the first 
piece of tapestry velvet carpet in the United 
States, is the subject of this sketch. 

Mr. Dick was liorn in Glasgow, Scotland, 
February IB, 1815. His father, Andrew, was 
born in the same city and his grandfather, 
William, was also a Scotchman. He was a 
tanner aiul shoemaker and conducted these 
various branches of business in Glascrow, 
where he prol>ably spent his last years. The 
father of our subject learned tlie business of 
shoemaker and carried on the business in 
Glasgow for some years, and died there when 
our subject was but an infant. The maiden 
name of the mother of our subject was Eliza- 
beth Jennings, of Scottish birth. Her father, 
William Jennings kept a public house in the 
south of Scotland, where he spent his entire 
life. The mother of our subject removed to 
the vicinity of Baunockburn soon after her 
husband's death and spent the remainder of 
her days there. She had but two children, 
Walter Moody and Ellen, the former our 
subject and the latter married John William- 
son and now resides in the town of Dunn, al- 
most ninety years of age. 

Our subject was reared near I^annockburn 
and there learned the trade of carpet weaver, 
which he followed until 1846. At that time 
he and his wife came to America, leaving 



Glasgow the last of March, on the sailing 
vessel, Saracen, and landing in New York, 
after a voyage of six weeks. From there he 
went to Middletown, Connecticut, remaining 
until fall, then to Newark, New Jersey, where 
he wished to start a tapestry velvet factory, 
the first institution in this country. There 
he made the first piece of ta])estry velvet ever 
made in the United States, and carried on the 
factory there for eighteen months, and then 
moved the factory to Troy, New York, where 
he operated it until the fall of 1849, when he 
removed to Wisconsin via railroad to Buffalo, 
by lake to Milwaukee and thence by team to 
Dane county. At that time the country was 
sparsely settled, but little itnproved and 
droves of wild animals roamed at will. Be- 
fore coming here he bought the land which 
is now included in his present farm and for 
this he paid §3 an acre. He had hired a man 
to build a log house for him, but it was not 
completed when they arrived so they took up 
their (quarters at the Lake View tavern until 
their house could be finished. They have 
been residents of this place, continuously ever 
since. He has erected a frame addition to 
his house, planted fruit, shade trees and other- 
wise itnproved it. 

Mr. Dick was married March 9, 1840, to 
Miss Helen Inglis, born in East Lothian, 
Haddingtonshire, Scotland, daughter of Ale.x- 
ander Inglis Gardner and Isabella (Peffers) 
Inirlis. Mr. and Mrs. Dick have reared nine 
children, namely: Walter M., Alexander, Isa- 
bell Robinson, Elizabeth Van Etten, Helen, 
Mary E. Howe, William S., Edward J., and 
Randall C. Mr. and Mrs. Dick were reared 
in the Presbyterian Church and have always 
held to that faith. Politically he is a Demo- 
crat and cast his first presidential vote for 
Franklin Pierce. 



488 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



^BRAHAM MURPHY, a prominent 
citizen of Rock county, was born in 
Harmony township, Rock county, Wis- 
consin, January 30, 1844. His fatlier, also 
Abraham, was born in Chestnut Hill, Monroe 
county, Pennsylvania, May 3, 1811, and his 
father, George, was probably a native of Ger- 
many and very young when he came to 
America. There was an epidemic on the ship, 
of which his parents died and he was reared 
in a family named Gower, who lived in Penn- 
sylvania. There he lived and married and 
always engaged in farming, carried on a 
farm in Chestnut Hill township, where he 
died. The maiden name of his wife was Mary 
Ann Arnold, and she spent her whole life in 
Pennsylvania. Her father, great-grandfatiier, 
John Arnold, was an extensive farmer in 
Monroe county. The father of our subject 
learned the trade of carpenter, joiner and 
cabinet-maker. During the winter he worked 
at the caliinet-maker trade and during tlie 
summer at the carpenter trade, until 1842, 
when he emigrated to Wisconsin with his 
wife and four children. He hired a man 
with a team, made an overland journey and 
was six weeks on the way. At that time 
Chicacro was a very small place and Hlinois 
and Wisconsin were very sparsely settled. 
He located in Rock county, resided there un- 
til 1844, and then went to Dane county and 
was one of the first settlers of Fitchburg. At 
that time much of the land was owned by the 
Government and deer and game were plenti- 
ful and bears would come to tlie homes of the 
settlers and get the pigs. He bought a squat- 
ter's claim to a tract of Government land on 
section 24, and there was a log house several 
Bheds and ten acres of broken land and he set 
about improving his land. There were no 
railroads through here and he had to haul lii.s 



grain to Milwaukee. He resided here until 
his death in 1870, aged sixty years. 

The maiden name of the mother of our 
subject was Nancy Slutter, born in Hamilton 
township, Monroe county, Pennsylvania, Jan- 
uary 13, 1809. Her father was George Slut- 
ter of German ancestry, and died iu Hamilton 
township, and the name of the grandmother 
of his wife was Elizabeth Kanouse. The 
mother of our subject is living and makes 
her home with him. She reared eight chil- 
dren, namely: Mary, Hannah, Susannah, 
George, Al)rahara, Sophia, Emeline and 
Helen. Our subject was an infant when his 
parents came to Dane county. He attended 
the district schools, assisted on the farm and 
has always resided on the home place. He 
has 140 acres under improvement. 

Mr. Murphy was married in 1874, to Miss 
Frances A. Tipple, born in Dunn, Dane county 
Wisconsin, September 28, 1852, a daughter 
of John and Emma Tipple. (See sketch of 
Mrs. Emma Tipple.) Mr. and Mrs. Murphy 
have three children, namely: Ralph J., Ruth 
E., and Retta M. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
and Mr. Murphy is a Republican. The family 
name was formerly spelled ilorfa, but for 
some reason was changed to Murphy in this 
country. 

ILLIAM M. RASDALL, one of the 
(lid and well-known business men of 
Madison, for the past live years re. 
tired from active business cares, came to this 
city in the spring of 1842, soon after enter- 
ing into the livery and teaming business in 
partnership with his brother Abel Rasdall, 
one of the earliest pioneers of Wisconsin. 
The latter was an Indian trader and frontiers- 




DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



489 



man, and passed throiii^h many excitinp; and 
dangerous adventures. He started the first 
milling business in the State, located on 
Token creek, ten miles from Madison, in 
Dane county. While thus engaged in 1855, 
he was accidentally caught in the gearing of 
his mill and instantly killed. He was then 
in the prime of his life, and his loss was 
mourned by all who knew him. lie ha<l 
served under ex-Governor Dodge througli the 
Black Hawk war, and during that time 
learned the laneuages of the tribes. This he 
found to be of incalculable value to him 
during his life of hunting and ti-apping. 
For some years he was engaged in trading 
furs with the Winnebago Indians, being, the 
first fur trader on the four lakes, and became 
in time one of the largest and most extensive 
in the State. From the time of his location 
in Wisconsin, in 1830, until his death he was 
a very prominent and influential man. 

After continuing in business with his 
brother for a few years our subject bought 
him out, in 1843, and ran the overland 
transfer, daring which time he served as 
Under Sheriff of Dane county two terms. In 
1849, he went with a company of twelve 
wagons to (lalifornia, and after a long and 
tedious journey of seven months and ten 
days, reached Hangtown. After about seven 
years of placer mining with considerable 
success, during which time he made a trip to 
Australia, where he was denied the privilege 
of mining unless he paid four-fifths of all he 
took out to the English treasurer In 1856, 
he returned home from California, via Isth- 
mus of Panama and New York city, thence 
to Madison, and resumed his ordinary occu- 
pations. Soon after his return he built the 
well-known Capitol House which he after- 
ward sold. In addition to his other valuable 
property in Madison, he owns a fine piece of 



real estate that has been used as a hotel for a 
number of years. 

Our subject was born in Kentucky, eight 
miles from Mammoth Cave, in Warren county 
in 1819, April 1. He was reared to manhood 
in his native county, and was yet a young 
man when he came to Madison, in 1842. 
After arrival in this city he was mari-ied to 
Miss Anna E. Meyers, born in Virginia, but 
reared to womanhood in Indiana, from tlie 
time she was seven. When a young woman 
she came to Madison, Wisconsin, where she 
met and married Mr. Rasdall. During the 
long period of their married life she has 
proved herself a good, true helpmate for a 
kind husband. For the past few years she 
has suffered from the loss of eyesiirht. She 
has been the mother of three children, 
namely: Nellie, wife of Frank Foster, a mer- 
chant of Sioux City, Iowa; Minnie, wife of 
Richard Iludd, a collector and attorney of 
Chicago, Illinois, and Annette S., single and 
at home. The latter is a very capable young 
woman, who has enjoyed excellent educational 
advantages. Mr. aiul Mrs. Kasdall are mem- 
bers of the Congregational Church, as are 
their three daughters. Mr. Rasdall is a 
Democrat iu politics, and has represented his 
ward iu the City Council. 



ASHINGTON WOODARD, a suc- 
cessful and well-known farmer of 
Burke township, was born in Shelby 
county, Indiana, March 30, 1830. His father, 
James Woodard, is thought to have been a na- 
tive of Virginia, from which State he removed 
to Kentucky, where he remained until 1828, 
when he removed to Indiana, and settled in 
Shelby county, where he entered a tract of 
timber land and on which he built the loo' 




4 90 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



cabin in which our subject was born. 
Pie im]»roved the farm and lived there until 
1859, when lie sold his land and came to 
Wisconsin, settled in Dane couutj, and there 
resided until his death. The maiden name 
of his wife was Elizabeth Nave, of German 
ancestry, a native of Kentucky. She sur- 
vived her husband a few years, and died at 
the home of her son, our subject. 

Washington Woodard was reared and 
educated in his native county. For some 
years after the settlement of our subject's 
parents in Shelby county there were no rail- 
roads, and the farmers were obliged to mar- 
ket their produce at Lawreneeburg, on the 
Ohio river, and drove their cattle and hogs to 
Cincinnati, 125 miles distant. Our subject 
attended the pioneer schools, taught in the 
log schoolhouse. The furniture was of the 
most primitive description, seals made of logs 
split in two, with wooden pins for legs. There 
were no backs to the seats, and no desks in 
front. What little heat there was in the 
building was received from a large fireplace 
at one end. Washington was reared to habits 
of industry, commencing when very young 
to assist his father on the farm. At this 
date farm work was much more difficult than 
at the present, when the farmer has all kinds 
of modern machinery to aid him in cultivat- 
ing the soil. In those days all grass was cut 
witli a scythe, and all grain with a sickle. 
When the cradle first came into use it was 
considered a great invention. Instead of 
the present threshing machine grain was 
pounded out with a tlail. 

Our subject resided with his parents until 
coming to Wisconsin, in 1853. He had been 
a resident of Dane county continuously since 
that time. His means were very limited at 
the time of his arrival in this State, but he 
60on bought 160 acres of land, the ])rice of 



which was S700. This farm was located in 
Windsor, and he im])roved the land and re- 
sided on it a few years and then removed to 
the town of Burke, where he bought a farm 
of 200 acres, on section 11, which he occu- 
pied until 1880, when he bought the farm he 
now resides upon, located on section 22 of 
the same township. This is one of the finest 
and best improved farms in the entire county. 
He has been very successful as an agricult- 
urist and now is the proprietor of 400 acres 
of land. 

When twenty-eight years of age he was 
married to Mary E. Damon, born in Ohio, 
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Damon. 
Mr. and Mrs. Woodard have three children, 
namely: George W., William and Edward. 
Mr. Woodard and wife are members of the 
Meihodist Church, which they joined after 
marriage, and to which faith they have held 
ever since. 

fOUN FROGGATT, one of the successful 
farmers of Springfield township, was born 
in Derbyshire, England, in 1828. His 
father was W. F., a laboring man, who died 
in the same place of our subject's birth, about 
1884, aged eighty-one. lie left seven chil- 
dren, having married Ann Ilobison, who died 
when in her thirty-sixth year, when our sub- 
ject was eight years old. He went to live 
with his i;ran(l father Froggatt. The name of 
this grandfather was Robert and the maiden 
name of the grandmother had been Mary 
Kitchen. They reared a family of five sons 
and one daughter, all of whom lived to 
adult years. These grandparents lived to be 
aged. The grandfather died some time in the 
seventies and the grandmother near the same 
time, and they with the parents of our sub- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



491 



ject are resting in the old Balbarrow ceme- 
tery. 

The subject of this sketcli left his native 
land in the spring of 1849. He set out from 
Liverpool, in February, on the three-masted 
sailer, the Mary Florence. They were 
wrecked in the Irisli Channel, about eighty 
miles out, having collided with another 
vessel, or rather they were run into by this 
vessel and the Mary Florence was so disabled 
that she had to put back to port and go on 
the dry dock at Liverpool. The other craft 
was also seriously damaged and the captain 
was held responsible for it. Our snl)ject again 
set sail, March 3, and after a voyage of one 
month landed in New York, April 3. 

Our subject marri Miss Mary Gill, daugh- 
ter of William and Hannah (Archer) (tIII. 
Mr. GUI was a manufacturer of farming 
implements. Mrs. Froggatt is one of si.x 
children, and her parents died in Derbyshire, 
aged about sixty years, leaving very little 
property. Mr. and Mrs. Froggatt started to 
tiie new world, hoping to earn a living and 
make a competency. He had no schooling 
whatever, and, as lie says, grew up in ignor- 
ance, and his good wife was but a little better 
off. In later years he learned to read and write 
a little. They had $60 left when they made 
tlieir first stand in New York, locating at 
Boston, Erie county, where they rented a 
farm of 120 acres, with but forty acres of 
plowed land and some pasturage. They 
worked this land for one half and the owner 
furnished teams and tools. This was a better 
offer than was generally given, but the land- 
owner said that his land was not very good 
and that he wanted to give this young farmer 
a chance. His name was William Warren, 
an American. He proved a good and kind 
friend to Mr. Froggatt, and the hitter holds 
his momory as dear as that of any blood 



relative. Mr. Warren made Mr. Froggatt 
valualile presents when they cauiC to Wis- 
consin, in 1851, and told them that if they 
needed aid they should have it at any time, 
and even offered to furnish him a team ot 
horses for which he could pay when he was 
able. Our subject had saved §100 a year for 
the three seasons and landed in Milwaukee 
with household goods and $250. They came 
right to this townsliip and for one year they 
rented land and then bought their first forty 
acres for $130. This was new land, which had 
no improvements upon it except a tew rails. 
Durino- the iirst year, our subject built a log 
cabin, 12 x 14 feet, of rough logs, and this 
was their abode for two years, when they 
built a small frame house, 14 x 20 feet, at 
their present home, on forty acres of school 
land, which our subject bought at l>'3.50 an 
acre, and from time to time since has added 
land, until he now owns 520 acres, all in one 
connected body. Of this, 400 acres is good, 
tillable land, worth from $45 to §50 an acre. 
He has always done mixed farming, raising 
the principal crops of this section, except 
tobacco and hops. He keeps as many as a 
hundred horned cattle and thirty horsus, also 
from two to five colts of the all-work breed, 
mostly Clydesdale, and raises Durham cattle, 
Mr Froo-o-att turns off" from 100 to 125 hogs. 
Six children of the family have been taken 
away, live of them in infancy, and the last 
one died at the age of lifteen, of inHammatory 
rheumatism. She was very bright in intellect 
and attractive in person. She was mourned 
by all who knew her and her loss was a great 
blow to her family, especially to her mother. 
The living children are: Walter G., who was 
the second child and who was born in the 
loo- cabin; James H. married Mary Lapley 
and has one little daughter, the bright pet of 
the household. They have been running the 



493 



BIOORAPBICAL REVIEW OF 



farin iti company with the next brotlier. 
Wesley E. is the yuungest son born in this 
bouse, in 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Froggatt have 
gi%'en all their children good school ads'an- 
tages, realizing how nnich they lost in being 
deprived of them. The boys all prefer a 
fanner's life, except AVesley E., who has 
attended the bchools of Middleton and 
Madison, and has a desire for the medical 
profession, to which he thinks he is adapted, 
and proposes to take a conrse at Rush Medi- 
cal College, at Ciiicago. 

This honored and respected old couple are 
justly proud of their ciiildreii, who have 
grown up with pure habits and morals and 
industrious ways. They have a home in 
Madison, where they reside when not on the 
old farm. They joined the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church when young in England, and 
have been faithful and active workers in that 
connection for many years, Mr. Froggatt 
having been a (^lass-Leader for over thirty 
five years. He has always been one of the 
loyal Republicans of this county, until 1887, 
when he espoused the temperance cause. He 
and his wife enjoy a fair amount of good 
health, for their age, considering how toil- 
some some of their years have been. Tiie 
past two and one half years have been passed 
in Madison, in the enjoyment of a well-earned 
rest, where it may be hoped that — 

"The years in their rolling 
May whisper consoling, 
Until life's journey has ended, 
When they shall calmly and sweetly 
Go up to their rest in heaven." 



[UNDER G. MANDT, editor and pub. 
lisher of the Dane County Sun, at Mount 
lioreb, was born in Pleasant Springs 
t<jwnship. this county, duly 28, 1864, a sou 



of Gunder T. Mandt, who was born in Thel- 
emarken, Norway, May 12,1811. Tiie latter 
came by sailing vessel to America in 1848, 
and on account of severe storms was fourteen 
weeks in rearching Wisconsin. He was 
married in Norway, and to that union was 
born four children: Margit, now Mrs. Lisby, 
of Sandy ville, Iowa; Targe, deceased in Michi- 
gan; Halvor, who died in Norway; and 
Groe, now Mrs. Rasmus Peterson, of New 
Denmark, Brown county, Wisconsin. The 
mother died, and in 1839 in Norway, Mr. 
^laiidt married Joraud Seniles, a native of 
that country. They were the parents of twels-e 
children, viz. Targe, a resident of Stoughton, 
Wisconsin; Hajge, now Mrs. T. Aaberg, of 
that city; Aiiuie, wife of E. H. Reppen, also 
of Stoughton; Engebor, wife of C. E. Grann, 
of Chicago; Engel, who died in Pleasant 
Springs township, Dane county, Wisconsin; 
Peter, of Janesville, this State; Mikkel, of 
Stoughton; Elsie, wife of A. Buruld, also of 
that city; Peter, deceased in Pleasant Springs 
township; Dagne, now Mrs. T. O. Homme; 
(t under (t., our subject: and Carrie, of 
Stoughton, Wisconsin. 

Gunder G. Mandt, the subject of this 
sketch, remained on the farm with his parents 
until eight years of age; the following year 
attended the public schools at Stoughton; 
and then worked in his father's furniture 
store in that city until sixteen years of age. 
A siiort time afterward he began the photog- 
raphy business in Stoughton, continuing 
one year; followed the same trade at Mount 
Horeb six months; next worked in the general 
mercantile establishment of O. H. Dahle 
abotit three years; was proprietor of a paint 
and carpenter siiop in that village three years; 
then established a weekly newspaper, the 
Blue Mounds Press, at Blue Motinds; next 
the Mount Horob Sun, at Mount Iloreb, and 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



493 



tlien the Star at Daleyville. June 16, 1888, 
Mr. Mandt was burned out, leaving Iiini witli 
nothino; hut a slight insurance. He then 
established his present paper in Mount Iloreb, 
and is also engaged in the real-estate busi- 
ness. In his political relations he is indepen- 
dent. 

Mr. Mandt was married July 31, 1888, to 
Andalena Arneson, a native of Ridgeway, 
Iowa county, Wisconsin. They have two 
children, Lenore and Amy, l)oth at home. 
Our subject is an intelligent and'congenial 
gentleman. His knowledge of both English 
and Norwegian languages gives him a field 
of usefulness, which is filled with ability, and 
to the advantage of the people among whom 
his influence extends. In addition to his two 
papers, printed in both languages, he also 
edits and prints various papers for persons 
throughout the country. 



iR. GEORGE P. KINGSLEY, a suc- 
cessful clairvoyant physician, has been 
engaged in business in the city of Mad- 
ison, Wisconsin, for seven years. 

Onr subject was born in Cass county, 
Michigan, more than fifty years ago, and lived 
in his native State until he came to Wiscon- 
sin. Dr. Kingsley came of New England 
parentage, his father and mother having been 
born in Massachusetts, where thpy were 
reared and married, coniing in the early thir- 
ties to Cass county, Michigan. When the 
family came to Cass county the country was 
very wild, and Indiivns and wild game occu- 
pied the land. After some twenty years' res- 
idence in Cass county, in 1854, the entii-e 
family moved to Dane county, Wisconsin, 
and settled on a farm in Springfield town- 
ship, Dane county, which is still in the pos- 

33 



session of our subject. In 1852 the father 
of Dr. Kingsley crossed the plains to Cali- 
fornia, but returned in a year, and the follow- 
ing year saw the removal to Wisconsin as al- 
ready noted. In 1878 the father was taken 
to Florida by his son, the Doctor, in .the en 
deavor to prolong his life, but the attempt 
was useless, and he died there, February 20, 
1878, aged seventy-two years. His wife 
followed him five years later, dying in Dane 
county, aged seventy years. Her maiden 
name was Harriet Priscilla Burke. Mr. and 
Mrs. Kingsley were members of the Univer- 
salist Church for many years, but died in the 
full faith of the spirit life in man. 

Our subject was reared on a farm, and re- 
ceived there the training that gave him his 
superb physical constitution, which is the 
envy and admiration of all who see him. He 
advocates a more general physical training of 
the boys and girls of the present century, 
claiming that if they received a proper 
amount of exercise there would l)e fewer in- 
valids, and tiie death rate would be much 
smaller. If Dr. Kingsley is a specimen of 
what physical exercise will do, then he is en- 
tirely correct in his views and will meet with 
plenty of support. He claims that physical 
exercise shorJd be introduced into the 
schools. 

Dr. Kingsley became interested in clair- 
voyancy in connection with his profession. 
and now is one of its firmest believers. Peo- 
ple swarm to his pleasant office at No. 518 
State street, to seek his advice and aid, and 
he is always able to assist those who call on 
him for relief. The Doctor gave some atten- 
tion to his farm in connection with his jirac- 
tice while at Springfield, where he left a rec- 
ord that may well be envied by any one in 
the profession, for his skill, both as a physi- 
cian and a clairvoyant. His magnetic power 



494 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



is very great, and )ie uses it to alleviate the 
pHiii and distress of others. 

Dr. Kingsley was married in Dane county, 
Wisconsin, to Sarah J. Towue, who was born 
ill Illinois and came to Dane cpunty, Wiscon- 
sin, with her parents when four years of age. 
She was educated at the State University, at 
Madison, and is a smart intellectual lady, 
who has borne her husband two children, 
namely: Sarah L., wife of 11. J. Parke, resi- 
dent of Lodi, Wisconsin, and George A., at 
home, a student in the universit}'. 

The Doctor is the owner of a nice home 
and office in Madison, and other valuable 
property in Springfield, his former home. 
His practice is constantly increasing, and he 
is regarded as very successful. Few men 
have the power of making friends and retain 
ing them as has this gentleman, to whose life 
we have called the attention of the reader in 
this brief notice. 



[AMUEL MUZZY, a member of one of 
the best known and most prominent 
families in Medina tort-nship is the imr 
mediate subject of this sketch. Tlu; family 
is an interesting one and the biographer will 
to the best of his ability place their records 
upon this page for the interested readers of 
this volume. 

The family seems to have been of New 
England birth, the grandfather of Samuel 
having been born in the State of Massachu- 
setts, where he lived and died. The father. 
Sardine Muzzy, was born in Leicester, Wor- 
cester county, Massachusetts, August 10, 
1806, was brought up on a farm, attended the 
common schools and remained at home until 
his seventeenth year, when he went to the 
State of Ohio, where he learned the trade of 



carpenter, working at it in Medina county, 
and from that county came the name of Me- 
diiuv township, the present home of the fam- 
ily. Alternating between work at his trade 
and upon the farm, Mr. Muzzy remained 
there until 1843. when he removed to Illinois, 
where he spent one summer in work on a 
farm in Lake county. 

The marriage of Mr. Muzzy was celebrated 
March 26, 1827, with Miss Elorsey Caroline 
Lunn, who was born in Connecticut, in 
Hartford, in 1808, and whose parents had 
passed away, the fatlier in Michigan, and the 
mother in Ohio. The family of Mr. Muzzy 
grew up in Illinois around him, until 1844, 
when he decided to remove farther west 
where land was still for purchase in desirable 
localities. Hence, the family consisting of 
thirteen members traveled by o.\ teams bring- 
inu; with them their household goods deter- 
mining to locate in Wisconsin. They started 
October 22, and arrived at their destination 
after about two weeks, coming directly to 
sections 10 and 11, where the widow of Mr. 
Muzzy now resides. She is one of the oldest 
settlei-s in this township or vicinity. 

Mr. Muzzy first obtained eighty acres of 
Government land and later fort\- more, sub- 
secjuently pre-empting another forty, for all 
of vvhioh he paid ten shillings per acre. He 
had some difficulty in getting a title to the 
land he had pre-emptetl, but finally he had 
his farm of 160 acres, to whicli ho added five 
acres of timber land. The purchase of the 
land absorbed what money he had and the 
family moved into the house with a Mr. Si- 
fert, near ^[arshall. All the members of the 
family were large enough to work and they 
went to building a log house on the land 
which he had bought. The dimensions of 
the house were 16 .x 20 and when it ap- 



DANE COUNTY, W I SCON til N. 



495 



proaclied completion all iiiuved in and began 
pioneer lite iu earnest. 

The country was sparsely settled, and they 
had no near neighbors nor any conveniences. 
Fall was coming on now and Imt little farm 
work could be accomplished, but they began 
improvement as soon as possible. When 
spi'ing opened, Mr. Muzzy put in a crop, con- 
sisting of corn, buckwheat and potatoes on 
the land of Henry Clark, and broke some of 
his own ground. There was no danger of 
starvation, fur ganie was abundant and veni- 
son was the principal meat, and they taught 
themselves to do without groceries as they 
could not be obtained. As time went on 
and they succeeded in having produce to sell 
they had to travel sixty-tive miles by ox teams 
to Milwaukee to find a market, selling wheat 
as low as thirty cents per bushel. Thus they 
finally established a home in the Territory of 
Wisconsin. 

Mr. Muzzy continued to improve the ])lace, 
planting trees and fencing with rails, living 
on in the h")g house, which is still standing 
and has always been used as a residence by 
Some one. In 1855 the family Iniilt a more 
commodious home, and wliich is now occu- 
pied by Mrs. Muzzy and her sons. Thus, by 
hard work, industry and economy, they im- 
proved tlieir condition; other settlers came 
in, the country rapidly was opened up, and 
is now one of the best cultivated sections in 
the State. Tliere were eleven children born 
in this family, as follows: Elizabeth, married 
Asa Dewey, and tliey now reside in Medina 
township and they have had four children: 
Adalbert, Sarah Jane, Amy, and Juliett. 
Elorsey, niarrieil George Giles and is living 
in Ilurke, Iowa; they have three children: 
Lucy, Addison, and ('lara; Sheldon, marrie(l 
Harriet Dent, and ha\e two children, Nina 
and Frardvie. He is a carpenter in Milwau- 



kee; Austin L. Muzzy, niurried three times, 
and he had ten children: Henry, Mary, Ma- 
ria, Austin, Amy Jane, Delbert, James, Min- 
nie, Kitty, and Edwin, eight of whom are 
still living at different places; Paulina, mar- 
ried Willard Cole, and they had seven chil- 
dren: Henry, Lucy, Fred, Wesley, Clark and 
Clarence (twins) and James, one of whom is 
dead. In 1861 he enlisted in tlie Eleventh 
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, was in vari- 
ous engagements, had an extensive army ex- 
perience, and although he continued through 
the whole war he escaped without capture or 
wounds. Samuel E., our subject; James, mar- 
ried Kate Follensbee, in Portland, Dodge 
county, and now lives on the old home with 
wife and two chihlren, Elmer and Lena. He 
went to Ivansas, in 1873, bt)uglit some land in 
Cowley County, where he remained improving 
for about oneyear, when he returned to the old 
place, where, with the exception of one year, he 
has lived ever since, havinor sold his Kansas 
land; Andrewt'., now livingat Marshall depot, 
has always been in this vicinity, excejit while 
doing service in the army. In February, 
1805, ho enlisted in Forty-eighth Wisconsin 
Infantry and was in service eleven months. 
The name of liis first wife was Sarah Ilyer, 
and that of his second, Elizabeth Wal bridge, 
both of whom are deceased. His children 
are: Albert, Willie, Herman, Carson, and 
Guy. Adeline, now living at ilarshall, mar- 
ried Amtis Thompson and has live cliildren 
as follows: Lettie, married A. Burr and is 
now living near the olil homestead; Gay T., 
married Flora Porter; Lucius, Olive, and 
Delia are at home. Charles R. lives oti the 
old homestead with his inofher. In 1870 he 
went to northern Iowa, where he I'emained a 
numbe'- of years buying wheat for dcalei-s; 
then went to Dakota, pre-emptied 160 acres 
of land, farmed some for two years, proved 



496 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



np, sold out and returned home to the old 
home, where he lias been ever since. In 
1SG3 he enlisted in Company U, Seventh 
Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers and served 
one and one-halt' years in the army of the 
Potomac, taking part iii the seven days' fight 
of the Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Sopttyslva- 
nia, iNorth Ann, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, 
Weldon, Hatcher's Run, Gravely K\in, Five 
Forks and Appomattox, and was in the front 
line of Ijattle when Lee surrendered. He 
returned liome safe and souixl after an ex- 
tended experience. The hist child, Francis 
died in the old log house in 1845, at the age 
of fifteen months and was buried on the 
farm. Mr. Muzzy died December 4, 1883, 
and was buried in York cemetery. He was 
a prominent man in the township, having 
served on the Board of Supervisors and also 
as Assessor a number of term, was always in 
terested in educational matters and did liis 
full share toward the development of the 
county. He was an active member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, to which Mrs. 
Muzzy belonged. 

Our subject, Samuel E., married Adelia 
Fuller and is now living on the old home- 
stead. He has had three children: Frankie, 
Cora, and Carl, but two of these died in 
Michigan and one in Wisconsin. In 1875 
he went to Michigan and engaged in farming, 
having there a farm of sixty-three acres. 
Here he remained until 1885, when he sold 
tliat tract and bought lor\^ acres at another 
place, where he lived about two years and 
still owns, but in 1889 returned to Wiscon- 
sin and to the old home where he has since 
lived. In Feliruary, 1805, he enlisted in the 
Forty-eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, 
and was in the service some eleven months, 
being stationed the most of the time in Kan- 



sas. He still preserves his old Springfield 
tnusket as a memento of that experience. 



ASPER MAYER, deceased, for years 
one of the prominent German-Ameri- 
can citizens of Madison, Wisconsin, is 
subject of tliis sketch. His life ended at his 
home, 615 East Gorham street, June 8, 1884. 
Coming to Madison in November, 1858, he 
began life in this city as a dealer in wines 
and liquors, having brought his stock from 
the city of Milwaukee, where he had I)een in 
business prior to coining to this place. Hav- 
ing established himself in Madison he soon 
became popular with the public, his business 
growing from the time he started. For some 
time he was located on King street, but later 
moved to No. 11 Main street, at which place 
he was actively engaged until the time of his 
death. The general opinion expressed con- 
cerning Mr, Mayer was that he was a friend 
to every one, and he was alway regarded as 
one of the best of the Gern)an-.\merican 
citizens. His care that no ill should occur 
to any one from any alnise of the goods he 
had for sale was well known. With his 
capable and ethcient wife he accumulated a 
handsome competence}*, and at the time of 
his decease left a wide circle ot' mourning 
friends. In 1862 our subject made a visit 
to Germany tojonce more see his aged mother, 
for whom he had cared since the death of ins 
father. That sad event occurred when Casper 
was but a mere boy and he had ever since 
carefully looked after her wants, always send- 
ing her a part of his income, even when it 
was very small. 

W^ith no one to help him, our subject came 
to this country alone, and tried the best he 
could to earn a living at Ciiillicothe, Ohio, 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



497 



whence in 1847, he came to Milwaukee. In 
the latter city lie was married, in 1848, liav- 
at that time a small fruit stand, but in 1849 
he began the business which he afterward 
conducted so successfully. His place in Madi- 
son was alway called "Casper's Place." 

Casper Mayer was born in Gattemheim, 
Germany, near Friedberg, in the Province 
ot Baden, November 1, 1821. He came of 
good, respectable, Gei-man parents, who iiad 
lived worthy lives in Germany. Ilis father, 
Casper Mayer, died in his native province 
when our subject was but a small boy. He 
was engaged in the oil manufacturing busi- 
ness. The maiden name of the mother of 
our subject was Agatha Huhn, and she lived 
to be seventy-three years of age, dying in 
her native province, and both she and her 
husband had been members of the Roman 
Catholic Church. Our subject was the only 
son of the family, and had but one sister, 
Walie, who died at the age of fourteen years. 
Mr. Mayer of this notice, after the death of 
his father went to live with an uncle, a 
brother of his father, who was in easy cir- 
cumstances, and he gave young Mayer a 
practical education and also taught him the 
trade of shoemaker. this was not at all con- 
genial to our subject and he did not resume 
it after coming to America. In politics, our 
subject was an independent Democrat, and 
was a man who had never sought ofhce, was 
generous to a fault, and always gave liberally 
to everything which seemed to promise good 
to his city or State. 

In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 30, 
1848, he was njarried to Miss Elizabeth 
Steinle, who was born in Wurtemberg, Ger- 
many, August 18, 1829, a daughter of Joseph 
and Eva (Aner) Steinle, natives of Wurtem- 
berg, who wei-e there reared and married, re- 
maining until Mrs. Mayer of this sketch was 



seven years of age. She was one of two 
children, still living, her sister being Anna 
M., the wife of Thomas Piggott, now living 
in Chicago, where he is engaged as a me- 
chanic. Joseph Steinle was a second titne 
married, in his native province, to Miss Fran- 
ces Koenely, and later the family came to the 
United States, in 1840, via Havre de Grace, 
landing in New York city. Three months 
after leaving their home they had settled 
down in Lancaster, (^hio, where they re- 
mained six years and then removed to Mil- 
waukee, where the last days of their lives 
were spent. 

Mrs. Mayer, the wife of our subject, be- 
came well-known as a most excellent cook, 
and in this way assisted her husband very 
materially. She was always cheerful, willing 
to assist, and was one of the best wives, highly 
esteemed everywhere. As Mr. Mayer con- 
ducted a restaurant with his other business, 
Mrs. Mayer had a chance to show how well 
she could manage her part of the business. 
For years he was an active supporter of the 
Holy Redeemer Catholic Church. Mr. and 
Mrs. Mayer were the parents of seven chil- 
dren, all of whom are yet living, as follows: 
Anna R. and Elizabeth, at home; M. Theresa, 
the wife of Peter Hoven, now living in New 
Haven, Connecticut, where he conducts a 
carriage factory; Emilie F., tiie wife of 
Stephen Baas, who runs the pleasure boats 
in Madison and resides in the city, having 
one child; Alexius H. and Casper Adolph, 
who now conducts the business left by his 
father. He has been twice married and has 
two sons, Charles B. and Adolph L. R.; 
Bertha M. is a prominent teacher of art in 
this city; and Helen L. is a student at the 
State University. 



498 



BIOGRAPHICAL liEVIEW OF 



tANIEL D. BRYANT, one of theenter- 
''-^^ prising tanner residents of Madison 
township, was born in Thetford, Ver- 
mont, December 3, 1831. His father, Lester 
Brant, was born on the same farm, and his 
father, grandfather of our subject, Daniel D. 
Bryant, was born in Colcliester, Connecticut, 
of early English ancestry. He was a brave 
soldied of the Revolutionary war and re- 
moved to Vermont when hostilities ceased. 
The removal was made in winter with ox 
teams and sleds, and they became early set- 
tlers of the town of Thetford. "When the 
town was organized the grandfather of our 
subject was elected Clerk. He secured a 
tract of 100 acres of timber land and built a 
loe house in the wilderness. At that time 
there were no railroads or canals, nor were 
there any for many years, consequently no 
convenient markets. The people lived en- 
tirely off the products of their farm, with 
such game and fish that they could procure 
from the abundance in stream and woods. 
Here the grandfather resided until his death, 
wliich event occurred when he was forty-nine 
years of age. The maiden name of his wife 
was Bethiar Newton, also a native of Connec- 
ticut. The great-grandfather of our subject, 
John Newton, was of English ancestry and 
spent his entire life in Connecticut. The 
grandmother of our suliject lived for tifty-five 
years after her husband died, her death 
occurring on the home farm in Thetford at 
the advanced age of eighty-nine years. The 
last twenty-four years of her life she enjoyed 
a pension from the Government. 

The father of our subject entered the old 
homestead, which he occupied until 1854, 
when he sold and came to Wisconsin, locat- 
ing in Columbia county, where lie bought a 
farm and resided for a number of years. He 



finally removed to Milwaukee, where he died, 
July 4, 1876, aged seventy-eight years. 

The maiden name of the mother of our 
subject was Hannah Sleeper, born in Ver- 
shire, Orange county, Vermont. Her father, 
Ezra Sleeper, was a native of Massachusetts, 
who became a pioneer of Vershire, where he 
improved a farm and spent his last years. 
The mother of our subject died in August, 
1876, after rearing five children, namely: 
Sherburn, Harriet, Daniel D., Bethiar and 
Emeline. 

Our subject received his early education in 
the public schools, later attending the; Thet- 
ford Academy, which he entered with the in- 
tention of fitting himself for Dartmouth 
College, but however changed his mind and 
left school to earn money with which he 
could emigrate westward. In order to accom- 
plish this he taught school three winters and 
the remainder of the year engaged in farm- 
ing. His salary for teaching school was S12 
per month and board, he being expected to 
live around at the houses of his different 
patrons. The arrangements for his board 
were made with the clerk of the district and 
the time he spent with each family was in pro- 
portion to the number of scholars sent. In 
1853 he emigrated to Wisconsin and located 
in Hampden, Columbia county. At that time 
he had $500 in cash, $100 of which was a 
present from his grandmother, which she had 
saved from her pension. He purchased 120 
acres of land for $1,200. Fifty acres of this 
was broken, while eighty acres were fenced 
and a small house, 16 .\ 24 feet, was upon the 
land. At the time, "Waukesha, sixty-four 
miles distant, was the nearest market touched 
by the railroad. After living on that land 
two years he sold out and removed to Dane 
county, where he purchased 200 acres of 
wild prairie land in Westp^rt township, at 



DAME COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



499 



$10 per acre. He improved all the land, 
built a brick house aud frame barn, and re- 
sided there twelve years, then sold the prop- 
erty for $10,000, and with that money pur- 
chased the farm, where he now resides in 
Madison township. It is a well improved 
farm of 400 acres, where he carries on general 
farming and stock-raising, Durham being 
his favorite breed of cattle. 

December 3, 1856, he married Keron 
Rogers, born in Norwich, Vermont, daugh- 
ter of Josejih and Tilda (Brown) Rogers. 
Seven children have been born to our subject 
and his wife that are living, namely: Lizzie, 
Carrie, Lester, George, Frank, Zipporah and 
May. Sherburn, the second born died at the 
age of twenty- tliree years. Our subject is a 
Republican in politics and has served four 
years as Assessor of the township, and live 
years as a member of the County Board of 
Supervisors. For many years he has been a 
member of the Grange. Mr. Bryant is a 
man who commands the respect and esteem 
of the entire coinniunity, as he is a wortliy 
and public-spirited citizen. 

fOIIN ALEXANDER CRAIG, profes.sor 
of Animal Husbandry at the University 
of Wisconsin, was born in Russell town- 
ship, Russell county, province of Ontario, 
Canada, Christmas Day, 1867, son of Will- 
iam and Anabelle (Petrie) Craig. 

William Craig was born in Glengarry 
county, Ontario, Canada, in 1828, his parents 
having come from Scotland to America about 
1820 and located there. He was by occupa- 
tion a lumlierman, and engaged somewhat in 
farming operations. He was chosen a Rep- 
resentative from his district in the House of 
Representatives of Ontario, and served with 



marked distinction. Mrs. Craig, the Pro- 
fessor's mother, was of Highland Scotch 
origin. Pier people came to America about 
the same time the Craigs came. They reared 
a family of five children, as follows: Russell, 
who now has charge of his father's business; 
Jessie, attending the University of Wiscon- 
sin; Ida, head nurse and an instructor in the 
Stanley Institute of Canada, a school for the 
training of nurses; and Florence, attending 
common scliool. 

John A. received his early education in 
the common schools of KemptviJle, Ontario. 
In 1884 he entered Ontario Agricultural 
College at Guelph, which institution was soon 
afterward affiliated with the Toronto Univer- 
sity, and there he grail uated in 1888 with the 
degree of B. S. A. He then became resident 
editor of the Canadian Live Stock Journal, 
published at Hamilton, Canada. A month 
later he was made managing editor and the 
paper was moved to Toronto. There he 
prosecuted his work with vigor until he was 
called by the Board of Regents of the Uni- 
versity of Wisconsin to his present position, 
that of professor of Animal Husbandry. He 
has tilled this chair most acceptably since 
January, 1890. 

Professor Craig has made valuable con- 
tributions to various agricultural journals 
and periodicals. His specialty is experi- 
mental work in live-stock, principally sheep. 
He frequently lectures before farmers" insti- 
tutes, and so thorougli has been his study and 
investigation that his opinion is regarded as 
authority. 

fOHN SIMONS.— Our subject devotes 
his life to the supplying of the wants 
of the inner man, and has the reputa- 
tion of a landlord who supplies toothsome 



5U0 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



viands that have no touch of dyspepsia in 
them. He is proprietor of the hotel that 
bears his name at Madison, Dane county, 
Wisconsin; a comfortable, homelike place, 
with accommodations for about fifty guests. 
The hotel is centrally located at the corner of 
^Nfaine and Butler streets, and has a large 
barn for feeding and caring for horses. Mr. 
Simons began as a hotelkeeper in 1873, 
spending the tirst ten years at the North- 
western railroad depot. He has resided at 
Madison since August 17, 1847, with the 
exception of a year or so; beginning work as 
a boy at anything he could turn his hand; as 
early as 1850 earning his bread in a brick- 
yard; later he entered the employ of the 
John lioderman Brewing Company, with 
which he remained about eighteen and one- 
half years; it being destroyed in JSiovember, 
1873, he in the same year, Decembers, be- 
came proprietor of the Germania Hotel, at 
the Northwestern de])ot. 

Mr. Simons began life as a poor boy, but 
by unflagging industry has acquired a line 
property. Tlie SimoTis Hotel was built by 
him in 1883 and enlarged in 1888; he hav- 
ing besides this other valuable property, which 
proves his industry and economy. For many 
years he has been recognized as one of the 
very live men of Madison, and is the oldest 
German settler now living here. IHs old 
friend and former employer, Mr. Koderraan, 
to whom he was greatly attached, has passed 
away from earth. 

Our subject was born at Neuesjed, Rhine 
province, Germany, April 24, 1834, Ijeing 
yet a boy when he came with his maternal 
grandfather to this country; starting from 
Havre de Grace, France, in the good sailing 
ship, Albany, an American vessel, and land- 
ing at New York after a passage of tiiirty- 
five days; going thence up the Hudson river 



to Albany, by canal to Buffalo, by tlie lakes 
to Milwaukee, and then spent three days in 
a lumber wagon before reaching Madison. 
Tile parents of our subject and liis maternal 
grandmother joined them the following year, 
taking the same rout(!, when all settled in 
the town of Springfield upon a new farm, 
but second-hand land, buying some Govern- 
ment land with it. Here the older members 
of the family, including the father, motlier 
and grandparents, continued to live until 
their deatii; the father, Ludwig Simons, dy- 
ing at the age of seventy-six; the mother, 
Catharine (Ecker) Simons, only cliild of 
Henry and Catharine Ecker, died at the age 
of seventy-eight; the grandfather dying at 
the age of ninety-three and the grandmother 
at the age of eighty-five; all the family, for 
many generations, being Roman Cathdiies. 

The father, Ludwig, was a baker in Ger- 
many, where for several years he served his 
country as a soldier. A brother of his, a 
seventh son, named Napoleon, in honor of 
the great Emperor, was to iiave been edu- 
cated by the mighty man, but he was de- 
stroyed, while yet a boy, in the great fire at 
the burning of Moscow, when it was taken 
by the Frencii. 

Our subject is the eldest of a family of 
seven, five sons being born in Germany, and 
one son and one daughter, deceased, born in 
this country, (^ne, Wiihelm, lives on the 
old home j)luce in Springfield township, Dane 
county; Christian, the youngest, also is a 
farmer living in the same townsliip; Sigfred 
is a farmer in Union township, Dane county; 
Antoine is a farmer in W'isconsin; the liv- 
ing all being married. Jacob, another 
brotiier, died October 30, 1891, leaving a 
family. 

Our subject was married at Madison to 
Helena Lumbardy, a native of Prussia, Ger- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSTN. 



501 



many, who came with her parents to the 
United States, settling at Springfield in 1849, 
and lias since resided in Dane county, in 
Roxbury township, where the parents died. 
Her father was a farmer, and he and the 
other members of the family were Roman 
Catholics. Mr. and Mrs. Simons are mem- 
I)er3 of the Church of the Holy Redeemer 
(Roman Catholic), and Mr. Simons is a mem- 
ber of the building committee of parish 
schools. He is a member of a number of 
social and benevolent orders, among which is 
the Catholic Benevolent Society. 

Mr. and Mrs. Simons are the parents of 
nine children, live of them dead, including 
the first-born, viz.: Sarah, Herbert, August, 
Henry and Anna. The living are: Fred A., 
clerk for his father, married Maggie Doylen, 
a resident of this city; Mary, helping at 
home; John A., at home; and Josephine, a 
successful young artist, at home. 



fOHN Q. A. ROOD, a successful farmer 
of Dane county, Wisconsin, was born in 
Washington county, Vermont, May 22, 
1825, a son of Moses and Edith (Robinson) 
Rood, also natives of Vermont. The father, 
a farmer and lumberman by occupation, died 
in Wisconsin in 1854, and the mother died 
in the same State in 1863. They were the 
parents of eight children, six sons and two 
daughters, all but one of whom lived to years 
of maturity. 

John Q. A. Rood, the subject of this 
sketch, came to Wisconsin in 1845, locating 
in Janesville, Rock county. Three years 
later he went to Stoughton, where he and his 
brother built the milldam across the river; 
remained there two years; then at Waterloo, 
Wisconsin, until 1852; in that year went 



west with o.\ teams, being from April until 
September in making the trip, and took up a 
tract of land in Willamette valley, Oregon. 
lie was engaged in milling in that State seven 
years, and in 1858 returned to Waterloo, 
Jefferson county, Wisconsin, where he fol- 
lowed the lumber business four years. In 
1865 Mr. liood bought his present farm of 
140 acres in Dunkirk township, Dane county, 
where he has since been engaged in general 
farming. Politically he affiliates with the 
Republican ]>arty, and has held the office of 
Township Supervisor two terms. 

In June, 1852, he was united in marriage 
with Mary E. Estes, who was reared in North 
Carolina, and they have one child, Harriet 
E., wife of William Tyler, of Dunkirk town- 
ship, this county. 



ERNHARD II. NIENABER, manu- 
9M\ facturer of and wholesale and retail dealer 
in cigars, Madison, Wisconsin, is ranked 
with the prominent business men of the city. 
He is the oldest manufacturer of cigars in 
Madison, having established himself in busi- 
ness here in 1860. July 8, 1863, he lost his 
entire stock bj lire, but five days later again 
started up, and liis business career has since 
been one of marked success. He is now 
located at 215 East Main street, in a building 
he erected and moved into in 1882. Until 
ten years ago he employed a large force, 
from ten to twenty-five, all the time, but of 
recent years he has not conducted his busi- 
ness on such an extensive scale. Mr.Niena- 
ber began learning his trade in Indianapolis, 
Indiana, in 184U, the year he landed in the 
United States, and worked at it there until 
he came to Wisconsin. He dates his arrival 
in Madison February 27, 1854, and from 



502 



BIOQRAPniOAL REVIEW OF 



that time until he engaged in business for 
himself he was employed as a cigar-maker. 

Mr. Nieiiaher was born in the grand duchy 
of Oldenburg, not far from Bremen, Ger- 
many, August 11, 1837, and was reared and 
educated there. In the fall of 1849, accom- 
panied by his sister, Ingle, wlio was two years 
his senior, he took passage on a three-mast 
sail vessel, the Gustafi", Captain Van Zantan, 
and after a voyage of seven weeks landed in 
New Orleans; thence up the Mississippi and 
Ohio rivers to Cincinnati, where their two 
brothers, John Henry and Ferdinand, had 
lived for two years. .lolin Henry settled in 
Covington, Kentucky, where he was subse- 
quently married, and where he has since made 
his home. He was in the rolling mills fifteen 
years, and was also a jol) mason and plasterer. 
He is now retired from active business. 
Ferdinand first settled in Cincinnati, then 
went to Indianapolis, where, in 18-49, he 
established a cigar manufactory. Subse- 
quently he returned to Covington and en- 
gaged extensively in tlie manufacture of 
cigars there. He has since made his home 
in Covington, and is now living retired. He 
lias been prominent in local matters, has 
served as delegate to numerous conventions, 
and has been, and is yet, president of the Old 
Settlers' Association of (Jovington. His wife 
was before her marriage Miss Agnes Stonte- 
beck. The sister, Ingle, above referred to, 
also married in Covington, and she and her 
husband are botii deceased. They left two 
children. Another brotlier and sister, Frank 
and Elizabetli, tlie oldest of the family, came 
to the United States in 1854. Tliey, too, are 
deceased, and both left families. Frank died 
from the effects of a sunstroke, and Eliza- 
beth died only a few years ago. 

Having briefly referred to the brothers and 
sisters of Mr. Nienaber, we now turn to iiis 



parents, Antone and Agnes (Fon Lemden) 
Nienaber. They were both born and reared 
in 01denl)urg, Germany, and were there mar- 
ried. Tiie father was a farmer the greater 
part of hie life. When he was young he 
served for a while as cook on the Holland 
herring boats. He and his wife and all the 
family were devout members of the Catliolio 
Church. In 1852 the parents left Bremen 
for America, and in due time landed at New 
Orleans. From there they started up the 
river, intending to join their children atCMn- 
cinnati. The mother, however, was doomed 
never to reach her destination; for cholera, 
which was epidemic at that time, claimed her 
as a victim. She died at Evansville, Indiana, 
and was there buried under tiie rites of tlie 
Catholic (/hurch. Tiie bereaved father and 
husband continued his way a few days later 
to Cincinnati, where the mingled joy and 
sorrow at the meeting with his expectant 
ciiildren can better be imaixined than de- 
scribed — ^joy for the father's safe arrival and 
deepest sorrow caused by the beloved motlier 
being snatched away when almost within 
their reach. The father passed the rest of 
iiis days with his son, Henry, and his daugh- 
ter, Elizabeth, and died at the age of eighty- 
three. The mother was about sixty-five at 
the time of her <leath. 

Tlie sul)ject of our sketch was married in 
Madison, Wisconsin, Marcii 11, 1861, to Miss 
Catharine Adolph, who was born at Quadrat, 
.near the river Riiine in Germany, November 
15, 1839. iler father died in Germany, and 
after his death she came with her motlier, 
brother, Jacob, and three sisters, Sabilia, 
Sophia and Margaret, to America, landing at 
New York in 1854. Two years later they 
came to Madison. In this city the mother 
died, aged eigiity-two years. Sabilia married, 
and is also deceased. Sophia is the wife of 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



503 



Jacob Esser, Sr., a contractor and builder of 
this city. Margaret is now mai-ried to ber 
second liusbaiid, John Walterscbeit, a farmer 
of Blooming Grove, this county. Her first 
luisband was killed in the late war. Tlie 
brother, Jacob, also a soldier in the civil war, 
died afterward while in the West. 

Mr. and Airs. Nienalier have had ten chil- 
dren, two of whom, Sophia and Frank, died 
when young. Those living are as follows: 
Anna, wife of Godfred Moery, a mason and 
contractor of Madison; Saliilla, wife of Casper 
Hauk, a machinist, residing in Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin; George W., a prominent young 
man in local matters, married Nellie I3ropby, 
and is his father's assistant in the cigar busi- 
ness; Antoiie, a mechanic in the employ of 
the Fuller & Johnson Manufacturing Com- 
pany, of Madison; John B., a resident of Chi- 
cago, engaged in the drug business; Catharine, 
Elizabeth, and P^'rank. The last three named 
are at home. 

The family are members of the Holy 
Redeemer Catholic Church. Politically Mr. 
Nienaber is a Democrat, and has served as 
Alderman of the Third Ward. He is a 
member of the leading German societies of 
this city. 



ILLIAM V RO M A N.— Prominent 

n w.,>i,j among the pathiinders of Wisconsin 

\tJmM 11 

(•■SiJsn ami the representative citizens ot 

Madison, stands the gentleman whose name 
heads this brief sketch, whose interests have 
been identified with those of the capital city 
for more than fifty years, and who has con- 
tributed by his honorable and energetic 
efibrts to the financial prosperity and moral 
advancement of the community. 

William Vroman is a native of the Empire 




State, having been born in Onondaga county, 
February 20, 1818. His parents, Jacob and 
Olive (Tolls) Vroman, were natives of New 
York and England, respectively. They re- 
moved to Indiana in an early day, where they 
died when the subject of this sketch was but 
three years of age. After this sad bereave- 
ment, 3'oung William lived with his uncles 
and aunts in New York State until he attained 
the age of nineteen years. He received a 
common school education and the careful 
training of moral and religious minds. At 
the age of nineteen he joined the westward 
tide of emigration, coining to Madison, wliere 
he was for a time employed at the carpenter 
and joiner's trade. He afterward returned to 
New York, where he continued to work at 
his trade for four years, being in that State 
at the time of Harrison's inauijuration in 
1841, grandfather of the recent president 
In September, 184:4, Mr. Vroman again came 
to Wisconsin, which was still on the frontier 
of civilization and a Territory. He engaged 
in farming and contracting in Dane connty, 
which was then but sparsely settled. In 
1861 Mr. Vroman was elected Connty Treas- 
urer for four years, and in 1863 he discon- 
tinued farming and eniraged in the lumber 
trade in Madison, continuing in that business 
until 1889, when he retired from active pur- 
suits to enjoy, in rest and cotnfort, the accum- 
ulations of his earlier years, being cheered by 
the society of his wife and children. 

Mr. Vroman was married in New York, in 
March, 1844, to Harriet Field, a native of 
Oneida county, that State, and a daughter of 
Lincoln Field, a prosperous farmer and con- 
tractor. They have had two children: Charles 
Edwin; and Ellen Josephine, wife of E. C. 
Mason, a well-to-do plumber and gasfitter of 
Madison. 

Politically, Mr. Vroman was formerly an 



504 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



old-time whig, but since 1860 has been identi- 
fied with the Republican party. 

Public-spirited and enterprising Mr. Vro- 
man has assisted in the upbuilding of his 
city and has lent his moral aid to the advance- 
ment of all educational and religions institu- 
tions, and justly enjoys the esteem of a wide 
circle of friends. 

JpfeflLLIAM HOLDEN FARNS- 
W/.'f ' ^^"^f^r^TH, a farmer, resident of the 
l*=&;^ township of Dunn, Dane county, 
Wisconsin, was born on the farm where he 
now resides June 8, 1853, and his father, 
Calvin C. Farnsworth, was one of the first 
settlers of the town, born December 8, 1817, 
and the grandfather of our subject is thought 
to have been born in Rupert, Bennington 
county, Vermont, his father having come 
there among the first settlers of the county 
from Connecticut, probably even before the 
Revolutionary war. His deatli occurred at 
Burlington, and his wife, a member of the 
Kellogg family passed away there also. 

lloldeu Farnsworth, the grandfather of our 
subject, was reared on a farm and always fol- 
lowed that occupation. At one time he owned 
a farm but was unfortunate in giving se- 
curity for a friend and thus lost his farm. 
He died at Winook Falls in 182(5. The name 
of his wife was Susanna Cobb, born, it is 
thousrht, in Bennincjton. She survived her 
husband many years and died at the home of 
her daughter, Mrs. Farwell, in Rutland, Wis- 
consin in 1858. 

The father of our subject was eight years 
of age when his father died, and he then went 
to live with his aunt Polly Gray of Dorset, 
Bennington county, Vermont, wliere he was 
reared and educated. He was reared on tlie 
farm and remained with tliat irood woman 



until his twenty-first year and then started 
out in the world for himself. One year's 
employment in farm work brought him ^120, 
and he continued work in both Bennington 
and Rutland counties until 1846, when he 
emigrated to the Territory of Wisconsin. He 
started from Granville, Washington county, 
with a team accompanied by his bride, and 
drove as far as Fort Ann. and there took tiie 
Ciiam plain and later the Erie canals to Buffalo, 
going by lake to Milwaukee. At this place 
our subject's father hired a team to take them 
to Dane county. The country was but sparse- 
ly settled and game was still abundant. 
Tiie brother of Mrs. Fransworth had traded 
for 600 acres of land in what is now the town 
of Dunn, and Mr. Farnsworth bought 140 
acres of the land from him, and they located 
on section 28. Norman Farwell and his wife 
had accompanied Mr. Farnsworth, and they 
moved into a log house with another family 
until they could build a cabin of their own. 
Here Mr. Farnsworth long lived and added 
to his real estate until he had 256 acres. His 
first marriage was witli Mary Cramer, of 
Granville, Washington county, New York, 
September 21, 1846, and she was a daughter 
of Charles Cramer, who was born in Germany, 
of German and American parents. Mr. Cra- 
mer leared the trade of potter and followed 
that trade in the town of Granville until his 
death. The maiden name of his wife was Mary 
Rugg, who was a native of New York. She 
survived her husband many years and died at 
the home of her daughter in Dane coutity in 
1868. Mrs. Farnsworth died in 1856, ami in 
1857 Mr. Farnsworth married her sister, Delia 
A. Cramer. Three children of the first mar- 
riage: Susan A., who married William Aul, 
and Ann Elizabeth, who married L. S. Chand- 
ler; and our subject; and one son of the 
second marriiii'i', Reuben Calvin. 



DANE COUNTY, WISGONSIN. 



505 



Onr snl)ject received liis early education in 
the district school, which was advanced by at- 
tendance at Albion and the high school at 
Oregon, and this good fonndation was sup- 
plemented by tirst-class business education 
at Madison managed by Professor Ilarring- 
toD. He has always followed farming and 
now owns and operates 109 acres of the old 
home farm. He married December 13. 1881, 
Miss Lena C. Criddle, who was born in the 
town of Dunn. Her father, James Criddle, 
was born in Somei'setshire, England, and his 
father, the grandfather of Mrs. Fariisworth, 
was born in the same shire, and was the son 
of James and Grace (Sage) Criddle. He came 
from England to America, but remained in 
this countiy but a short time and died in his 
own land. Eiglit of his children came to 
America, Mrs. Farnsworth's father coming in 
1849, sailing from Bristol in tiie month of 
March in the sailing vessel Casma; landed 
in New York five weeks later. He came 
directly to Wisconsin via the Hudson river, 
then to Buffalo and on the lakes to Milwau- 
kee and then by team to Rock county. He 
was in straightened circumstances and at 
once found employment on a farm, remain- 
ing in Rock county for several years, when 
he removed to Mitchell county. Iowa, and 
one year later moved to the town of Dunn 
in Dane county, where he purchased a farm 
and still owns and occupies it. The maiden 
name of the mother of Mrs. Farnsworth was 
Susanna Carver, born in New York, adaugh- 
ter of David and Nancy (Durfer) Carver, and 
her father was a lineal descendant of Gover- 
nor Carver. Mr. and Mrs. Farnswortli have 
tliree children. 



|p|L()N J. SPARKS, a prominent farmer 
and stock-raiser, located on section 17, 
in York township, was the son of Aus- 
tin Sparks, and his grandfather was of En- 
glish descent, born in Vermont, where he 
always lived and where he dieil. Austin, 
the father, was born in Vermont, in the 
year 1S22, and was brought up on a farm. 
He secured a fair e<lucation, attenditig the 
common schools of his native State, remain- 
ing at home until he was thirty years of 
age, when he decideil to start out foriiini- 
self. April 1, 1852. Having heard of the 
western country of Wisconsin, he came to 
Walworth county, where he stayed two years; 
then, purchasing a flock of sheep, he drove 
them to the township of York, section 17, 
where he purchased alwut five hundred acres 
of land; this was in 1854. He moved into 
a log house and commenced his e.xperience 
in pioneer life. He then continued working 
the land, raising wheat and other cereals. 
By patient industry and economy he amassed 
a competence, liut was not permitted to re- 
main long enough to carry out his designs 
for a home and a residence, as he died, No- 
vember 2, 18fi5. He died in Lowell, Dodge 
county, Wisconsin, of lung fever, contracted 
while thresiiinir on his farm there. 

Mr. Sparks was married near the home of 
his selection, to Miss Adelaide Cripps, who 
was born in IJletchington, Oxfordshire, Eng- 
land, her people emigrating to this country 
when she was quite young. Her people were 
early settlers of York township. This union 
was blessed with two children: Fred A., who 
lives in Columbus, Wisconsin, and Elon J., 
the subject of this sketch. 

Our subject lives on an manages tlie old 
farm, his mother having improved the same, 
eroctinir a good residence and commodious 
barns. She was married a second time to Grove 



506 



BIOQRAPniCAL REVIEW OF 



D. Wood, and now lives in Columbus, Wis- 
consin. Elon J. is a Wisconsin boy, liaving 
been born on the farm originally bought by 
his fatiier and in the old log house, Decem- 
ber 6, 1862. He received a common school 
education, and was brought up to work, and 
is now an industrious farmer. 

The marriage of Mr. Sparks was celebrated 
April 7, 1886, to Margaret Ann Edwards, 
who was born in Kenerton, Flintshire, En- 
gland, being ot Welsh and English descent. 
Her people emigrated to this country when 
she was but two months old. They have 
three children: Austin Thomas, born June 9, 
1887; Ina May, May 14, 1889, and Margaret 
liuth, November 14, 1891. 



|]ir ATI! Eli A. J. KUEIINE, pastor of the 
^jRit Church of the Sacred Heart at Sun 
'^' Prairie, Wisconsin, came here in 1880. 
His grandfather, Anthony Kuehne, was a na- 
tive of Switzerland; in that beautiful country 
his life was passed and there he died. The 
lather, Anthony, was born in Switzerland in 
1820, and as he lost his father at an early 
aire he was principally reared by his uncles 
in that country. He was given fair oppor- 
tunities for obtaining an education, worked 
at various trades and became a good shoe- 
maker. He was united in marriage in that 
same country to Catherine Annie Zahner, 
in 1845, and two years later they came to 
America, on a sailing vessel. Some travel- 
ers have taken tiiis trip witli fair winds 
and calm seas, but Mr. and Mrs. Kuehne 
encountered severe storms and consumed 
8i.\ty-two days on the voyage. This was a 
new English vessel and had a large passenger 
list and among them were twenty from 
Switzerland. 



Landing was made at New Orleans, whence 
ilr. and ilrs. Kuehne went to Kentucky, 
where they remained live years, working at 
his trade of shoemaker, thence to Indiana, 
where he rented a farm and engaged in farm- 
ing. On account of the prevailing malarial 
fever and consequent unhealthiness in the lo- 
cality Mr. Kuehne removed North, settling 
in Milwaukee in 1856. There they remained 
until 1883, where he located at his trade, 
opening a shop here and engaging exten- 
sively in the boot and shoe business. At 
this place Mr. Kuehne had a shop of his 
own, also a store and worked for a wholesale 
dealer, thus leaving no stone unturned to 
honestly increase his business. 

In 1873 he was selected, on account of his 
many admirable traits of character, as janitor 
of St. Joseph Church, where he remained 
until 1883, when he removed to the place of 
his son in Sun Prairie. Both father and 
mother are now living here. There were 
eight children, of whom only three are still 
living, viz.: Josephine, who married Joseph 
Itoelil, of Milwaukee; Mary A., of Sun Prai- 
rie; and A. J., our subject. 

Father Kuehne was the eighth and last 
child born in the family, July 19, 1857, and 
attended the parochial school in Milwaukee 
until his thirteenth year, and then continued 
study under private instructors until he was 
si.Kteen, when lie entered St. Francis College 
at Milwaukee and began study for the priest- 
hood, remaining there until he was ordained 
June 27, 1880. He was then sent to Frank- 
lin and St. Martins' post office, where he 
took charge of tiie (Miurch of the Sacred 
Heart for about three ;nonths. On Septem- 
ber 17, 1880 he took charge of the Sacred 
Heart at Sun Prairie, and under his care and 
managenieiit tlie church has greatly pros- 
pered. 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



507 



When lie came to tliis charge the building 
for service was a small frame structure, still 
standing at present, being used as a school- 
bouse. It was among the first of tlie build- 
ings constructed in Sun Prairie. Every- 
thing has seemed to prosper under the fos- 
tering care of this efficient priest. When he 
came sixty families made up the congrega- 
tion, while now 125 families are under his 
pastoral care. In 18S6, a large, commodious 
brick church was erected, 45 x 105, at a cost 
of $15,000, anil it is l)eautifully and artistic- 
ally finished throughout. In 1S91 a teachers' 
dwelling-house, of brick, was erected at a 
cost of $2,000, and now the congregation 
is building a brick parsonage to cost $4,000, 
which is designated to be a modern struct- 
ure, with two stories, attic and basement. He 
opened a parocliial school, with an attendance 
of eighty-tive pupils. 

The families under the charge of Father 
Kuehne are of German and Irish national- 
ities, the most of them having been Amer- 
ican born. They live within a radius of 
four miles. The reverend Father has the re- 
spect and confidence of the community and 
is adding material wealth to his congregation 
and is giving the best of his life to their 
spiritual welfare. 



-tfe 



^ 



fAMES NEVIN, superintendent of the 
^1 Wisconsin Fish Hatchery, was born at 
^ New Castle, in the Province, Ontario, 
June 4, 1854. His father, Joseph Nevin, 
was born in the county of Antrim, Ireland, 
and tlie iTrandfather of our subiect was of the 
same and Scotch ancestry. He was a farmer 
and spent his last days there. The father of 
our subject and his brothers, WiHiani and 
John were the only members of the family to 



come to America. John resides in Hamilton 
county, Nebraska; William settled in Peters- 
burg, Menard county, Illinois, and died there. 
The lather of our subject came to America 
when a young man and settled in New Castle. 
His circumstances were limited and he sought 
employment on the farm and was finally en- 
abled to rent land, and in 1S80 Ijought a 
farm in Essex county, whcic he now resides. 
The maiden name of his wife was Mary Ellen 
Wilson, born in county Down, Ireland, and 
her father was born in the same place, of 
Scotch ancestry. He emigrated to America 
and landed in Quebec, where he died imme- 
diately after lamling. The mother reared 
seven children: James, William, (reorge, 
Albert H., Fred, Viola and Herbert. 

Our subject was reared and educated in his 
native town and commenced when very young 
to be self-supporting and worked on the farm 
for six dollars a month. A short distance 
away from his father's place was the Govern- 
ment fish-breeding establishment. When he 
was fifteen years of age he commenced work 
in that institution at $20 per month and 
boarded himself. He paid strict attention to 
his work and made a thoroutrh study of all 
the details and mastered a profession that 
but few have any knowledge of. He remained 
at that station until 1875, when he was 
transferred to Windsor, Ontario, and placed 
in charge of the hatchery at that place, where 
he remained until 1882, when he resigned to 
accept his present ])osition. 

Our subject was married October 8, 187'J, 
to Mary Ellen Ilobinson, a native of England, 
and her parents were natives of the same lo- 
cality. Mr. and Mrs. Nevin have two 
children: William and Thomas W. He is 
a member of Madeira Lodge, No. 5, A. F. & 
A. M., Madison Chapter, No. 4, R. A. M. 
and Robert M. Coy Commaudery, No. 3, K. T. 



508 



BI06RAPBIGAL REVIEW OF 



fOHN W. DODGE, a farmer living on 
section 23, in York township, is the 
subjeo.t of this sketch. The name of the 
grandfather of our subject was Nathaniel 
Dodge, and the father was Willis. Tiie i)irth 
of tlie latter took place in Oneida county, 
New York, and grew up there until he was 
twenty years of age. At that time he began 
to long to see the world, and made a trip to 
"Wisconsin, on foot, and passed through 
rianesville when there was but one house 
there. He traveled all the way from New 
York to Fond du Lac and studied the country. 
He was so pleased with the appearance 
around where Janesville now stands that he 
bought land there and paid some upon his 
purchase, and then returned to New York. 
His father had not seen the land and naturally 
distrusting the judgment of youth dissuaded 
him from either returning to Wisconsin or 
paying more upon the land, and to induce him 
to remain he bouo-ht him a farm in his home 
vicinity, [)aying for it S-i,0()0, and there he 
remained until the death of his father. He 
received a fair education in the common 
schools and when his father had died he im- 
mediately made his way to the State which 
had so taken his boyisii fancy. He bought a 
farm on section 23 in Dane county, improved 
it and added to it until he had 320 acres and 
when he came to this place there were 
very few improvements here, and Mr. Dodge 
began at once to improve. He found the 
land tine for wheat and could raise great 
crops of that cereal, but ho had to haul it a 
long distance to Milwaukee and then sell it 
for from twenty-five to fifty cents'per busliel. 
After a few years he built a better house, 
hauling the lumber from Nickeljohn's mills, 
a distance ot 112 miles, by team and this 
same home is still standing. 

The first marriarre of the father of our sub- 



ject took place in New I'ork and the second 
one also in New York, but in Wisconsin 
he found his third wife, Miss Harriet Gloss. 
She was a native of New York and from this 
marriage came a family of four children: 
Ella, married S. D. Smith, and lives in New- 
York township; John W. ; Ida IMay, married 
George E. Graham; Hattie, lives at home. 
The father of this family died in 1882. The 
children of his first marriage were: Eunice 
(deceased); Amarilla, married O. Carskaden 
and lives in New York; Emily, married John 
Johnson and lives in Y'ork township; Adelia, 
died in Iowa and left three children. The 
children of the second marriage were: Ko.xy 
(deceased), died in Kansas and left one child ; 
Eliza, married Malford H. ('arskaden and 
lives in Prescott, Kansas; Jane, is the mother 
of two children, married William Benson 
and lives in Kansas; Olive (deceased); Har- 
riet, married Pliilander Perkins (deceased); 
Maria, married Fren Horaehe (deceased); 
George W., who died in Y\)rk township, 
Wisconsin, and Luraney (deceased), who 
married Eben Perkins in New York. 

The grandfather of our subject was a Ver- 
mont farmer, who went to Oneida county. 
New York, and there taught scbool and sing- 
ing-school, and married Miss Eunice Perry, 
of Connecticut, and reared a family of four 
children, as follow^: Orpha (deceased); Mary, 
married her cousin Andrew Perry and both 
are deceased; Willis D., the father of our 
subject; and George W., deceased. 

The farm which Mr. Willis Dodge owned 
was rented at the timeof his death. As soon 
as the time was out, John W., who was born 
the only son, July 5, 18(34, took charge of the 
place and now rents 320 acres for a cash 
rent. His aged mother finds a pleasant home 
with him. He is interested in creameries, 
conducting one in York township, and a 



nAXE COUNTY, WISCON'/SlN. 



50!) 



partner, owning a half interest, conducts one 
in Bristol. 

The marriage of our subject took place 
November 20, 1889, to Miss Lettie Bradley, 
born in Cottage Grove township, and one 
child, little Robert, has been born into the 
family. Mr. Dodge is a very intelligent man 
and he cannot lielp showing some regret that 
his father did not retain his land in Wiscon- 
sin. It would have proven very valuable. 
He often tells how his father in that long 
trip on foot would overtake teams and out- 
strip theni to some place. 

^HARLES THOMPSON WAKELEY, 

il^r, of Madison, Wisconsin, w^as descended 
on both sides from ancestors who settled 
in America in early colonial times. The 
more recent branches resided in Connecticut, 
where their generations were born and 
raised to the time of his parents, who re- 
moved from that State during the last war 
with Great Britain to eastern New York, 
where they were married. Both grandfathers 
were patriot soldiers of the Kevohition, 
one of whom, Henry Thompson, clubbed 
his musket at the age of si.xteeu years, at 
the battle of Bunker Hill. Solmous and 
Hannah (Thompson) Wakeley, the parents 
of our subject, were natives of Litchfield 
county, Connecticut, the latter being a de- 
scendant of Anthony Stoddard, the ancestor 
of Presidents Edwards and Dwight of Yale 
College. After marriage they removed from 
eastern to central and later to western New 
York, having lived in Buffalo before it was 
much rebuilt from the ruins of its burning 
in the Ust war. They afterward removed 
to ](Oston, in tlie same county, Erie, where 
Charles T. Wakeley was born, December 17, 

34 



1827. Another son, William Pitt, was born 
there two years later. 

In 1836 the family, consisting of parents, 
three sons and two daughters, removeil to 
Lorain county, Ohio, going by lake Erie 
from Buffalo to Cleveland. The panic of 
that year had prostrated the father's busi- 
ness of shoes, leather and tanning, and a new 
start had to be made and a new country 
found. New England pluck, industry and 
intelligence, combined with former experi- 
ence in a new country, were equal to the. 
undertaking. The location was made in the 
"Western Reserve" of Ohio, so called, — aj)- 
parently "reserved" for New England pe()[)le, 
and their principles and habits, which the 
settlers there generally possessed. They 
were Puritans, whether with or without the 
Puritan religion. Olierlin College was lo- 
cated near, and was the controlling spirit in 
politics and religion. That institution was 
founded upon a diet, for its disciph^s, of 
Graham bread and milk and water. There 
was, however, no milk and water, but strong 
meat in their puritanical religion and aboli- 
tion politics from the time of Tajipati and 
Garrison and the underground railroads to 
Canada, up to the time of Lincoln, Giddings 
and emancipation. Tlie pupils of Oberlin 
swarmeil as teachers, and the common schools 
were good within a great radius. Oberliu 
was also an original coeducational college. 
Tiie elder daughter of the Wakeley family 
graduated there in the full classical course 
about 1846. The common schools were then 
supported by the self-imposed taxes of the 
districts, the teachers boarding around. They 
gave the other children of the family an edii- 
cation in English through the higher 
branches, the elder sou adding a good Latin 
education at the village academy, also read- 
ing law. 



510 



BIOORAPUICAL REVIEW OF 



From Ohio the family removed to White 
Water, Wisconsin. The father went there 
in 1841, riding on liorsehaek, and bought 
a farm and village home. It need be 
scarcely mentioned in this history, for it was 
the common lot of all, tliat lie passed heed- 
lessly through Chicago without buying it. 
Returning to Ohio and preparing for Heal 
removal, in the summer of 1842 he came 
with the younger daughter, Lucy, and 
Charles, in company with otiier families, to 
his new home, all the way in wagons. Such 
a journey to the West in those days was, in 
many respects, delightful and romantic. The 
gloom of the heavy forests, then very little 
cleared, gradually gave way to the sunny 
out-openings of orchard sand flowery prairies, 
and made it seem like an escape. The prai- 
ries were still in their wild state, being 
avoided by the first settlers, and only taken 
up as the last chance. Michigan presented 
the first sight of the wonderland of prairies 
to the western movers, and by their beauty 
and genial climate, that State had lost some 
of its bad reputation as a fever and ague 
country, and was then in the van of North- 
western progress. That State furnished the 
only two railroad tracks seen on the route by 
our emigrants. The general community in 
these days shared the opinions of the fiat- 
boatmen from the rivers and the sailors from 
the lakes, that these so-called railroads would 
only be pretty playthings, which would never 
be able to drive a boat from the lakes, or 
a covered freiixht waifon from the land. The 
roads were then white, or wliite and black, 
with prairie schooners all the way from the 
wheat farms of Ohio to the lead mines of 
Wisconsin and Illinois, headed to and from 
the great lakes, loading and unloailing the 
vessels with their freights, and now and then 
headed westerly in long trains, carrying emi- 



grants and thus robbing the vessels of their 
freights. 

June 2. 1842, Charles T. Wakeley thus 
arrived in White Water, then, as now, one 
of the prettiest and most enterprising towns 
of the State. The following year the re- 
mainder of tlie family came to that village 
by the lake route from Cleveland to Milwau- 
kee. Solmous Wakeley and wife resided in 
White Wator until the former's death, which 
occurred at Madison, in 18fi7. He was 
elected as a member of the first constitu- 
tional convention, was twice a member of 
the Assembly, and for a series of years 
County Supervisor. He was originally a 
Jackson Democrat, and was one of only seven 
to vote for his hero in Hoston, New York. 
He became an original Republican, was vice- 
president of their first State convention, 
and president of their lirst Congressional 
convention of his district. His wife sur- 
vived him seven j'ears, residing after his 
death with her older son. Judge Eleazer 
Wakeley, in Omaha, Nebraska, where he had 
removed in 1867, from Madison. He has 
since resided there, engaged in the practice 
of law and as District Judge, having a'so 
served as ITnited States Judge of Nebraska, 
in Territorial times. In AVisconsin he wa.s a 
member of the last Territorial Assembly and 
was State Senator. 

Charles commenced his main lite-work, 
while a mere boy, in White Water and some- 
what by chance. In 1843, he was employed 
as Assistant Postmaster. The Postmaster 
being a practicing lawyer, and there being 
but one mail a week each way, a year's time 
was put in by the young assistant in indus- 
triously reading the law books which were in 
the ortice. Indeed, in those days books werp 
scarce, ami it was the universal practice tp 
read all books within reach. In 18^4 he 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



511 



dropped this thread of life, and went to 
Galena, Illinois, to learn tlie printers' trade 
with Horace A. and Henry W. Teiiney. 
They were friends in Ohio, and were in that 
city publishing the "Jeffersonian." Galena 
was then the principal shipping point from 
the lead mines in Illinois and Wisconsin, hy 
way of Fever and Mississippi rivers. Dur- 
ing his work as printer Mr. Wakelev con- 
tinued the study of Latin, commenced under 
his bn_)ther in White Water, and wliich was 
very useful to him in the university. 
"Fever" river was a significant name, and 
fever and ague shook the apprentice loose 
from its hanks in a few months, and he re- 
turned to Wisconsin. The Tenneys also 
soon came to Madison, where they conducted 
the "Argus." In 1840 Mr. Wakeley came 
to this city and resumed his position witli 
the Tenneys, remaining in the printing busi- 
ness in connection with attending the nni- 
versity until 1852, when he was elected State 
printer. He then taught two years in the 
Madison Female Seminary. During this 
time, in 1848, as soon as the preparatory de- 
partment of the University of Wisconsin was 
organized, and on the very first day Mr. 
Wakeley was one of less than a score of 
young men to make the first class, under 
Professor John W. Sterling. 

This great seat of learning was then, and 
for four years after, located in the lower 
story of the Female Seminary building, the 
present sight of the high school building, 
although the loci of some of its departments 
were various and temporary. Professors' 
private rooms, hotel parlors, law offices and 
students' rooms were some of the grand and 
imposing "seats" up to 1852, while abna 
inaief boarded around, in the last named 
year she commenced housekeeping in her 
present quarters, having only the north dor- 



mitory building for students' rooms and all 
departments, and it was ample. Mr. Wake- 
ley was one of two to carry forward without 
loss of time the first classes of that institu- 
tion to the time of its first graduating class, 
in June, 1854. At that time, with Levi 
IJoothe, now of Denvei\ Colorada, as an only 
class-mate, he graduated as the valedictorian. 
In his address he strongly condeujned the 
compulsory study of Latin and Greek, es- 
pecially the latter, in the college course, out- 
lining courses similar to those now generally 
selected, and asking for the freedom of choice 
now secured. In 1855 there was no gradu- 
ating class in the university. In 1S5G there 
was a class of four, and since that time there 
have been classes every year. So, for two 
years Mr. Wakeley constituted one-half of 
the alumni of the University of Wisconsin, 
and, with his class-mate, made the univer- 
sity two years older as an ahiia mater than 
it would have been without his work. For 
the first five years he was a participant, with 
scarcely an exception, in all public exercises 
of the university. In 1849 he was editor 
and reader of the first literary paper; in 1850 
was one of the authors of the constitution 
of the first literary society, the Athenean, 
and, after Professor Sterling, its first presi- 
dent; in 1857, he received its first diploma 
as A. M.; and in 18tJ2 was the first presi- 
dent and orator of the Alumni Associa- 
tion. John H. Lathrop, Chancellor; John 
W. Sterling, O. M. Connover and J. Pearl 
Lathrop, professors, and Stephen 11. Car- 
penter, tutor, constituted the faculty of the 
university during that time. Professor Ster- 
ling, the last survivor, died in 1884. They 
were all great scholars, and good and true 
men. 

In 1854-'55 Mr. Wakeley read law in the 
office of Chauncey Abbott and Julius T. 



512 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



Clark, in Madison, and in the latter year was 
admitted to the bur. He resided in Madison 
and practiced law industriously until 1865; 
served as District Attorney from 1863 to 
1865; and as City Attorney for several years. 
His partners in succsssion were Judge J. Gil- 
lett Knapp, Henry E.' Frink, Daniel K. Ten- 
ney, Judge Samuel Crawford, Hon. Wm. F. 
Vilas and Judge Eleazer Wakeley. During 
the year of 1865 he was in the East, and was 
in Ford's Theater, at Washington, when 
President Lincoln was assassinated. He had 
a close and clear view of ail that took i)lace, 
heard and located the pistol shot, saw the 
trajiical theatrical pose with the dagger, the 
stumble in striking down on the stage, break- 
ing the ankle, and heard most distinctly and 
unmistakably both the e.xclamations of Booth, 
"<Si"c semper tyrannls" and "Revenge for 
the South," and the classical, critical ob- 
server noticed that the criminal blew away 
the last vestige of dust from his imagined 
bed of glory by accenting '■'■ii/ra7inia" on the 
the first syllable. While at Washington, 
Mr. Wakeley also witnessed the last great 
imposing act of the war, the review of the 
troops as they passed along Pennsylvania 
avenue, fresh and joyous, at a five-mile gait, 
to hear on reaching home in every loyal 
State, "Boys, we welcome you home!" Mr. 
Wakeley was an original member of the 
Governor's Guard of Madison, which unani- 
mously did its duty in setting up a striking 
nniform and inspiring brass band, and by a 
large quorum adjourned to the war, and fur- 
nished nearly 200 of the higher officers; the 
minority lielpiiig some at homo. He was 
chairman of the committee raising quotas 
for the precincts of the county; was an origin- 
al member of the Madison l..iterary Society, 
now grown to the Free Lil)rary Association; 
and with Horace Rublee and Daviil J. 



Powers made the first selection of books. 
For the purchase of these the ladies of the 
city very successfully conducted annual 
strawberry festivals, which overbalanced the 
ledger against the deficit produced by the 
courses of "popular" lectures, which that so- 
ciety was the first to provide for the city. 

In 1867 Mr. Wakeley was married to Mrs. 
Julia Elizabeth Dela Vergne, of Providence, 
Rhode Island, a grand-daii<fhter of Robert 
and Elizabeth Sterry. He resided for seven- 
teen years upon his farm in the city, doing a 
fair law Inisiness, was for a few years County 
Supervisor, and assisted efficiently in build- 
ing the new courthouse. Since 188-1 he 
has held the office of Justice of the Peace of 
Madison, continuing also the practice of law, 
in which his specialty is United States Pat- 
ents. 

Sir William Hamilton's aphorism, "In the 
world there is nothing great but man; in 
man there is nothing great but mind,' is 
strikingly exemplified in the life and char- 
acter of this prominent and esteemed citizen 
of Madison, whose career has been a series 
of benevolent and valuable services. 

f^ERMAN (). AL:\rE, a furmer of Dane 
county', was born on section c53. Pleasant 
Spring townsliip, Dane county, Wiscon- 
sin, Auii-ust 3, 1848. a son of Ole and Susan 
(Dodd) Ilermanson Almc, natives of Bergen, 
Norway. The parents were married in their 
native State, and came to America in 18-17. 
While in the old country the father was en- 
craged in drivinglive-stock toChristiania, and 
after coming to America followed farming. 
He died of cholera in 1854, leaving four 
children: Herman (>.. uur subject; Mette 
Malone- Caroline, wife of (He Hansen, o 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



51?, 



Stou^hton; and Lina J., of Dunkirk town- 
sliip. The mother still resides in this town- 
ship, aged sixty-two years. After the death of 
her first husl)aiid slie married a Mr. Evans, 
and they had three sons and two daughters. 

Herman O., the subject of this sketch, was 
reared l)y a stepfather, and received only a 
limited education, having had to walk three 
miles over a marsh to reach the school. In 
the fall of 1872 he began life for himself, 
and he now owns a fine farm of 110 acres, 
which lie has cleared and improved. He is 
engaged in general farming and stock-raising- 
Politically Mr. Alme affiliates with the Dem- 
ocrat party, and has held all the minor offices 
of his township. Religiously he is'a member 
of the Lutheran Church. 

June 16, 1884, in Rutland township, Dane 
county, he was united in marriage with Bertha 
Knutson, a native of Norway, but who came 
to America in infancy. Mi', and Mrs. Alme 
have three living children: Orin Alexander, 
Olive Melvina and Selmer. Two children 
died in infancy, — Susan and Ada. 

-'^^-^-I-— - 

IILLIAM HERBERT IIOBBS, Ph 

J)., assistant professor of Mineralogy 
and Metallurgy, University of Wis- 
consin, was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, 
July 2, 1864, son of Horace and Mary P. 
(Parker) Hobbs, of that place. His father 
was atid is examiner of titles in the office of 
Register of Deeds in Worcester county, 
Massachusetts, and during the late war was 
Captain of Company H, Fifty-first Massachu- 
setts Volunteer Regiment. He was a son 
of General George Hobbs, also a resident of 
Worcester. Samuel Hobbs, the original an- 
cestor of the family who settled in America, 
came here from England in 1636 with John 
Winthrop, and located in Massacliusetts. 




Dr. Hobbs was one year old when his 
mother died, and later his father married 
JMaria Knowles, of Auburn, Worcester county. 
When he was six years of age the family set- 
tled in Auburn, where he attended school 
until he was fourteen. Then he was a student 
at Woj'cester Academy two terms. In the 
fall of 1880 he entered Worcester Free In- 
stitute of Industrial Science (now Worcester 
Polytechnic Institute), where he followed a 

course of drawin<r and designing, and grad- 
es J? o^ o 

nated third in his class in 1883. The follow- 
ing winter he was principal of the high 
school at Boylston, Massachusetts. In the 
fall of 1884 he entered Johns Hopkins Uni- 
versity, Baltimore, Maryland, where he re- 
mained until 1886, jnirsuing studies in 
chemistry and mineralogy. In the summer 
of 1886 he acted as field assistant in the 
Archtean Division of the United States Geo- 
logical Survey, operating in western Massa- 
chusetts, in the Berkshire hills, and the fol- 
lowing winter and spring he spent at Harvard 
University, studying geology under Pro- 
fessors Shaler and Woltt". In the summer 
of 1887 he was made Assistant United States 
Geologist. He re-entered Johns Hopkins 
University the following fall; was appointed 
a Fellow in Geology, and received the degree 
of Ph. I), in June, 1888. Tiie subject of 
his thesis was "On the Rocks Occurring in 
the Neighborhood of Ilchester, Howard 
county, Maryland." From July, 1888, until 
June, 1889, he was abroad, studying petrology 
under Professor Rosenbusch, in the Univer- 
sity of Heidelberg, Germany, and visiting 
various points of interest iu Germany and 
Italy, especially the volcanoes of Italy. 

After his return to the United States Pro- 
fessor Hobbs resumed work on the United 
States Geological Survey in western New 
England, and in the fall of that same year 



614 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



was called to the University of Wisconsin as 
iustrnctor in Mineralogy and curator of the 
Geological and Miueralogical Museum. In 
1890 he was promoted to the assistant pro- 
fessorship of Mineralogy, and was made sec- 
retary and librarian of the Wisconsin Acad- 
emy of Sciences, Arts and Letters. He is 
still assistant geologist in the United States 
Geological Survey. 

Following is a partial list of papers by 
Professor Hobhs: 

Ou the Petrographical Characters of a Dike 
of Diabase in the Boston Basin: Bulletin 
Mus. Goinp. Zool., Harvard College, xvii., p. 
1.: one plate. (March, 1888.) 

On the Rocks Occurring in the Neighbor- 
hood of Uchester, Howard County, Maryland: 
Johns Hopkins University Circulars, No. 65. 
(April, 1888.) (Preliminary Notice of a 
Dissertation for the Degree of Doctor of 
Philosophy.) 

On the Paragenesis of Allanite and Epi- 
dote as Ivock-forming Minerals: American 
Journal of Science, (3), xxxviii., p. 223. 
(September, 1889.) 

Ueber die Verwachsung von Allanit und 
Epidot in Gesteinen: Tschermak's min. u. 
petrog. Mitth. xi., p. 1. (1889.) 

On Some Metamorphosed Eruptives in the 
Crystalline Rocks of Maryland: Trans. Wis- 
consin Academy of Science, etc., viii.. p. 155; 
one plate. 

Oil a New Occurrence of Olivine Diabase 
in Minnehaha County, South Dakota (with 
G. E. Culver): Trans. Wisconsin Academy 
of Science, viii., p. 206. 

Some Pseudomorphs from the Taconic Re- 
gion: Am. Geol., x., p. 44. (July, 1892.) 

On Secondary Banding in Gneiss: Bull. 
Geol. Society of America, vol. iii., p. 460. 
(1892.) (Witii plate 14.) 

Notes on a Trip to the Lipari Islands in 



1888: Trans. Wisconsin Academy of Science, 
ix., p. 20. (1892.) One plate. 

jATHANIEL MARTIN, a resident of 
Vienna township, Wisconsin, was born 
in Franklin county, Vermont, in 1832. 
His father was Nathaniel Martin, born in 
New Hampshire, in 1795. and his father, 
Thomas Martin, also a native of New Eno-- 
land, came from an Irish father and a Hol- 
land mother. The great-grandfather of our 
subject, whose given name is not known, was 
a ijunsmith from Ireland, who came to New 
Enj^landata very early day. The grandfather 
followed the occupation of farming and 
reared his son, Nathaniel, to farm life. 
Thomas Martin was one of a large family of 
children. His father was an active partici- 
pant all through the Revolutionary war, and 
wounded by a bullet through his arm. He 
was a musician, a lifer, and now both he and 
his wife are sleeping in the little graveyard 
in Sheldon's Corners, Vermont. This place 
was named for George Sheldon, the maternal 
grandparent. Grandfather Martin died at 
the age of seventy years, and his wife soon 
after. Grandfather Sheldon dieil in Sheldon, 
Vermont, at the age of ninety- three years, 
having reared six sons and three daughters, 
to whom he left a fair estate for that day, and 
the old homestead is still in the family. He 
was a typical frontiersman and iiunter, and 
enjoyed life thoroughly, lie was well and 
widely known, and for his prowess he was 
held in high esteem, and the town was named 
after him. His father was of English lineage, 
and was a Colonel in the Revolutionary war, 
having at one time the command of the post 
where Major Andre was tried and convicted. 
His faithful old wife survived him some timg 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



515 



and died at the age of ninety-five. Tiie last 
one of the family, John Sheldon, died at 
Appleton, Wisconsin, in IS'JO, aged about 
eighty. 

Nathaniel Martin moved to New York, in 
1834, settle<l in Franklin county, and there 
bought an improved a farm of some seventy 
acres, but in 1847 he came to Wisconsin, 
settled in Dane township, Dane county, for 
two years, being one of tlie first settlers and 
organizers of that township. He was a Bap- 
tist preacher, and preached the first sermon 
ever delivered in the town of Springfield, 
where he now lies. Two years later he sold his 
land in Dane township, and removed to 
Springfield township, four miles away, where 
he bought 600 acres of Government land. He 
sought this location on account of water 
privileges. In those days they did not know 
how to reach the hidden fountains, deep in 
the earth, nor how to harness the wind to 
draw it, and a good living spring was a 
treasure. At this place Mr. Martin thought 
he had made his permanent home, but within 
three years death claimed hira, and in his 
fifty-eight year he died of lung fever, and his 
last resting place is in the Kingleigh cemetery. 
His wife lived nearly a quarter of a century 
after his death, a widow, and died at the age 
of eighty-three years, and was laid to rest by 
the side of her husband. 

Nathaniel Martin, of this sketch, is the 
youngest of seven children, of these Giles 
died in early childhood, in Vermont, and the 
next to die was Polly, the wife of Horace 
Payne. They moved from Springfield, Wis- 
consin, to Nebraska, where she died on the 
farm, of fever, aged fifty-seven years. She 
left three sons and three daughters. The 
living children of Nathaniel's household are 
as follows: Smith G., a Nebraska farmer, 
aged seventy-four years; George S., a Baptist 



preacher, of Ottawa county, Michigan, aged 
seventy-two; Henry, a farmer of Rock county, 
Minnesota, aged seventy; Sarah became the 
wife of John I>abcock, of Dane township, 
who came to Wisconsin in 1840; she is now 
his widow, residinij on his farm in Hamilton 
county, Nebraska, is sixty-five years of age, 
and has three sons and four daughters. 

Mr. Martin lived at home with his parents. 
His father died when he was twenty years 
old. Ho was married to Miss Lucy Martin, 
his cousin, a daughter of Phineas Martin and 
Rosalba (Herrick) Martin, both natives of 
Vermont, where the daughter was born. They 
came West to Wisconsin, in 1852, via rail- 
road and lake to Milwaukee. Nathaniel Mar- 
tin was a fanner in good circumstances, and 
lived fur thirty-two years on the old home- 
stead, where nine children were born to them. 
Of this number, two died in early childhood, 
namely: Albert Lincoln, born in 1860 and 
died two years later; Alva died in 1872, aged 
eleven months, and the living ones are: Giles 
P., a farmer near the old homestead, and has 
one son and two daughters; Delilah, who 
married Starky Lester, a farmer near by; 
Eugene, a prosperous merchant of Jefferson, 
Iowa. He has one son and two daughters; 
Annetta, the wife of Isaac G. Braden, is 
now at home, but is a resident of Dane, 
where Mr. Braden has been in the mercantile 
line, and they have one daughter and one 
son: Andrew J., single, at home, is a regular 
farmer; Eva, a young lady, a teacher is at 
home; and Emma M., the youngest, is now 
teaching. Five of these children have taught 
schools, and Giles, the eldest was a veteran 
teacher, having taught for many years, and 
was considered by his superintendent to be 
one of the two best of his district. 

Mr. Martin has been Supervisor for 
Vienna and Springfield for eight terms, and 



516 



BIOGRAPEICAL REVIEW OF 



has been Chairman of the Board for six terms. 
He is a Democrat, but was elected to this 
office in a strong Republican township. He 
is Chairman at present of the town of Vi- 
enna. Mr. Martin has 220 acres in this farm, 
which is a fine one, within one mile of the 
Northwestern railroad depot, at Waunakee. 
This place he bought in 1880, for §7,000, 
including the present fine farm house, with 
Milwaukee white brick. The place was run 
down, but now shows the thrift and neatness 
of its thorough owner. He does mixed 
farming, and keeps a tine stable of good 
horses, of all work, of which he has fifteen 
head now, and as he considers hogs the most 
profitable and sure stock, he raises a good 
many of them. Mr. Martin has turned off 
as many as 150 head per year. He shipped 
as many as 110 to Chicago in 1882, or 
1883, which averaged 340 pounds, and 
brought $2,400. He grow-s corn, oats and 
wheat, and also a fine croj) of hay. His dwell- 
ing and outbuildings stand on a line, dry ele- 
vation, sloping to the southeast, and this is 
one of the most attractive and pleasant-look- 
ing farm houses in the district. Mr. Martin 
is one of the best and most thrifty farmers, 
and has received but little assistance from his 
parents. Socially he affiliates with I. O. t). F. 



;Ii. WILLIAM GEORGE RARGETER, 
a dentist of Stoughton, Dane county, 
was born in Soho, a suburb of Bir- 
mingham, England, September 22, 1859, a 
son of Thomas and Ellen (Durnford) Par- 
geter, the former a native of Oxfordshire, 
and the latter of Wiltshire, England. The 
])arent8 came to America in 1869, locating 
first in Stoughton, Dane county, Wisconsin, 
but are now residents of Reno county, Kan- 



sas. They are the parents of ten children, 
eight of whom are now living. 

William G. Pargeter, the eldest child in 
the family, was educated in the country 
schools of this county, also worked at farm 
labor until twenty years of age. Two years 
later he entered the dental office of Rol)inson 
& Koilock, of Madison, Wisconsin, where ho 
was engaged in study and practice for four 
years. In 1884 he began the practice of his 
profession in Stoughton. He was married 
September 22, 1885, at Milwaukee, Wiscon- 
sin, to Belle Thayer, who was born in Bing- 
hamton. New York, and reared in JMadison, 
Wisconsin. Mr. Pargeter is independent in 
his political views, and he and his people are 
members of the Episcopal Church. 



^ 



R. N. C. EVANS, a prominent physi- 
cian and druggist of Mt. Horeb, Dane 
^^ county, Wisconsin, is a son of Christian 
Evanson, who was born in Christiania, Nor- 
way, December 24, 1819. While in his 
native country the latter was engaged as a 
contractor and in the stock business. In 
1854 he came to America. Mr. Evanson 
was married in Norway, to Rangnild Nielson 
Brekke, a native of that country, and who 
came to America with her brother, Lars Nel- 
son, in 1848, preceding her husband by about 
five years. Tliey came by sailing vessel, and 
were sixteen weeks on the voyage, having 
been grounded on a rock near England, and 
obliged to wait for repairs. After landing 
in New York they came by Erie canal and 
the lakes to Milwaukee, then to near Stough- 
ton, and later to Madison, where she met 
her husband. The father was then witiiout 
money, having failed on account of Modum's 
nickel mine having shut down. His cus- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



517 



torners were miners ami could not meet their 
obligations; l)ut by bard work the mother 
had saved about §350. They first engaged 
in keeping a boarding-house in Madison one 
year, and then bougiit 120 acres of laiid on 
section 14, Perry township, Dane county, 
paying ^3 per acre. Tliey lived about four 
years in a "dng-out," covered with sod, etc., 
after which they ei'ected a more conimodi- 
ous residence, in which they still reside. 
Mr. Evanson has added to liis original pur- 
chase until he now owns 240 acres of the 
finest land in the townsliip. In 1872 he was 
appointed Postmaster of Forward, JJane 
county, and was also engaged in the mercan- 



tile 



nisiness until 1887. Althouah not a 



politician, he lias been connected with town- 
ship offices, having served as a member of 
the 13oard of Supervisors, as Assessor and 
Treasurer. 

Mr. and Mrs. Evanson were the parents of 
four children: Christian, deceased, was 
buried at Kochester, New York; Annette, 
wife of P. A. Tyvan, of Forward, Perry 
township; Niels C, our subject; and Ma- 
tilda, who died at the age of three and a half 
years, and was buried in the old Peri-y ceme- 
tery, in Perry township. 

Niels 0. Evans, the subject of this sketch, 
was liorn on the old homestead in Perry 
township, July 10, 1857. His people were 
strongly opposed to tjie common schools, and 
he therefore studied the catechism and learned 
what he could under adverse circumstances 
until twelve years of age. He was then per- 
mitted to attend the public schools during 
the winter terms for the following four years, 
and then, in company with another boy, 
started for Postville, Green county, where 
they attended school three months. Mr. 
Evans returned home every Saturday, walk- 
ing the entire distance of ten miles, and on 



Monday morning taking provisions to last 
the entire week. After leaving this school 
he attended the Worthington Business Col- 
lego, at Madison, three months, after which 
he continued liis studies at home. He was 
then in delicate health, and consequently had 
much time for study. In 1881 Mr. Evans 
began the study of medicine, under Dr. A. 
J. Ward, of Madison, where he remained 
from September until the following April. 
He was an apt scholar, and made rapid 
progress. The following fall he entered the 
College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Chi- 
cago, where he graduated in March, 1884, 
and then Itegan the practice of his chosen 
profession at Mt. Horeb. • A few years after 
his arrival here he established his drutr store, 
where he still continues. 

Dr. Evans was married September 9, 1879, 
to Lena C. Lewis, a native of Norway, and 
whose parents now reside in Pen-y township, 
Dane county, Wisconsin. To this union have 
been l)orn four children: Carl Milo, Nora 
Lydia, Belle Rosetta and Walter Clarence. 
The Doctor is a prominent man in his town- 
ship, has held aloof from politics, but is fre- 
quently urged by his friends to accept posi- 
tions of trust. During the fall of the year 
1892 he received the nomination for member 
of the Assembly, on the Democratic ticket, 
in the Fourth District of Dane county. 
Herman B. Dahle was nominated on the Re- 
publican ticket; ( ). M. Ilelland on the Pro- 
hibition ticket. Mr. Dahle and the Doctor 
were born and raised almost neighbors, in 
the town of Perry, this county, which made 
it rather unpleasant, in a degree, to run 
against one another; but the Doctor, liaving 
received the nomination first, could not con- 
sistently refuse to run, however much he 
disliked to. The result of the election was 
that the Doctor received 1,805 votes, H. B. 



518 



BIOORAPHICAL HE VIEW OF 



Dahle 1,420, aud O. M. Hellaud 268,— giving 
the Doctor 385 plurality, and a majority of 
117 votes over both the other candidates. 
In the home town he received forty-three 
Republican votes, whereas Mr. Dahle drew 
only five Democratic votes away from Dr. 
Evans. 

After his election he entered into partner- 
ship with Dr. C. A. Gill, of Madison. He 
is the only practicing physician in the town, 
is a pleasant and reliable gentleman, and has 
the confidence and esteem of his fellow- 
citizens. 



lEORGE WEEKS, a successful farmer 
of York township, Dane county, Wis- 
consin, is the subject of this sketch. 
His grandfather, David Weeks, was a native 
of Vermont, but later removed to Jefferson 
connty, Xew York, near VVatertown, where 
he had a farm. There he died when eighty- 
two years uf age. He had married in Ver- 
mont and reared tlie following children: 
Holland, who became the father of our sub- 
ject; Mary married John Herbert, and he 
died on the farm four miles nortii of Water- 
town; Esther married W. W. Wager and 
lives in Xew York city; Hallie married Mr. 
Ferris and lives in Mishawaka, Indiana, 
where he was an early settler; David mar- 
ried Miss May Campbell, died in St. Law- 
rence county, New York; a brother died 
when young and Belsoria married Moi'ton 
Turner, and resides at Potsdam, New York. 
Holland Weeks, the father of our subject, 
was born in Guilford, Windham county, Ver- 
mont, in 1800, there went to school and at- 
tended to the farm duties, as did the little 
New England boys of that day. At Water- 
town and Hermon, St. Lawrence county, he 



engaged in lumbering, farming and merchan- 
dising until 1850. He married Clarissa D. 
Ingalls, who was born in Ellisburg. New 
York, and commenced married life in Brown- 
ville, where he became a successful business 
man, but later lost much of his wealth and 
removed to St. Lawrence county. Here he 
engaged in merchandising for a time, then 
took up a farm, which was heavy timber, 
cleared it and burned the timber as it had no 
market value. In 1850 he started for Wis- 
consin, coming l)y rail and boat to Milwaukee 
with wife and five children, his wife going to 
Jefferson county as she had some brothers 
there. He rented a farm and was making 
money, but poor crops threw him back again 
and he removed then to Dane connty and 
there rented a [ilace on section 11, where he 
engaged to have half the crops. There was 
a log house on the place and the family 
moved into it, and here he had good crops, 
raising wheat, barley and corn, which was 
marketed in Milwaukee, wliere it was sold to 
teamsters. Barloy brought twenty-eight cents 
and wheat about the same. Columbus was 
the nearest point where groceries could 
be obtained. Here the family lived about 
one year and then removed to a place on sec- 
tion 15, where they lived for three years. 
Here was a log house, and forty acres were 
broken and crops were good, but at this time 
the farm was sold. He then rented a farm 
on section 1, remaining three years and here 
had good crops, lived economically and re- 
mained three years. During this time he 
bought eighty acres in section 14, but this 
was unimproved, and with his son he then 
rented the Huntington farm for three years, 
continuing successful. In the meantime the 
eighty acres were broken, a house was built 
and by the time his lease on the other farm 
was out he could move upon his own place. 



DA2^E OOUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



519 



He had married in Jefferson county, in 
1834, and six children were born: Edmund 
M., who married Mary Kinney, and died in 
St. Croix county; George, our subject; 
Charles E. married three times, his present 
wife having been Martha Poe, and he lives 
at Fairhury, Nebraska; Mary married R. W., 
Rexford and Uvea in Fairbury; Charlotte 
married Mr. Vose and lives in Spokane Falls, 
Washington; and Lewis A., deceased. 

The subject of this sketch was born in 
Brown ville, Jefferson county, New York. 
His youth was spent at liome and lie went 
with his parents to St. Lawrence county, 
where he attended sciiool and had the advan- 
tages of an academy for one term after com- 
ing to Wisconsin. When lie was nineteen 
years of age he Itought his time of his father, 
paying him $50 a year, and hired out to work 
on a farm at $18 a month. During two 
summers he worked on the farm and at- 
tended school in winter, making enough to 
pay his way, and then he bought tliree pairs 
of oxen. His brother had three yoke and 
this made a breaking team and they went 
into the business together from $2 to $5 per 
acre. After coming to Wisconsin he taught 
school winters, boarding around, an expe- 
rience which must be endured to properly ap- 
preciate. Later he bought one-quarter of 
the eighty acres purchased by liis father. In 
1859 he purchased with his brotiier, Charles 
E., eighty acres adjoining the tract of his fa- 
ther, and here our sul)ject labored hard. He 
ditched, fenced, improved and cropped some 
of it and not only succeeded in paying for it, 
but bought out his brother's interest in 1861. 
He l)uilt a little house, 14: x 22, and, on De- 
cember 9, 1860, he was married to Miss 
Helen Manning from New Jersey. Until 
1862 lie lived with his parents and then re- 
moved to the little liome and lived there un- 



til August 14, 1862, when his wife went 
home to her people and he enlisted in Com- 
pany A, Twenty-ninth Volunteer LiEantry. 
That year he had an immense crop, but after 
enlistment he stacked it, hired a man to 
thresh it and started to the front. \lti en- 
listed as a private, but in Camp Randall was 
commissioned Second Lieutenant and was 
sent to Helena, Arkansas, and to Mississippi, 
remaining there inarching up and down 
through the swamps all winter. He went up 
the White river on picket duty, but in the 
spring, or rather February 11, 1S63, lie was 
made First Lieutenant. The exposure of the 
winter had been too severe and when the army 
was around Vicksburg the physician advised 
his return home on sick leave. 

(_)ur subject was so loth to leave his post 
tliat he did not obey the surgeon until June 
30, and when he reached home his weight 
was only ninety pounds. Li the course of 
two months he began to improve, gained 
rapidly, re-enlisted in February and was com- 
missioned a recruiting officer, and witii C. E. 
Wainer raised a company of 143 men in the 
city of Madison in seven days. 100 men 
were selected from this number and formed 
into Company 1!, Thirty-sixth Wisconsin 
Volunteer Lifantry, and then our subject 
went to the Army of the Fotomac, reaching 
there on t!ie morning of the battle of Spott- 
sylvania Court House. He went into the Sec- 
ond Army corps (Flancock's), and took part 
in nearly all of tiie battles up to the time of 
the' surrender of Lee, during this time hav- 
ing a siege of eight weeks with typhoid 
fever. Two days before the battle of Cold 
Harbor he was sent to Chapin's Farm and at 
this place commanded the company and lost 
forty men out of his sixty. He was mustered 
out at Louisville, Kentucky, and he returned 
home, with twenty-live of the 100 who iiad 



520 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



started out. On June 27, 1864, he was pro- 
moted to be Captain and took |>;ut in all the 
battles of the memorable campaign of that 
summer with the exception of two. 

After his return he resumed farming at 
the old place and has continued ever since 
engaged in the same occupation. The old 
place now contains 220 acres with two larpe 
barns ami that place is rented. In 1883 he 
bought an improved farm of eighty acres on 
section 10, moved there and made additional 
improvements, living now at that place. Our 
subject lias si,\ children: Julia, now at home; 
Georgie married John Slatter and lives at Sun 
I'rairie, Wisconsin; the third child died in 
infancy; Helen, Sarah, John M., and Fay V. 
are at home. The father of our subject died 
November 22, 1870, but his mother survived 
until September 15, 1883. 

Mr. Weeks has been prominent in the 
township, having l)een elected Supervisor 
when only twenty-four years of age. He has 
repeatedly been a member of the Board, once 
was Chairman, and a member of the Legisla- 
ture, 1877. In 1870 he was Deputy Fnited 
States Marshal. In 1881-'S2 he was elected 
Sheriff of the county and for two years was 
warden of the Wisconsin Penitentiary, com- 
mencing in October, 1889. He is a Kepub- 
lican in politics. He has always been inter- 
ested in education, having filled the offices of 
treasurer and clerk. It will be seen from 
the above inadequate sketch that our subject 
has been an important factor in this com- 
munity. He takes a just pride in his various 
successes and has the esteem of the citizens 
of liis county, and with the majority is very 
popular. 



HARLES KENT TENNEY, an attor- 
ney of Madison, Wisconsin, was born in 
Madison, Wisconsin Territory, April 
19, 1848, a son of Horace A. and Juliett P. 
(Chaney) Tenney. The father served as 
Territorial Printer, and later as State Comp- 
troller, which office was afterward abolished, 
also as Paymaster in United States Army. He 
still resides in Madison, but the mother died 
in this county iu February, 1884. They were 
the parents of eight children, five sons and 
three daughters. 

Charles K. Tenney was first given a pri- 
mary education in the early schools of Wiscon- 
sin, and in 1862 entered the University of 
Wisconsin, where he remained about four 
years. He then began the study of law 
under his uncles, II. W. and D. K. Tenney; 
was admitted to the baron the day he became 
twenty-one years old, and in February, 1869, 
began the practice of law at Carthage, Mis 
souri. He also embarked in the newspaper 
business, starting the Carthage Patriot, which 
he soon sold to S. D. Carpenter, well known 
in this county. He then resumed the prac- 
tice of law in Wisconsin, with H. M. Lewis. 
He held the office of City Attorney, from 1872 
to 1876, and in the latter year, his eyesight 
having failed, he was obliged to discontinue 
his profession for about five years. For the 
past seven years he has held the office of 
Justice of the Peace. 

September 28, 1870, our subject was uni- 
ted in marriage with Anna Baldwin, a native 
of Boston, Massachusetts, and a daughter of 
Jonathan Baldwin, also of that city. To this 
union has been born four children: Charles 
H., engaged in the insurance business; 
William D., employed on the railroad; and 
two deceased in infancy. Mr. Teuney is a 
Democrat in his political views, and has acted 
as Municipal Judge of Dane county. He lias 



DANE COUNTY, WISCO^STN. 



r,21 



just declined to l)c candidate for County 
Judge, althougli strongly urged liy nieuibers 
of the bar and otlier prominent citizens. 
Public-spirited, capable, highly honorable 
and of a generous, genial disposition, he de- 
servedly enjoys a great degree of popularity. 



,I,;^R. IIEXRY BAIRD FAVILL, a suc- 
cessful practitioner and popular citizen 
of Madison, Wisconsin, was Ijorn in this 
city, August 14, 1860. He is one of three 
children : two sisters, Therese. and Eleanor 
Tenney, whose husband is a prosperous attor- 
ney of the World's Fair city. John and 
Louisa (^Baird) Favill, parents of the subject 
of this sketch, were natives of Herkimer 
county. New York, and of Green Hay, Wis- 
consin, respectively. His father was a phy- 
sician, and received his medical education at 
Harvard University. He practiced two years 
in Lake Mills, Jefferson county, this State, 
whence he removed, in 1848, to Madison, 
where he was well and favorably known for a 
great many years. He died here, in Decem- 
ber, 1883, sincerely lamented by all who 
knew him. The wife and mother still sur- 
vives, and resides in this city, where she is 
the center of a large circle of friends. Her 
father, Henry S. Baird, of Green Bay, this 
State, was a prominent man in the early his- 
tory of Wisconsin. He was at one time At- 
torney-General of the, then. Territory, and 
did efficient work in the advancement of its 
best interests. His maternal grandmother, 
Elizabeth T. Baird, was a prominent ciiaracter 
in the early civilization of Wifconsin. She de- 
scended in blood from the ruling chiefs of the 
Ottawa nation, with an admixture of French 
and Scotch, and was a great-niece of Frtsident 
Monroe. 



Henry B. Favill, the subject of this sketch, 
received his early education under tin; elHident 
instruction of his worthy mother, after wiiich 
he attended the high school of Madison until 
he was fifteen years of age. The following 
year he entered the State University, at which 
he graduated at the age of nineteen years. 
Thence he went to the Rush Medical College, 
Chicago, at which he graduated in 1883. 
He began the practice of medicine, previous 
to leaving college, in the Cook County Hos- 
pital, in Chicago. 

On completing his studies, he returned to 
Madison, where he engaged with his father 
in the practice of medicine, which partner- 
ship was dissolved by the tleatli of that re- 
vered |)arent, since which time he has con- 
tinued alone. He has a general practice, 
devoting himself to no special branch of his 
profession. He is also special lecturer on 
Medical Jurisprudence in the law de|)arr- 
ment of the Univei-sity of Wisconsin. Poli- 
tically he is a Republican, although he is too 
busily engaged with iiis professional affairs 
to tal*e more than a passing interest in 
politics. 

He was married June 17, 1885, to Susan 
Cleveland Blatt, an intelligent lady, and a 
native of Bnjoklyn, New York. They have 
one child, .folin, born Setjtember 9, 188(5. 

Thus in the practice of a useful profession 
his life is nobly passing, yielding, like mercy, 
a double blessing, touching both him.self and 
his fellow-men with its hallowed liirht. 



,NDRKW KENTZLEli, the well known 
'f/X»VS '^"'' P'jpi'lfi'' liveryman of Madison, is 
■^i^E- the proprietor of the largest livery barn, 
located on East Doty street, and was born in 
canton St. Gall, Sevelen, in the village of the 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



same name on the river Rhine in Swtzerland, 
May 2, 1832. He had tlie misfortune to 
lose his mother early in life, being but six 
years old at the time of her death. Her 

maiden name was Anna , wliile the 

name of her husband was Andrew Kentzler, 
Sr. The family name was formerly spelled 
Kuntz or Kontzler, it belonging to a very old 
family located both in Switzerland and on 
the river Rhine. The father of our subject 
spent his life in his native land, and died 
there when seventy years of age, about 1852. 
He was a carpenter by trade, and he and his 
good wife were i'rotestants in religion. Our 
subject, a brother, John Ulrich and a sister, 
Anna, started for the United States in 1848, 
by boat, stage and cars to Havre de Grace, 
where they embarked on a sailing vessel for 
the long journey across the. to them, un- 
known seas. Landing in New York city 
after a voyage of forty-two days they pro- 
ceeded to Milwaukee where they began to 
earn their daily bread. The brother, John 
U., is a fanner in Fond du Lac county, Wis- 
consin, and is married, as is the sister, Anna. 
One sister, Mrs. Haginan, still resides in 
Switzerland. 

After coming to America our subject, wiio 
was tl'.e youngest of the family, settled at 
once in Washington county, Wisconsin, where 
lie remained for two years, later spending 
two years at Fort Atkinson, one year at 
Wiiite Water, from which place he pro- 
ceeded to Madison. He has earned his own 
living since he was f(;ui't(^cn years of age and 
has now amassed a fortune of $50,000, as the 
result of liis labors. During iiis entire life 
he never allowed a creditor to ask him twice 
for money and at the present time no man 
can say tliat Mr. Kentzler owes liim but he 
can pay. During his entire life he lias been 
a hard worker and he enjoys the reputation 



of being a man who is not afraid of work. 

Mr. Kentzler began life in this city in 1852 
as a hostler for Gilbert Dutcher in the United 
States Hotel. After five years with the latter 
gentleman, having saved his money, our sub- 
ject invested his money in a iiorse and buggy, 
being trusted for what he was not able to pay 
for. In this humble way, with only about 
$225 capital, he established what was destined 
to be one of the leading livery barns of the 
city of Madison. 13y hard work and close 
application to business he was soon able to 
add to his small stock, increasing his stable 
room as he found necessit}' for it, and finally 
built his fine and commodious stable about 
1864, that he now occupies, which is the 
most convenient barn in the city. Since 
coming to the city he has been exclusively 
engaged in this business, and has gained an 
extensive knowledge of the reijuirements of 
horses during this time, and is the oldest 
liveryman in the entire city. In his barn he 
carries the finest assortment of equipages and 
iiorscs in the Northwest, and i.s able to supply 
the most handsome outfits. Everything in 
his stables is of the best possible quality and 
of most modern make and design. He keeps 
at least twenty-five good horses in his barn 
beside several good hacks. 

Our subject was married in Madison, Wis- 
consin, to Miss Jolianna Rhinhardt, born in 
the province Byran, Germany, but who came 
alone to America when a young woman, set- 
tling in Wisconsin, living at Kenosha and 
Portage a few years before she came to this 
city. She is the only member of her family 
that came to this country, lier father dying 
in Germany. Since her marriage she has 
been a faitiiful wife to Mr. Kentzler, and has 
proved herself a kind mother to the six cliildren 
she bore him, two of whom died in infancy. 
Those living are as follows : Andrew li., yet 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



52.3 



single and at home ; JMylo, his fatlier's fore- 
man, married Kittie Iloak ; Anna, wife of 
John Grindy, a successful clothier of Madi- 
son and Gertrude, at home. Since coming 
here our subject has taken an active part in 
local matters and has been a leader in what- 
promised to be of benefit to the city. Al- 
though not an office seeker he is a very 
decided Republican in politics and has 
rendered his party very efficient service by 
his efforts. 



fOHN EUSBY, a prominent farmer of 
Westport, Wisconsin, is the subject of 
the present sketch. He was born in 
Ogdensbnrg, New York, in December, 1S27, 
a son of Thomas Busby, a native of Ireland, 
who came to America and settled in Canada, 
an orphan of lune years. He was reared in 
the family of relative,'^, and at the age of 
fifteen started out in life for himself. As 
soon as he had grown to maturity he became 
possessed of a tract of Government land and 
early married Mary Pickens, who had come 
from Dublin to Ireland. They bought a 
claim of fifty-one acres at the rapids of the 
Oswegatchie river, near the St. Lawrence, 
where they lived some twelve years. At the 
end of that time they removed to Ohio. The 
mother was a daugliter of Walter Pickens, 
and was one of a family of four daughters 
and two sons. Mr. and Mrs. Busby removed 
to Ohio from their northern farm by pub- 
lic conveyance to Niagara Falls and by rail- 
road to Buffalo, thence to Cleveland by boat 
and then settled in Ilillsboro township, eight 
miles from the city of Cleveland. This move 
was made in .Tune, I8-tl, and the uKjtherdied 
in October, 1841, and at the same time died 
an infant daughter, and before this one daugh- 



ter, Isabell, had died at the age of five years. 
Six children survived the mother, as follows: 
Mary .lane, who died at the age of forty years, 
leaving one son; Eveline, died at the age of 
thirty years; William A., a farmer and specu- 
lator, and Alexander, a farmer, who both 
reside in Ohio; and our subject is the oldest 
of the family. The father died in Ohio at 
the age of fifty-five years, leaving a farm of 
IGO acres. He had married a second time 
and at the time of his decease was a very 
prosjjerous man, but at that time our subject 
was only renieml)ered in the will to the 
amount of one dollar, which he never re- 
ceived. 

When seventeen years of age, possessed of 
pluck and energy, our subject started out into 
the great world to find his fortune. Five and 
one-half days were spent on the lakes be- 
tween Cleveland Milwaukee, and when Mack- 
inac was reached the last dime left his pocket- 
book for a lunch. The second day from 
Milwaukee he had made eight miles on foot, 
and here he met an old acquaintance from 
Ohio named Doyle, and one year was spent 
with him, engaged in the blacksmith trade. 
Here he was taken ill, in June, with typhoid 
fever and battled with it for three months, as 
it was complicated with pleurisy, and ho hud 
barely recovered, when he was attacked by 
ague and was afflicted with chills from Oc- 
tober to March. 

All this sickness was hard to endure, and 
the boyish heart turned toward home, but 
his kind mother was not there and pride held 
him back from asking aid from his father. 
When he had reached his twenty-first year 
he returned to his father's house and made a 
visit of four days and then returned to Wis- 
consin. His brothers are wealthy men, hav- 
ing received help from the father. When 
twenty-throe years of age Mr. Busby was 



524 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



married at Madison, to Miss Ann McGlynn, 
a daughter of Thomas and Kate (Aegen) Mc- 
Glynn, of Ireland, where Mrs. IJusiiy was 
born in January, 1830. They came West to 
Madison at once when they reached America 
from the old country, and at that time Mrs. 
Ijusby was in her seventeenth year, in 1847. 
They sailed from Liverpool on the Oregon 
and were five weeks and three days on the 
ocean, havini^ heavy storms on the way, but 
Mrs. Busby did not have any fear and enjoyed 
the trip, having been used to the water, ller 
lather had been a man of moans in his own 
country, and her mother used to take the 
family of twelve children to the seashore. 
Nine daughters and three sons were in this 
family, and one sou and one daughter died in 
the old country, at the ages of six and ten 
years. Two of the daughters married and 
settled in England, and the remaining eight 
came to Madison, and three dauirhters and 
one son are now living. The beloved mother 
died in 1870 at the age of eighty-five years 
and the father four and one-half years later, 
and both are buried side by side in the 
cemetery at Madison. The father was almost 
ninety years of age. He left an estate of 
nearly 81,000 to each of his children. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bushy lived in Madison one 
year and then moved to Windsor, where he 
worked at the trade of blacksmith for eight 
years, at which time he bought 120 acres of 
land, 120 where they now now live and 
twenty acres of marsh, three miles west, pay- 
ing !?240 for the marsh, and 83,800 for the 
home farm of 120 acres. At that time there 
was a small frame house in which the fatnily 
lived until 1889, when they built the large 
convenient farnj house, where they now reside. 
They have one of the finest and tallest i>ariis 
in this part of the State. Their family of 
four children, two sons and two daughters, 



have been spared to them, as follows: 
William, who is a farmer, liviiitr on an ad- 
joining farm, married Delia Welsh, and they 
have four sons and four daughters. Katie is 
the wife of Michael Filburn, a farmer living 
close by, and they have a family of two sons 
and two daughters; Charles A. is single and 
lives at homo on the farm; and Eva is a tal- 
ented young lady, who was able to take charge 
of and manage a school at the age of fifteen 
years, teaching ten terms. Our subject has 
been blessed in his family and has proved a 
good father. He is a Republican in his po- 
litical belief, and the whole family are con- 
sistent members of the Roman Catholic re- 
ligion. 



^. 



7^ 



fA B E S A L F O R D, one of the leading 
business men of Madison, Wisconsin, 
member of the firm of Alford Brothers, 
proprietors of the Alford laundry establish- 
ment, was born at Syracuse, New York, 
September 21, 1851, but was brought to 
Madison by his parents when only four years 
of age. All of his brothers, with the exception 
of one, was born in this city. Our suliject 
was educatied in the public schools of Madison 
and when about twenty one he and his 
brothers Walter and Frank started in the 
laundry business, whijh they have built up by 
their own industry, assisteil l)y good friends, 
who have patronized them. They are worthy 
business men and have established a reputa- 
tion for excellent work. The business has 
grown from a small b^inning until they 
now command the best trade of the city. The 
present location of the fii'in is at Nos. 113 
and 115 Carroll street, in a building recently 
erected for their own business. So large is 
the business that twenty-five assistants are 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



525 



employed all the while to turn out the work. 
In addition to this enterprise tiie Itrotliers 
have a fine cigar establishment at No. 3 East 
Main street, where their laundry office in 
also located; are interested in the Winnequa 
line of pleasure steamers. These three broth- 
ers are live, enerofetic yi'img business men, 
who deserve much credit for their enterprise 
and ability. Another brother, William, is a 
large and successful marble and granite 
dealer on King street, and still another 
brother, L. M., is in business with him. Two 
sisters, Mrs. A. W. Pain, now a widow, and 
Mrs. C. E. Jenitt, whose husband is a book- 
keeper for the Fuller & Johnson Manufactur- 
ing Compan}', are residents of this city. 

Our suljject is the oldest son of the family 
horn to Edward A. and Rachel (Hall) Alford, 
natives of Gilhughan, Dorsetshire, England. 
The father was born, September 18, 1820, of 
English parentage and ancestry. He was 
educateil in his native city and reared to the 
trade of a mason, which he followed for some 
time there. Here he married his wife who 
came of an old and aristocratic family, and 
after the birth of their first daughter, they 
embarked on a sailer, in 1840, to the United 
States, landing in October of that year, and 
going from New York city to Syracuse, where 
they remained until the fall of 1855, when, 
as already stated, they came to Madison. In 
the last named city the father follovyed his 
trade of mason until within the past eight 
years, when he was appointed oue of the 
janitors at the State capitol in the Supreme 
Court room and the State Law Library. 
Although advanced in years he is active and 
spry and liears his seventy-two years remark- 
ably well, ^is is a well-known face about 
the Capitol and he is a favorite with all for 
his accommodating manners and politeness to 
all with whom he is broug-lit in contact. 



He is a true Republican, but is in no sense 
of the word an office-seeker. Ilis wife, yet 
living, retains all her faculities, and although 
si.xty-four years of age is a bright, intelligent 
lady with whom it is a pleasure to converse. 
Both tlie parents are devoted members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

Our subject was married in the city of Madi- 
son, to Miss Margaret S. Goodrich, a native of 
Madison, where she was reared and educated. 
She is an intelltctnal lady of Norse parentage- 
Her parents came to the Unite<l States, 
settling in Madison at an early day. Mr. and 
Mrs. Alford have no children. In all social 
matters they! are very prominent and are 
great favorites among the j'oung society 
people of the city. Mr. Alford has represented 
his ward, the First in the City Council and 
has served as Chairman of the Board. He 
is a Knight Templar, being connected with 
Robert McCoy Commandery No. 3, and has 
filled the chairs of the Blue Lodge, A. F. & 
A. M. The principles of the Democratic 
party are those with which he is in accord 
and he is very prominent in local politics. 



RTHUR J. BRERETON, a farmer of 
Dane CDunty, was born in Kings county, 
=^- Ireland, in 1832, a son of George 
Brereton, a native of the same county, and a 
farmer by occupation. His father, John 
Brereton, was also a farmer of Kings county, 
and reared a family of five sons and 
four daughters. He died in his native 
country, at about the age of seventy years. 
George, the youngest of his father's children, 
married Ellen Iluleatt, also a native of that 
county, and a daughter of Rev. Iluleatt, a 
minister of the Episcopal Church at Shinrone, 
and a son of an Episcopal Rector. Mr. and 



35 



526 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



Mrs. Brereton came on the Anu of" Limerick, 
to America, in the fall of 1848, and this ves- 
sel was shipwrecked in the Gulf of St. Law- 
rence, colliding in the night with an outgoing 
vessel. There were several passengers 
drowned in trying to get on board the other 
craft, but Mr. Brereton's family stuck to 
their vessel, and, after eight days of awful 
suspense, were rescued by another ship. The 
mother of our subject liad been sick for two 
weeks, but was safely moved on board the 
small boat and to the vessel tliat brought 
them to Quebec. The Ann was abandoned, 
and went down with all the passengers' etlbcts, 
except what they had on their person. The 
family remained in Canada about four years, 
where the mother died in 1850, aged fifty- 
five years, leaving six children: Hugh, Har- 
riet, A. J., Ellen, George and Elizabeth. 
They buried two infant children in this 
country, and one son, John, in Ireland, at the 
age of twenty-one years. Ue was a promis- 
ing young man, and was the mainstay of the 
family. The father and six children came to 
Wiscon-sin in the fall of 1852, via the lakes 
to Milwaukee, and by team to this neighbor- 
hood. There was then no railroad in the 
State, and they brought their own team from 
Canada. After a long and tedious trip they 
landed in Dane county with less than §5 
in cash. Mr. Brereton farmed on rented 
land two years, and then bought 295 acres, 
with a log cabin, and thirty acres cultivated, 
for which they were to pay $2,050, with $200 
down. This farm is still in possession of the 
family, ami here the oldest brother, Hugh, 
died in May, 1887, aged sixty years, leaving 
a wife and six grown children. He was 
prominent in political affairs, anil at one time 
refused hi.'> name for Assemblyman. The 
father died during the first year of their resi- 
dence in Dane county, and lies buried in the 



cemetery near his farm. His wife was bur- 
ied in Canada. 

Arthur J. Brereton, the subject of this 
sketch, was early inured to hard labor, liav- 
ing worked ont by the month in Canada, and 
for which he received from $5 to $13. He re- 
mained at home until his marriage, and in 
1867 he ])urchased 198 acres of the home 
farm, paying $24 per acre. In 1877 he 
added 105 acres to his original purchase, and 
later bought 140 acres for bis son Charles, 
where the latter still resides. Mr. Brereton 
isengaijed in general farming and stock-rais- 
ing, and since the failure of wheat he has 
given his attention principally to corn and 
oats. He has from forty to fifty head of 
shorthorn cattle, about 150 head of Shroj)- 
shire stock, and from fifty to sixty head of 
Poland China hogs. His horses are prin- 
cipally Clydesdale, and he has also imported 
fine dams from Canada. 

Our subject was married at the age of 
twenty-two years, to Miss Sarah Gaiit, a na- 
tive of Ohio, who died of consumption 
eight years later, aged twenty-six years. She 
left two sons: John and Charles. Mr. Brer- 
eton afterward returned to Canada and mar- 
ried Cynthia M. Towns, a native of that 
country, whom he had known in early 
youth. She is a daughter of Joseph and 
Elizabeth ((Tcntle) Towns, the former a native 
of Massachusetts, and the latter of Lower 
Canada. Mrs. Brereton \yas the youngest of 
her mother's eight children. Her father was 
three times married, and had nineteen chil. 
dren. He died at the age of ninety- four years, 
and his last wife died at the age of sixty-five 
years. He and Mrs. Brereton have buried 
one son, Wyman W., who died at the age of 
ten years. They have four living children: 
Anna ^L, wife of Byrol C. Lamont, a lawyer 
of Aberdeen, Dakota; Hi-nry, aged twenty- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



3i7 



two years; Hiram, eighteen years; and 
Georire, twelve years. Anna M. grmluatec] 
with lionor at the Lodi High School, at the 
age of ^eighteen years, where she studied 
both English and Latin. Mr. Brereton has 
been a life-long Republican, and the family 
are members of the Methodist Church. 

:7r -tT 1 11 T C. W I L L I A M S, a farmer of 
;■ |/ \r I )ane county, Wisconsin, was born in 
l^^' Grotou, New York, March 23, 18-42, 
a son of Justin F. and Adaline (Allen) Will- 
iams. The father was born in Charlemont, 
Massachusetts, May 4, 1804, a son of Ebenezer 
and Elizabeth (Beckwith) Williams. Eben- 
ezer Williams was born in Taunton, Massa- 
chusetts, September 22, 1775, and died in 
Grotou, New York, in March, 1853. He was 
a carpenter by trade. His father, William 
Williams, was also born in Taunton, Massa- 
chusetts, November 11, 1749, and died Au- 
(riist 18, 1834. He was a soldier in the Rev- 
olutionary and French Indian wars. His 
wife, 7iee Hebhzibah Sampson, was born Au- 
gust 21, 1749, and died Augu.st 1, 1826. The 
wife of Ebenezer Williams was Elizabeth 
Beckwith, who was born in Charlemont, j\Ias- 
sachusetts, JVIarch 26, 1782, and died in Gro- 
tou, New York, March 18, 1847. Mr. and 
Mrs. Ebenezer Williams were the parents of 
ten children, three of wliom still survive 
and have reached the advanced age of eighty 
years. The Williams' family are originally 
from Wales, and are direct descendants of the 
celebrated Roger Williams. 

Justin F. Williams, the father of our sub- 
ject, followed the trade of carpenter and cabi- 
net-maker until eighteen years of age, and 
then engaged in wagon-making. In 1824 he 
went to Groton, New York, following his 
trade tliere fifteen years, and next worked in 



Cuba, that State, until 1856. Previous to the 
latter year he had shipped a number of wag- 
ons West, which he afterward sold, then 
bought fifty acres of wild land, erected a 
dwelling, and soon went East, l)ut returned 
every year to look after his property. In 
1856 Mr. AVilliams sold his shop, and came 
by railroad to Middleton, Wisconsin, where 
he died March 10, 1883. He lived to see 
seven generations of the family. Politically, 
Mr. Williams affiliated with the Republican 
party, and religiously, both he and his wife 
were members of the Baptist Church foi' over 
fifty years. He married Adaline Allen, who 
was born in Chelsea, Vermont, December 14, 
1802, the daughter of Asaph and Lois (King) 
Allen. The father and mother were boi-n in 
Vermont, in 1777, and lie died in February, 
1815. Asaph Allen was a soldier in the 
United States service and died at Eaton, New 
York, when on his way home on a furlouf>-h. 
He was a farmer by occupation. His wife 
died in Cuba, New York, in 1847. Mr. and 
Mrs. Allen had eight children, none now liv- 
ing. The mother of our suliject died on the 
old home in this county, June 30, 1876. The 
Aliens are direct descendants of Ira Allen, a 
brother of the celebrated Ethan Allen. 

Wirt C. AYilliams,the subject of this sketch, 
remained at home until twenty-one years of 
age. He taught school both before and after 
marriage, and his wife also attended his school 
during her last term of schooling. He then 
located on the farm where he now lives, and 
for the first live months they made their home 
in an old house which had been used as a 
granary and horse barn, after which they pur- 
chased and moved to another forty acres. 
Mr. Williams is engaged in general farming, 
but attributes his success to dairying and the 
raising of Jersey cows. On national issues 
our subject votes with the Republican party. 



528 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



bat on local issues affiliates with the Prohibi- 
tion party. He was a soldier in the late war, 
enlisting September 22, 1864, in Company 
B, Eleventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, 
under Captain (X Kenimick, and served until 
the close of the struijgle. lie was honorably 
discharf^ed at Montgomery, June 5, 1865, 
after which he returned home. Ileligionsly, 
both Mr. and Mrs. Williams are members of 
the Baptist Church, and the latter is also a 
member of the W. C. T. U. Mr. Williams 
has also been a member of the High School 
Board. 

The subject of this sketch was married 
April 3, 1863, to Miss Charlotte E. Taylor, 
who was born in ]Sew Hudson, Allegany 
county. New York, April 3, 1843, a daughter 
of .lames and Watee (Searl) Taylor. The 
father was born September 5, 1812, in Eng- 
land, a son of Joseph and Constance Taylor, 
natives also of England. They came to Amer- 
ica when James was twenty-tive years of age, 
purchased land in Allegany county, New 
York, but in 1848 came to Wisconsin. They 
entered Government land in this State, where 
they remained until 1888, and in that year 
removed to Washington, where they still re- 
side. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were the parents 
of five children, four of whom still survive. 
The mother of Mrs. Williams was born in 
New York, September 9, 1826, a daughter of 
Samuel Searl, who was born February 8, 
1796, and died in this State September 28, 
1874. His wife, nee Betsey Douglas, was 
born January 2. 1794, and also died here May 
10, 1868. Samuel Searl entered the war of 
1812, at the age of about si.xteen years, served 
during that struggle, and afterward drew a 
pension. Mr. and Mrs. Searl were the par- 
ents of seven children, three now living. 
Two sons of Mr. and Mrs. Taylor took part 
in the late war; Wallace, a member of Com- 



pany B, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry, died 
during the struggle; and Thomas E., a mem- 
ber of the same company, served during the 
entire war. Mr. Williams had a great uncle, 
who died of starvation in the old Jersey prison 
ship, having been found dead with apiece 
of brick in his mouth! Mr. and Mrs. Wirt 
C. Williams have had seven children, viz.: 
Frank M., born January 12, 1864, in this 
country, is engaged in the study of medicine 
at Washington, District Columbia, and is also 
a clerk in the war department: Manly li., 
horn July 14, 1865, is engaged in teaching 
in California, where he owns an English «'al- 
nut ranch; Wallace II., and I.yman A., born 
November 24, 1869, are engaged in teacliing 
in Nebraska; Wallace is principal of the Gor- 
don graded school, and the latter is principal 
of the high school at Blair, that State; Nettie 
M., born September 3, 1874, was educated 
in the Wi.-;consin Academy at Madison, and 
is now at home; Mary 11., born December 
4, 1877; and Wirt C, born September 26, 
1879. The four eldest children were edu- 
cated in the normal school at Platteville, 
Wisconsin. The second son, Manly, was mar- 
ried January 5, 1889, to Miss Josie Sanford, 
and has two sons: Manly S.. born November 
lU, 1889; and Frank L., born December 18, 
1891. Mr. Williams has paid out over §2,500 
for the education of his children, but the 
money was well expended, as rarely will one 
meet with a more intelligent, refined and 
hospitable people. Our subject is well and 
widely known over the Northwest, and his 
Jersey cows are a superior lot. He has a 
soft-maple grove of one acre near his house, 
the seeds of whii'h he planted in 1873, and 
from which he m aim fact u res annnall}' much 
mort- fine syrup than his family wants for 
iiome use; also a considerable quantity of 
sugar. 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



539 



^IIILIP SCHOEN, deceased, for many 
m years a protniiient resident of Madison, 
*^ Wisconsin, died in Milwaukee wliile 
there for treatment, July 13, 1889. He had 
settled in Madison as early as 1852, estab- 
lishing himself in the hotel business. Later 
he removed to Columbus, spending two years 
in that city and Watertown, after returninir 
to Madison, where he entered the bakery and 
restaurant business, under the name of the 
Capital, City i'akery and Kestaurant. He 
was thus successfully engaired for many 
years. Although he made money in his 
business he found it more profitable to sell 
it and conducted a saloon for a few years, after 
which he retired and lived a life of leisure 
for a few years previous to his death. Mr. 
Schoen was born in a Rhine province in 
Prussia, Germany, June 24, 1824. He came 
of good German stock who were noted for 
their industry and frugality. The parents 
of our subject, Peter and Elisabeth Schoen, 
were devout members of the German Catholic 
Church. They followed their sons to the 
United States, settling in Milwaukee, Wis- 
consin, where the wife and mother died when 
sixty-three years of age. After her death 
the father came to Madison and died in this 
city when seventy-si.x years of age. Our 
subject was reared to manhood in his native 
place, learning the trade of baker, and in 
1848 he and a brother, Charles, came to the 
United States and settled in Albany, New 
York, for a while. Later the brother went 
to Owatonna, Minnesota, where he has since 
that time carried on a successful carriage- 
making estalilishinent and blacksmith shop. 
Our subject selected Milwaukee as his next 
place of residence, and it was while living in 
that city that his parents joined him. Later, 
in 1852 he came to Madison and continued 
to reside here until his death. He was an 



upright, industrious and honest man, a leader 
among the German-American citizens of 
Madison and one who made hosts of friends 
wherever he chanced to be. At the time of 
his demise he had reached his sixty-tifth 
year. 

Our subject was married the first time in 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Miss Annie M. 
Siliiernagel, born near tlio birthplace of Mr. 
Schoen in Germany, daughter of Jacob and 
Catharine (Lobuseher) Silbernagel, who were 
natives of a Riiine province, Germany, 
where they resided until their entire family 
was born. In 1851 the parents, with their 
family of six chihlren, started for the United 
States, leaving the land of their nativity on 
the 4th of March, taking passage on a sail- 
ing vessel from Havre de Grace. One 
daughter was married and remained behind, 
but is now deceased. The family arrived in 
New York city, from where they proceeded 
up the Hudson river to Albany; thence to 
Putt'alo by canal and around the great lakes 
to Milwaukee, reaching there May 3, 1851. 
Here they remained for thirteen years, when 
they came to Madison, and here the parents 
and grandmother lived retired until their 
deaths, the father 'lying June 11, 1872, aged 
sixty-seven, his wife having preceded him 
five years, her demise occurring November 
8, 1867, when she was fifty-four years old. 
The paternal grandmother died April 4, 1868, 
aged seventy-seven years. Mr. Silbernagel 
was a life-long Democrat in politics. He 
was a hardworking man all his life, and 
with the assistance of his good wife had 
amassed a comfortable fortune. Mrs. Schoen 
died in this city in 1867, August 12, when 
only thirty years of age, leaving six children, 
four of whom are now deceased, namely: 
Annie, aged twenty-seven years; Philip, 
aged twenty-two years; Mary, aged twenty- 



530 



BI06RAPBIGAI. REVIEW OF 



two. niarrie(i George Ilettrick; and Louis, 
aged three years. Tho^e living are: Clara, 
wife of Frank Ilanaclier, of iladison, a 
saloonkeeper; and Frank, a bookkeeper for 
Mr. George Soelcli.a meat dealer. Our sub- 
ject was married a second time, his choice 
being a sister of his first wife, Margaret 
ISilbernagel, born in Germany. June 3. 1845. 
and was only six years of age when the 
famil}' removed to America, consequently 
received her education in this country. Dur- 
ing her life she has been a true, good wife 
and mother, rearing the six children born to 
her husband and herself in a truly Christian 
manner. The names of these children are: 
Charles W., a bookkeeper for Sheasby & 
Smith of Madison; Theressa. wife of George 
Hettrick, now a resident of Milwaukee; 
Katie M., at home; Edward G.. at present 
learning the trade of plumber with E. C. 
Mason and residing at home; William F., at 
home; and Joseph F.. at school. Mrs. Schoen 
and her children are, as was her husband, 
devout members of the Holy Redeemer 
Catholic Church of this city, with which 
body they have been connected for many 
years. At the time of his death Mr. Schoen 
left some very valuable property in the city 
of Madison, which is now owned by his 
family. 

fKANCiS W. USHEli, well known in 
the town of Fitchburg, Wisconsin, is 
the subject of this sketch. He was born 
in Herkimer. Herkimer county, New York, 
February 9, 1840. Ilis father, Bloomtield 
Usher, was born in the same place, and his 
father was a native of Ireland, although of 
English ancestry, who emigrated to America, 
settling in Herkimer, where he remained un- 



til the date of his death, having been by 
trade a hatter. The grandmother of onr sub- 
ject was Jane Paine Usher, a native of Eng- 
land, who died in Postdam. Xew York. The 
father of our subject learned the trade of hat- 
ter and conducted it in Herkimer for a time. 
In 1850 Mr. Bloomiield Usher moved 
into Potsdam, and then entered tlie banking 
business, and during that year organized the 
Frontier Bank which, during the war. was 
made the First National Bank. He was its 
first president, which office he held for many 
years, now living retired from business at 
the age of seventy-eight years. The maiden 
name of the mother of our subject was Ann 
Usher, born in Ireland, who came to Amer- 
ica with her parents, and has now pai^sed 
away. 

Our subject was nine years of age when 
his parents moved to Potsdam, lie attended 
school very steadily until he was sixteen 
years old and then learned the trade of miller 
at Little Falls, and went from there to Platts- 
burg. In 1S60 he operated a mill until 
j 1861, at which date he became a soldier in 
the Union Army, enlisting in the Sixteenth 
Regiment, New York Infantry, but before 
mustering in he was transferred to Company 
F, Thirty-fourth New York Volunteers, and 
served with that regiment for two years, the 
time for whicli he enlisted. Some of the 
important battles in which he participated 
were Bails Bluft', Winchester, the first and 
second battles of Fredericksburg. Fair Oaks, 
and he was with the army in the seven days 
of retreat and was in tlie encasement at the 
battle of Antietam, and second Bull Run, 
lie was mustered in as a private, was pro- 
moted to be Commissary Sergeant, and from 
that to be Second Lieutenant and later to be 
P^irst Lieutenant, being honorably discharged 
in August, 1803. but again enlisted. This 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



531 



time our brave subject entered the naval serv- 
ice, in February, 1864, as landsman on 
board the United States steamer " Connecti- 
cut." He was soon appointed ship's writei-, 
and from that was promoted to be paymas- 
ter's steward, continuing thus until August, 
1865. 

Soon after tliis our subject went with a 
company to Pitt county, North Carolina, 
who bought land and entered into cutton 
planting extensively, remaining until 1867, 
when he went to California, spending a few 
months, then back to New York, and in the 
following spring came to Dane county, Wis- 
consin. At this place he bought the fine 
farm, where he now makes his home on sec- 
tion 21, and where he engages in general 
farming. Before going any farther we 
should add to the war record of our subject 
that he was so unfortunate as to be captured 
at Malvern Hill and was obliged to spend 
six weeks at Libby prison. 

The marriage of Mr. Usher took place in 
Spring Green, Sauk county. Wisconsin, to 
Miss Catherine J. Eva, and six children have 
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Usher, as follows: 
Ann, Grace E., Bloomfield H., Francis E., 
Edith J., and William. Mr. Usher is a 
member of the Washburn Post No. 11, G. 
A. R., and is a strong Republican, believing 
in the party he fought for so long in the late 
war. 

fHOMAS A. POLLEYS, a member of 
one of the prominent legal firms of the 
city of Madison, Wisconsin, was born 
on a farm in the town of Trempealeau, Trem- 
pealeau county, Wisconsin, on the 31st day 
of January, 1865. He was the oidy child of 
Thomas A. and Cordelia L. (Martin ) Polleys. 



His father was born in Nova Scotia about 
the year 1840, but when about ten years of 
age removed to the United States with his 
parents, who took up their residence at 
Juneau, Dodge county, Wisconsin. Here 
Thomas A. Polleys (the father) received a 
good common-school education and fitted 
himself as a teacher in the common schools 
of the State, which calling he pursued for 
some little time immediately before the war 
in La Crosse ami Trempealeau counties in 
Wisconsin, and during this period formed 
an acquaintance with Cordelia L. Martin, the 
mother of the subject of our sketch. She 
was born at Waukegan, Illinois, August 28, 
1841, and removed to Trempealeau, Trem- 
pealeau county, Wisconsin, with her parents 
in 1857, coming overland a large portion of 
the way. In 1861 the father of the subject 
of this sketch enlisted in the Sixth Wiscon- 
sin Regiment of Infantry, one of the regi- 
ments of the famous Iron Brigade. He was 
wounded at the Ijattle of Gettysburg, and in 
the following winter, while at home on a fur- 
lough, was married to Cordelia L. Martin. 
Returning again to the service and having 
re-enlisted for a second term of three years, 
he received a wound before Petersburg, while 
serving as Color Sergeant of his regiment, 
and from the effects of this wouTid he died at 
Alexandria, Virginia, late in the month of 
June, 1864, several months before the birth 
of our subject, his only child. In the year 
1866 the mother was married to Warren C. 
Garwood, and resided with him in the town 
of Trempealeau, until his death in 1870 left 
her a widow for a second time. By her sec- 
ond marriage she had one child, William 
Newman Garwood, born April 2, 1867. By 
means of a very scanty income from the 
small farm left by her second husband, and 
still more by her own untiring thrift and in- 



532 



BIOGRAFHICAL REVIEW OF 



dnstrj as a dressmaker at her country home, 
the mother supported herself and two bojs, 
giving to them such educational advantages 
as her circumstances permitted. 

The subject of our sketch during his early 
years attended the district school near his 
home, varying his attendance, however, by 
serving as clerk in a little country store 
owned by his grandfather and uncle, in which 
was also kept cross-roads post office. From 
the fall of 1877 on during portions of the 
succeeding three years our subject attended 
the graded schools at Galesville and Trem- 
pealeau, from the latter of which he grad- 
uated in June, 1881. A month later he went 
to Melrose, Wisconsin, where he was em- 
ployed by his uncle, William II. Polleys, for 
several months. Early in April, 1882, lie 
went to Jamestown, in the, then, Territory of 
Dakota, and there stayed until November of 
that year, during which time he turned his 
energies in whatever direction he could to 
accumulate the money needed with which to 
carry on his further education. He worked 
as carpenter's assistant, at lathing, at paint- 
ing and as brick-bearer in an incipient and i 
most unsuccessful brick yard. Returning to 
Wisconsin in the fall of 1882, he was en- 
gaged the following spring as clerk in a boat- 
store on the Mississippi river, just above the 
village of Trempealeau, and there spent sev- 
eral months in supplying the wants of the 
hungrj' crews of raft-boats plying up and 
down the Mississippi. 

In the fall of 1883, with S125 in cash in 
his possession, the net accumulations of two 
years' labor, he came to Madison and entered 
the University of Wisconsin, in the class of 
1887, taking the general science course dur- 
ing his freshman year. At the close of his 
first term, when his cash capital was nearly 
exhausted, his attention was drawn by a most 



fortunate accident to the fact that the serv- 
ices of an amanuensis were required by Pro- 
fessor Roland Ct. Irving, then professor of 
geology in the university. Upon submit- 
ting a specimen of his penmanship Mr. 
Polleys was accepted by Professor Irving, 
and for about two years earned with his pen 
suthcient money to pay his expenses, acquir- 
ing in the meantime considerable proficiency 
as a shorthand writer. In the spring of 
1886 he was employed by Hon. T. C. Rich- 
mond, then Chairman of the State Prohibi- 
tion Central Committee, as stenographer, a 
position which he tilled for some months. 

He abandoned his collegiate course at the 
end of his junior year, having taken only 
elective studies from the close of liis fresh- 
man year, and entered the law department of 
the University of Wisconsin in the fall of 
1886, from which he graduated in June, 
1888. While a law student he was engaged 
for a time as stenographer by Gregory, Bird 
& Gregory, and then for two or three months 
acted as assistant circuit court phonographer 
at Janesville, Wisconsin, after which he was 
employed as clerk and stenographer by 
Pinney & Sanborn, of Madison, with whom 
he remained until the fall of 1889. 

On July 5, 1888, immediately after his 
graduation from the law school, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Louisa W. Ashby, who had for 
many years been a resident of Madison. 
Mr. and Mrs. Polleys have one child, a 
daughter named Marguerite, born Novem- 
ber 4, 1889. 

In the fall of 1889 our subject gave up 
his situation with Messrs. Pinney J& Sanborn 
and opened a law office in the city of Madi- 
son. A few months later, in January, 1890, 
lie was appointed Court Commissioner for 
the Circuit Court for Dane county by Hon. 
Robert G. Siebecker, who had himself jus 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



533 



been appointed circuit judge. At the begin- 
ning of July, 1890, Mr. PoUeys was taken 
into the iirra of Bashford & O'Connor, the 
firm name then being changed to Bashford, 
O'Connor & Folleys. Under this name the 
firm still continues in the enjoyment of a 
large and remunerative practice. 

fENJAMIM CLEVELAND, a success- 
ful farmer, of Dane county, Wisconsin, 
was born in Crawford county, Pennsyl- 
vania, December 12, 1830, a son of Joseph 
and Deborah (Harned) Cleveland. The 
father was born in New York, February 23, 
1806, a son of Benjamin and Lydia Cleve- 
land, natives of Rhode Island. They moved 
to New York in an early day, resided in 
Crawford county, Pennsylvania, a few years, 
later moved to Ohio, thence to Michigan, 
and next to Illinois. There the father died 
at a very old age, and the mother afterward 
went to Iowa, where she died at the home of 
her son, La Fayette. The Cleveland family 
came originally froni England, and were 
farmers by occupation. Joseph Cleveland, 
father of our subject, moved with his parents 
to Pennsylvania, in 1838 to Michigan, where 
he worked by the day and month several 
years, and during his residence in that State 
also cleared 800 acres of land. In Septem- 
ber, 1847, he purchased eighty acres of land 
in Middieton township, Dane county, Wis- 
consin, in 1850 traded that place for 160 
acres, where our subject now lives, and still 
later bought 120 acres more. This farm con- 
tained only a small log house, where the 
family lived alrout twelve years. The father 
died there August 28, 1854, leaving a wife 
and ten children, nine now living. The 
mother of our subject was born in Crawford 



county, Pennsylvania, in 1811, in which 
county her parents lived and died. Mrs. 
Cleveland died at the home of her daughter, 
Mrs. J. P. Lees, in Barron county, Wisconsin, 
February 21, 1891. One son of Mr. and 
Mrs. Cleveland, Charles D., was a memljer of 
the Eiglith Wisconsin liegiinent, Company 
G, and died of fever during the struggle. 

Benjamin, the subject of this sketch, re- 
mained at home with his mother for three 
years after the father's death, and then farmed 
on rented land two years. lie next j)ur- 
chased a part of his mother's old home, 
erected an addition to her residence, and 
the latter then made her home with 
him for thirteen years. Mr. Cleveland then 
bought out the eight heirs, erected a good 
residence in 1884, and is now building one 
of the finest barns in the county. In his 
political views he athliates with the Republi- 
can party, and his first presidential vote was 
cast for A. Lincoln. 

Our subject was married December 26, 
1858, to Miss Matilda Shower, who was born 
in Mei'cer county, Pennsylvania, November 
10, 1837, a daughter of Daniel and Hannah 
Shower. The father was born in Union 
county, that State, June 11, 1813, a son of 
John and Madaline Shower, natives of the 
same county. They removed to Mercer 
county, Pennsylvania, late in life, wliere they 
died at a very old age. Daniel, one of twelve 
children, came to Wisconsin in about 1846, 
settling in Cross Plains township, Dane 
county, where he still resides ou the first 
farm on which he located. He was married 
in 1830, to Hannah Bowersochs, a native of 
the same county, and a daughter of Jacob 
and Madaline Bowersochs, who lived and 
died in Union county, Pennsylvania. Mr. 
and Mrs. Shower now owns over 200 acres of 
fine land, all of whicli was made from a vast 



534 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



wilderness. Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland have 
had ten children, namely: Esther L., married 
and has four children; Daniel E.. married 
and ha.< two children; William F. has one 
child; Charles M., at home; Frances 13., mar- 
ried, and has one child; Alameda M., Benja- 
min E., Joseph R. and Ulysses ()., at home. 
The children are all well educated. 

tUZEKNE STEFHEN CHANDLER, a 
farmer and resident of Dunn township, 
was born on the farm where he now re- 
sides, August 20, 1848. His father. Daniel 
Chandler, was born in London, England, and 
was the only member of the family who set- 
tled in America, coming to this country 
when a young man. His first location was 
in Rock county, from which place he came 
to Dunn, and was one of the first settlers of 
the town. He at once settled on a tract of 
land that is included in the farm now owned 
by the subject of this sketch, where he at 
once built the log house in which our subject 
was born. At the time of his location here 
there were very few settlers, and most of the 
land was for sale by the Government at §1.25 
per acre. Deer and other wild gan.e roamed 
at large. Mr. Chandler liegan to improve 
his farm with oxen, and with them did all 
his farm work and marketing. As there 
were no railroads tiien, and Milwaukee was 
the nearest depot, the trip was a long one. 
Usually he wouM brinfr back a load of mer- 
chandise. He improved his farm, which he 
occupied for many years, and then removed 
te Oregon, where he resided until his death 
in 1885. The maiden name of his wife was 
Mary A. Comstock, who died June 14, 1892. 
She reared two children: Luzerne Stephen 
and Nicholas T. 



Our subject received his early education 
in the district schools and advaticed in learn- 
ing at the Academy at Albion and the high 
school at Oregon. He was reared to Agri- 
cultural pursuits and has always followed 
farming. He now owns and occupies the 
old homestead of 160 acres, 100 of which is 
on section 34 of Dunn township, and the re- 
mainder on section 3, of Rutland township. 
He is engaged in general farming, raising 
grain, tobacco and stock, principally. 

Mr. Chandler was married September 2, 
1873, to Elizabeth Farnsworth, who was born 
in the same town, daughter of Calvin and 
Mary (Cramer) Farnsworth. (See sketch of 
W. H. Farnsworth.) Mr. and Mrs. Chandler 
have one child, Arthur, who was born Decem- 
ber 13, 1875. Folitically Mr. Chandler is a 
Republican, a stanch supporter of the princi- 
ples of that party. 

EORGE E. BRYANT. Postmaster of 
Madison, was born in Templetou, Wor- 
cester county, Massachusetts, Febru- 
11, 1832, a son of George Washing- 
and Unis (Norcass) Bryant, the former 
a native of Templeton, and the lacter of 
New Hampshire. The father was born in 
the same house as our subject, and the 
old homestead still stands, in a perfect 
state of preservation, and occupied by a 
relative of the family. George W. Bryant, 
a mercliant by occupation, died in 1862, 
and his wife in 1851*. They were the parents 
of nine children, four boys and five girls. 
The grandfather of our subject participated 
in the battles of Lexington, Concord and 
Bunker Hill, and his brother, Chandler, was 
a Captain in the army. 

George E. Bryant spent his early life on 



DANE COO NTT, WISCONSIN. 



535 



the farm, and first attended the common 
schools. He then entered the Black liiver 
Academj, at Ludlow, Vermont, and next the 
University of Wisconsin, graduating at the 
latter institution in 1853. After completing 
his education he taught school in Yerniont 
and New Hampshire, and then read law in 
Massachusetts. In 1856 Mr. Bryant came to 
Madison, Dane county, Wisconsin, where he 
immediately hegan the practice of law. At 
the breaking out of the late war he was 
elected Captain of Company E, known as the 
Madison Guards, and was the first volunteer 
oflicers in the State, and his company was 
first to he accepted Ijy the Government. After 
three months' service Mr. Bryant was made 
Colonel of the Twelfth Wisconsin Reg- 
iment, in the Army of Tennessee, where he 
remained until in November, 1864. In the 
spring of 1865 he was elected County Judge 
of Dane county, which office he held twelve 
years; served five years as Secretary of the 
State Agricultural Society; four years as 
Postmaster, under President Arthur; was 
Quartermaster-General six years, under Gov- 
ernors Luddington and Smith; State Secre- 
tary two years; was Alderman of Madison at 
the commencement of the late war; and in 
1890 was a^ain appointed Postmaster, by 
President Harrison. Mr. Bryant is a Kepub- 
lican in his political views, and served as one 
of the delegates to the Republican National 
Convention for the nomination of Grant. 

He was united in marriage in 1858, with 
Susie A. Gibson, a native of Pittsfield, Massa- 
chusetts, and a daughter of Arington Gibson, 
who was also born in that place. To this 
union have been born three children: Hattie 
E., Gee E. and George H. 



-f^=-- 



^ 



tINDSEY S. BROWN, a successful busi- 
ness man of Madison, Wisconsin, was 
boi-n in Ottawa City, Ontario, Canada, 
April 18, 1840, a son of David and Mary A. 
(Rainsford) Brown, natives of Canada and 
Rome, New York. The family trace their 
ancestry back to 1500, in England. The 
father was of Scotch descent, a shoemaker by 
occupation, and his death occurred in 1865. 
The mother's people were soldiers in the Rev- 
olutionary war, also in the war of 1812, and 
she now resides at Waterloo, aged eighty-six 
years. 

Lindsey S. Brown, the subject of this 
sketch, located with his parents in the north- 
east part of Dane county, Wisconsin, in 1847, 
and at the age of nineteen years he began 
teaching school in Dodge county, this State. 
In the summer of 1861 he enlisted in a com- 
pany of Eleventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infant- 
ry, served principally in Massachusetts and Ar- 
kansas, participated in the battle of Vicksburg 
with General Grant, after which, on account 
of ill-health, he returned home. In the fall 
of 1864 Mr. Brown went to California, where 
he was employed by the Overland Cou)pany 
until 1866, and in that year took up his 
residence in Madison, Wisconsin. Before 
enterino; the war he had studied medicine a 
short time, which he resumed after coming 
to this city, and later took a special course at 
Rush Medical College, Chicago. In 1868 he 
began practice in the rooms he now occupies, 
in company with Dr. Hoffman, but since 
1869 has continued alone. Mr. Brown makes 
a specialty of the eye and ear, and his practice 
has extended over the entire county. 

June 17, 1869, he was united in marriage 
with Amanda J. Newton, a native of Madison, 
and a daughter of J. L. W. Newton, a black- 
smith by trade, and both he and his wife 
were born and reared in ()liio. Our subject 



536 



BIOGRAPHIOAL REVIEW OF 



and wife have two daughters: Mary Cathe- 
rine and Bertha Louise, botli at home. The 
eldest daughter is a member of the senior 
class of 1892, and the youngest is also in the 
high school. Mr. Brown is Commander of 
the G. A. K. Post, No. 5, of this city; is 
High Priest of the Chapter, and has been 
Master of Madison Lodge five years. 

klCHARD E. TIPPLE, a well-known 
resident of the town of Dnnn. was born 
on the farm where he now resides, 
March 25, 1855. His father, John Tipple, 
was born near Norfolk, England, a son of 
AVilliam Tipple, a native of Norfolk county, 
and of English ancestry, as far as known. 
William Tipple was reared, married and spent 
liis wliole life in England. The maiden 
name of his wife was Frances Strange, also a 
native of Norfolk county, where her entire 
life was spent. 

The father of our subject, with his brother 
James and sister Maria, were the only mem- 
bers of the family who came to America. 
The father had owned a mill in Norfolk and 
carried on the business of milling there. 
Sailing from Liverpool, he landed in New 
York after a voyage of five weeks, and went 
directly to Buffalo, remaining there until the 
ne.xt spring, when he made his way to Wis- 
consin by way of the lakes and Milwaukee, 
and then settled in Dane county. At that 
time there were but few inhabitants, and 
there he bouirht 400 acres of land in what 
now is Fitchburg, Blooming Grove and Dunn 
townships. He first built a log cabin in 
Fitchburg, in which he lived while he built 
a log house in Durm, where he commenced 
housekeeping after marriage, and there our 
subject was born. He improved hero a large 



farm, and continued on it until about 1801, 
when he removed to Blooming Grove, resid- 
ing there until his death, July 23, 1887. 

The maiden name of the mother of our 
subject was Emma Roberts, and she was born 
in the Lsle of Auglesea, Wales, December 11, 
1827. Her father, Hugh Roberts, was born 
on the same Isle, and was the son of John 
and Annie (Hughes) Roberts, who was a 
farmer and spent his whole life on his na- 
tive island. The maiden name of his wife, the 
maternal grandmother of our subject, was 
Ann Smallwood, of Caernarvonshire. The 
mother of our subject now resides in Bloom- 
incj Grove, and her son Huorh and daughters 
Maria and Emma reside with her. 

As soon as our subject was large enough 
to begin any work at all he began to assist 
his father on the farm, attending school a 
part of the time each year. He resided with 
his parents until he was twenty-one years of 
age, and then bought the old home in Dunn, 
and has resided here since. At this place he 
has erected a good set of bnildings, and has 
otherwise improved the place. 

Our subject married, February 26, 1881, 
Martha L. Atwood, who was born in the town 
of Verona, Dane county, February 26, 1860, 
a daughter of Rufiis and Martha Atwood. 
They have one son, Myron II., a bright and 
intelligent lad. Mrs. Tipple is a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. 
Tipple is one of the strongest Ivepublicatis in 
this section, and a very worthy citizen. 



R. JOSEPH HOBBINS has been iden- 
tified with the best interests, of not only 
Madison, but of the State of Wiscon- 
sin for many years. He was born in the vil- 
lage of Wednesburg, Staffordshire, England. 



BANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



537 



His father, also Joseph, was a native of the 
same place, and at the age of eleven years 
entei-ed the British naval service, in which lie 
remained some years, until he was honorably 
discharged. Pie then engaged in mercantile 
pursuits in his native town for some years, 
after which he retired from business, and 
took a trip to the United States. He re- 
mained in the latter country two or three 
years, and then returned to England, where 
he spent the remainder of his life. The 
maiden name of the mother of our subject 
was Elizabeth Smith, a native of the same 
place as her husband, who spent her last days 
in her native place. She reared five children, 
as follows: Syndonia, Joseph, Elizabeth, 
William and Mary. 

Our subject was liberally educated at C'ol- 
ton Hall, Rugby, England, and in his six- 
teenth year turned his attention to the study 
of medicine. At the age of twenty-one he 
entered the Royal College of Physicians and 
Surgeons at London, from which he gradu- 
ated in 18-1:0. He then visited the hospitals 
of Dublin, Edinburgh, Brussells and Paris, 
and then settled down to practice in London, 
where he remained vintil 1841, and then came 
to the United States, and settled in Brook- 
line, Massachusetts, and practiced there tiiree 
years. He then returned to London and pur- 
sued his practice until 1859, when he came 
to the United States again and settled in 
Madison, Wisconsin, in which city he has 
since resided. During the course of the 
years he has spent in Wisconsin Dr. IJob- 
bins has become on of the leading physicians 
of the State. 

In 1855 he was requested by the Governor 
and Board of Regents to organize the medi- 
cal department of the State University. The 
Doctor has an inherent love of fruits and 
flowers, and is a horticulturist of no mean 



ability. For many years he was president 
of the City Horticultural Society, and also of 
the State Horticiilral Society. In politics, 
he is independent, but was a stanch Union 
man duriiicf the war. 

When Fort Randall was organized, he, act- 
ing for the State, took charge of the sick 
there, and when the rebel prisoners were 
lirought there he was appointed Surgeon- in- 
Gliarge. The Doctor served four years on 
the tirst City C\)uncil. 

Dr. Hobbins was married for the first time 
in Liverpool, England, to Miss Sarah Russell 
Jackson, October 11, 1841. She was born 
in Mendon, Massachusetts, and died in 1870. 
His second marriage occurred in Baltimore, 
Maryland. April 10, 1872, to Mary McLane, 
youngest daughter of the late Louis McLane, 
of Delaware, and sister of Hon. Robert M. 
McLane, Minister to France under the tirst 
administration of Grover Cleveland, and sis- 
ter of the late Mrs. General J. E. Johnston, 
whose husband was of national fame duriiiij 
the late civil war. The Doctor had tliree 
daughters by his first marriage, namely: 
Josephine, Alice and Helen. By his secotid 
marriage he has one son, Louis. The Doctor 
and his estimable wife are members of tiie 
lioman Catholic Church. 



jIIARLES T. JOHNSON.— Among the 
MIvj niany young men who have contributed 
by their energy and ability to the gi-owth 
and prosperity of Stoughton, Wisconsin, none 
is more worthy of mention than the gentle- 
man whose name heads this brief notice. • 

Charles T. Johnson, doing a thriving busi- 
ness in dry goods, carpets, millinery, boots 
and shoes, at Stoughton, was born in Pleas- 
ant Spring township, Dane county, Wisconsin, 



538 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



July 28, 1864. His parents, Matthew and 
Olivia (Jolinson) Johnson, were both natives 
of Norway, and came to Ame. ica in youth, 
the father when seventeen years of age, set- 
tling ill J anesville, Wisconsin ; and the mother 
at the ai;;e of ten years, settling in Christiana 
township, Dane county, the same state. Tiie 
father, who had learned the trade of a mer- 
chant tailor in his native country, followed 
that occupation after coming to America. 
He settled in Stoughton in 1850, where he 
continued his employment as a tailor, and in 
1875 opened a dry-goods store. He was at 
the same time engaged in farming and was 
the pioneer wool and tobacco buyer of 
Stoughton. He carried on these several in- 
dustries with success, beincraman of unusual 
ability and energy, and left, at his death a 
comfortable inheritance to his family. He 
died January 5, 1882, lamented by all who 
knew him as a man of sterling qualities and 
generous impulses. 

His son, the subject of this sketch, received 
a preliminary education in the high school of 
Stoughton, and in 1881, entered the Jjeloit 
College, at which he took a full course of 
study. After his father's death, he assumed 
charge of the dry-goods business, which he 
has ever since successfully conducted, doing 
business under the firm name of Charles T. 
Jolinson & Company. Besides this Mr. 
Johnson is also interested in the Stouifhton 
Wagon Company, the Electric Light Com- 
pany and the United States Manufacturing 
Comjiany, all of which are prosperous enter- 
prises and have yielded him profitable returns. 

Politically, Mr. Johnson is a Prohibitionist, 
strongly favoring the principles of that party. 
He is a useful member of the Lutheran 
Church of his city and is president of the 
Young Men's Christian Association of the 
same place. 



Aside from the honored name and com- 
fortable inheritance into the possessions of 
which Mr. Johnson entered by reason of his 
father's abilities and thrift, he has iidierent 
qualities which alone would have gained for 
him financial success and the respect of all 
honorable men. 



-^;KV^^:t>^^^ 



DWIN DAKIN MAIN, a resident 
of the village of Oregon, was l)orn 
November 3, 1847. His father, Rob- 
ert P. Main, was born in Stonington, Con- 
necticut, and his father, Rial Main, was a 
native of the same State. Tracing still 
farther back wo find that the great-grand- 
father of our subject, named David ^[ain, 
was a captain the Revolutionary wai-. The 
grandfather followed the trade of ship-builder 
in Connecticut until 1853, then came to 
Wisconsin, settling in Madison, where he 
built a home and spent his last years. He 
was well educated, and wiien he was sixty 
years of age taught several terms of school. 
The maiden name of the grandmother of our 
subject was Unice Palmer, and she was born 
in Connecticut, but spent her last days in 
Madison. 

The father of our subject attended school 
very steadily until he was seventeen years of 
age, then began teaching, and at the age of 
eighteen went South, where he taught school 
in several Southern States, but finally drifted 
to Cincinnati, thence to Clinton county, 
where he met and married Miss Cordelia, 
daughter of Preserved Dakin. She was born 
in Clinton county, Ohio; her ancestors were 
among those who came to this country in the 
Mavtb'wer. Her father. Preserved Dakin, left 
his home in New York in the year 1804, and 
settled in Ohio, on a tract of land containing 



DANE COVNTT, WISCONSIN. 



539 



1,500 acres, hU in one body, which he pur- 
chased of the Government, wliere he re- 
reinained until his death. Mr. Main contin- 
ued in Ohio until 1843, when, witli his wife 
and three cliiklren, he started witli a team 
and made an extended journey to Bureau 
County, Illinois. Two years were spent here, 
but as the locality at that time seemed un- 
healthy, in 1845 they started again with tean] 
and made an overland journey to Dane 
county, Wisconsin. At that time northern 
Illinois and Wisconsin had few settlers, and 
much of the land was still owned by the 
Government. 

The father of our subject located in the 
town of Oregon, where he selected a tract of 
Governinent land on section 13, there built a 
log house, in which the subject of this sketch 
was born. At that time there were no rail- 
roads, and all the grain had to be hauled to 
Milw'aukee, entailing much time and labor. 
He improved the farm and occupied the place 
until 18G4, when he sold it and bought 400 
acres in the town of Rutland; lived there 
until 1873, then moved to Oregon, where he 
lived retired until his death, which took 
place in 1882. The maiden name of the 
mother of our subject was Cordelia Dakin, 
■who was born in Clinton county, Ohio. Her 
ancestors were among those who readied this 
country in the Mayflower. She still lives in 
Oregon at the age of eighty years, and reared 
a family of eight children: Mary Frances, 
Louisa, Hattie, Martha, our subject, Anna, 
Alice, Robert AValter. 

The father was formerly a AVliig, and a 
Republican from the foi'uiation of the party. 
He was public-spirited, and tilled various 
offices of trust, being elected to the State 
Legislature in 1856. 

Our subject received his early education in 
the district school, and this was advanced by 



attendance at the high school in Oregon, ami 
in 1873 he took charge of his father's farm. 
This was located in Rutland, and here he 
operated until 1877, when he l\>cated on a 
farm of 320 acres that he still owns, on sec- 
tion 31 in the town of Fitchburg. At the 
time he purchased his large and valuable 
farm located in the town of J^itchburg, with 
only $1,000 to pay down, it was predicted 
by all that he must fail. By the untiring in- 
dustry and good business ability of himself, 
aided by his noble wife, the entire debt was 
paid off in a few years, and he now tinds him- 
self in a position of ease. He was engaged 
in general farming and stock-raising, includ- 
ing the raising of horses and Shetland ponies. 
In the fall of 1892 he rented his farm, and 
purchased a tract of twenty-six acres in the 
village of Oregon, where he now resides. 

Our subject was married JSIovember 26, 
1872, to Miss Juliet Chapin, who was born 
in the town of Union, Rock county, a young 
lady from one of tlie first families in Wiscon- 
sin. Mr. and Mrs. Main are the parents of 
five children: Celia II., Florence E., Idell M., 
Stanley D., and Lilian II. 

Miss Celia Main, oldest daughter of E. D. 
Main, having been obliged to assist her 
father for that purpose, was taught at the age 
of ten to ride a horse, and became anex[)ert 
in horsemanship, an accomplishment of which 
she may well be proud. Her perfect horse- 
manship has made her a conspicuous figure 
wherever she appeared with her steeds. 

In his social relations Mr. Main is a mem- 
ber of the Masonic lodge, of Oregon, and 
politically is a Democrat. He has always 
taken a deep interest in all public enterprises; 
is highly esteemed 1)V a wide circle of fi'iends 
as a man of strict integrity and high moral 
character. 



540 



BIOGRAPHIC AL REVIEW OF 



'HOIIYALD C. LUND, secretary of 
the Stoughton Wagon Company of 
Stoiigliton, Wisconsin, was born in 
Sarpsburg, Morway, Xovember 3, 1847, a son 
of H. T. and M. C. (Nikolaisou) Lund, also 
natives of that place. They caine to Amer- 
ica in 18G4, locating at Cambridge, Dane 
county, Wisconsin, where they resiiled till 
1873. They then removed to Blanchard- 
ville, Wisconsin, where the father engaged 
in the hotel business. His death occurred in 
1892, and the motlier resides there yet. 

Thorvald C. Lund, one of five children, 
four sons and one daughter, received a colle- 
giate education in Norway, and came to 
America at the age of seventeen years. He 
began life for himself as clerk in a dry-goods 
Btoreat Beloit, Wisconsin, lateral Cambridge, 
and in 1872 renioved to Stoughton, Wiscon- 
sin, where he commenced work as book- 
keeper for T. G. Mandt in the wagon factory. 
In 1883 the Stoughton Wagon Company was 
organized, Mr. Lund being elected as secre- 
tary, which position he has ever since filled. 
The factory is one of the largest of its kind 
in the Northwest, and is doing a very pros- 
perous and paying business, the vohinu? of 
the business Jate years amounting to nearly 
$40U,OUO. 

Mr. Lund is a Republican in his political 
views, although formerly he affiliated with 
the Democratic party, and held the office of 
Assistaiit and afterward Superintendent of 
Public I'roperty under Governor Taylor, but 
resigned this position in 1874, returning to 
Stoughton to his old post with T. G. Mandt. 
The Democratic party's pronounced stand as 
freetra<ler8 drove Mr. Luml, as many other 
men. from the Democratic raidis; and he took 
a very lively part in the campaign of 1888, 
doing hard work for the Republican ticket 
there. .Mr. Lund has l>een honored bv his 



townsmen and intrusted with city offices of 
most all kinds, havinif held the office of Po- 
lice Justice for one term. City Clerk for a 
term of years, later has served the city as Al- 
derman in the Council, and been elected City 
Mayor three different times. 

Mr. Lund was married June 8, 1868, to 
Margaret Johnson, a native of Cambridcre, 
Wisconsin. To this union has been born 
three children: Arthur U., Mattie E.. and 
Christine M. The children are all l)eing 
educated in the Stoughton High School. 

Mr. Lund is an interprising and public- 
8j)irited citizen, and has a host of warm 
friends. 

j^iENRY C. COON, a successful farmer of 
CIM]) ^^'^^ county, Wisconsin, was born in 
"^16 Allegany county. New York, March 
1, 1835, a son of Jonathan and Martha (Col- 
grove) Coon, the former a native of Berlin, 
Rensselaer county, New York, and the latter 
of Charlestown, Rhode Island. They were 
of English descent. The father died in 
1850, and the mother is still livinij at the 
home of our subject, aged eighty-six years, 
she being the oldest American citizen now 
living in Albion township. They were the 
parents of two children, our subject an<l a 
daughter, Marinda. The latter was born in 
Allegany county, New York, is still unmar- 
ried, and resides with her mother and brother. 
The father was a carpenter and joiner by oc- 
cupation, but after coming to this State, in 
1844, he adopted farming as his vocation. 

Henry C, the subject of this sketch, did 
not receive many advantages for an education 
in his native State, and these chances were 
not bettered by coming into the, then, semi- 
wilderness of Wisconsin. .Vt the age of fif- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



5J1 



teen years he left 8cluii.il ami began work on 
his father's farm of a cjiiarter section of land 
on sectien 29, which has been put under an 
excellent state of cultivation until it ranks 
second to none in the township in excellency. 
The father dying when he was young, Mr. 
Coon was early forced into the active man- 
agement of the home and farm. His ener- 
i;ies have been directed to general farmincr 
and steck-rai.sincr, in which he has been more 
than ordinarily successful. Politically, he 
atiiliates with the Republican party, has been 
elected Justice of the Peace and Supervisor 
a number of terms, and also to other less 
important trusts. Although naturally of a 
social nature, Mr. Coon has not as yet united 
in marriage. The family are members of the 
Seventh Day Baptist Church of A.lbion Cen- 
ter. 



-^ 



^ 



IIIAKLES ARIANS, merchant and Post- 
iUliv* "if'ster of North Bristol, carrying a large 
stock of goods and doing an extensive 
trade, has managed the business alone for the 
past seven years, succeeding his father in the 
yearl885. IIisfather,.Tohn Arians, laid out 
and named North Bristol, starting the store 
there thirty years ago. Besides the store and 
postoffice, Mr. Arians managed a cheese fac- 
tory for six or seven years, being, in fact, all his 
life a man of great industi'y and application 
to business. lie was born in Westphf^lia, 
Germany, in 1824, of good old German stock, 
his parents being highly respecteil ai^d at- 
tached to the Fatherland so strongly that they 
could not be prevailfjd upon to leave, but 
ended their days there. John grew up at 
liome, where he was educated, and when a 
young man and unmarried came to the United 
States with other members of the family. 

36 



This was before the day of steamboats and 
the ocean voyage was made in a sailitig ves- 
sel. Landing at New York our subject ])ro- 
ceeded to Deerfield, Wisconsin, by way of 
Milwaukee, where, after some years of anln- 
ous work, he became a merchant, having 
saved up sufiicient money to l)uy a stock of 
goods. He remained at Deerfield for several 
years as a mercliant before going to North 
Bristol. The senior Mr. Arian was mari-ied 
at Deerfield, to Julia Summerger, who 
was born in Prussia, Germany, coming 
over to the United States when a young 
woman and settling at once at Deerfield. 
She is yet living, at the age of sixty-live, 
healthy and very active. Her married life 
was a very happy one and she was a true and 
devoted wife, unselfishly seeking to lessen the 
burdens and cares of her kind husband. John 
Arians died December 18, 1885, in the faith 
of the Catholic Church, of which he was a 
life-long member and to which his wife be- 
longs, she being connected with tlie St. Jo- 
seph (German Catholic) of East I'ristol. 

(.)ur subject was born at Deerfield, Wis- 
consin, November 2, 1858, and was yet quite 
young when the family went to North Bris- 
tol. He may be said to have grown right up 
to his business, as he began at an eai'ly age 
to assist in the store. There has come down 
to him from his father a measure of pluck, 
energy and industry that will take him 
bravely through the world. He is a most 
worthy son of an upright father. His brothers 
and sisters are as follows: Flora, living at 
home; Eda, wife of John Helm, a carpenter, 
living at North Bristol; Anton, managing 
the creamery for the family; Ernest, assist- 
ing Charles in the store; all but Eda living 
at home. Our subject is unmarried, and 
he and his brothers and sisters are Catholics. 



542 



JiJOirliAfltJOAl, HEVIKW Ot 



:Ti^.TlLLlAM WILLARD DANIELLS, 
• \/\/ professor of eliemistry at the Uiii- 
l'"!)^ versity of Wisconsin, is a native of 
Micliigan, born at West Bloomlield, Oakland 
county, March 10, 1840. 

Tlie Daniells family originated in Scotland, 
the name formerly being McDaniells. Great- 
grandfather Daniells, a resident of western 
Massachusetts, lived to a ripe old age, and, 
indeed, the family have been noted for lon- 
gevity. The Professor's father, Nathaniel I. 
Daniells, was born in Massachusetts and liis 
mother, nee Lucinda Reed, in Connecticut. 
They went to Michigan about 1S33 and lo- 
cated in Oakland county, subsequently mov- 
ing to Detroit, and two years later to Clinton 
county, Michigan. Their family was com- 
posed of seven children, William W. being 
the fourth-born. 

His father being a farmer, Professor Dan- 
iells spent his early life on the farm. He 
attended the public schools until be was 
eighteen, and from that time uutil he was 
twenty was a student in the Lansing Acad- 
emy. He then entered the Michigan Agri- 
cultural College near Lansing, where he 
graduated in 1864 with the degree of B. S. 
In the u)eantime he had taught in the com- 
mon schools. From 1866 till 1868 he took 
a special course iu chemistry at Harvard 
University, his instructor being Dr. Wolcott 
Gibbs. 1m 1868 Mr. Daniells left the Uni- 
versity to accept the chair of Agriculture in 
the University of Wisconsin; from 1870 to 
1874 was professor of Agriculture and An- 
alytical chemistry; 1874 to 1879, professor 
of Agriculture and Chemistry; and since 
1879 has been Professor of Chemistry. lie 
did the first laboratory work in the University, 
the laboratory then beiu" in the basement of 
the main buildinif. 

In 1873 he received the appointment of 



chemist to the State Geological Survey, and 
in 1880 received from Governor Smith the 
appointment of State Analyst. Wliile pro- 
fessor of Airriculture he wrote the following 
papers: " The Chemistry of Bread making;" 
" Some of the Relations of Science with Ag- 
riculture;"" Laws of Heredity Applied to 
the Improvement of Dairy Cows;" " Some of 
the Wants of American Farmers," " The 
Conservation of Force Applied to the Feed- 
ing, Watering and Sheltering Farm Stock," 
" Hard Times, — A Cause and Remedy," 
'( Objects and Methods of Social Cultiva- 
tion," " Chemical I'rinciples of Stock Feed- 
ing," and " Health in Farmers' Homes." 
" A Description of the Wisconsin Tornado 
of May 28, 1878," was written after a care- 
ful study of the phenomena of the storm as 
indicated by its track of destruction across 
the State. Before the Madison Literary 
Club he has read papers upon " The Duties 
of Education to the State " and upon " Foods 
and Air." 

During his long and faithful connection 
with the university he has been a prominent 
factor in advancing its best interests. His 
most important work has been in the build- 
ing up the department of chemistry to its 
present state of high efficiency. 

For nine years Professor Daniells was a 
member of the State Board of Health of 
Wisconsin. He is now a member of the 
American Public Health Association, of the 
Wisconsin Academy of Science, Art and 
Letters, and of the Advisory Council of 
World's Sanitary Congress Auxiliary of the 
World's Columbian Exposition. In 1871 
he made a visit to Europe, being absent seven 
months, studying during that time at Halli; 
and at Berlin. 

Professor Daniells was married in 1871, 
at Faribault, Minnesota, to Hontas A. Pea- 



DANE COUNTY, WISVONt<IN. 



54:1 



body, a graduate of Mt. Holyoke Seminary, 
Massachusetts. She was born in Georgia 
and was reared Ijy a widowed motlier. They 
have had live chikh-en, three of wlioiu are 
living: Ralph Peabody, John A. and William 
Nathaniel. 



(HARLES ELVER, the snccessfnl pro- 
ojK. prietor of the Elver House, situated 
^ near the Northwestern depot, and for- 
merly known as the East Madison House. 
He purchased and took possession of this 
popular hotel, January 1, 1889. The liouse 
accommodates tiiirty-five guests, and all the 
appointments are of most modern design. 
Our subject has been identified with the in- 
terests of the county for maqy years, Irnvjiig 
been a resident of Dane county since June, 
1852. When he first came to the county he 
was only a boy of three years of age, and was 
reared and educated within the confines of 
Dane county. Wiien thirteen years of age 
he began to learn the trade of miller, serving 
an apprenticesiiip of four years, after which 
lie came to Madison to run a mill for a com- 
pany in tiiis city and on lake Mendota, which 
was owned by Manning & Merrill. After 
two years he went into the large water mill 
of Madjson, known as Briggs, Robins & 
Thornton, fine stone-dressers. He remained 
in their employ for two years, tl^en worked 
as a journeyman in Freepqrt, Illinois, for one 
year. Jlis father's ill Health then required 
his return home to Middleton township, Dane 
county. He wa,^ here married anil ran his 
father's old farm for four years, in the mean- 
time pqrchasing the land. In 1874 he sold 
the honje farm and bought tiie J. B. Kehl 
mill, in Vermont township, taking possession 
January 8, and running it until 18T9, when 



he rebuilt the mill and established the Elver 
post office, so known at the present time, ami 
the mill also bears the name of Mr. Elver. 
August, 1888, the mill was burned down, 
destroying the plant, and it was never rebuilt. 

In 1880 our snliject was elected to the 
Chairmanship of the Township Board, which 
position he retained for nine years. In 1884 
he was elected a Commissioner of the county, 
and duiiincx his term of service the new court- 
house was built. In 188? he was elected 
Chairman of the County Board of Super- 
visors, and is the only chairman elected from 
German-American population of the county. 
The county commissioners ajipointed to build 
tlie courthouse constituted the building 
committee and consisted of 0. P. Chapman, 
chairman; Francis Richifv and our subject. 
Tiiis tine new structure cost the county §175,- 
000, and was accepted by the county, Jan- 
uary, 1887. The building was in process of 
construction for about three years from the 
time of the tearing down of the old court- 
house. 

Mr. Elver is one of the leading German- 
Americans of this county, and has a host of 
friends. He is a prominent Democrat, and 
has reoresented his party in local and State 
Conventions. He is one of those strong and 
forcible men who attract and interest. Since 
purchasing his hotel he has increased its 
capacity until it will now accommodate just 
double the original number of guests. It is 
heated throughout by steam, and on account 
of these improvements and the excellent ser- 
vice, it is very popular. 

Mr. Elver was born in Mecklenburg, Ger- 
many, April 14, 1849, son of John Elver, 
born in 1801, a native of the same province, 
of good German family. Charles learned tlie 
trade of stonemason. The father married a 
lady of Mecklenburg, Miss • Mary Meibon, 



544 



BIOGRAPUWAL REVIEW OF 



and after the birth of all their children they 
came to America. Being the only repre 
sentatives of their family that came to this 
country. It was the last of March or the 
first of April when the Elver family left 
Mecklenburg on a sailing vessel that landed 
them in New York city after a voyage of six 
weeks. From that city they proceeded to 
Milwaukee and thence to Madison with a 
team belonging to Mr. Weberhusen, now de- 
ceased. They settled on section 20, Middle- 
ton township, Dane county, where the father 
took Government land, on which he and his 
wife lived until 1871, when they removed to 
Middleton station, where the father died, in 
1887, aged eighty-six years. The mother 
died ill 1883, aged seventy-five or seventy- 
six years. Tiiey were faithful members of 
the German Lutherao Church, and helped to 
orsranize and build the Middleton church of 
that denomination. Our subject is the 
youngest of four children, two sons and two 
daughters. The brother, Fritz, died in 1889, 
leaving a wife and a large family. The sister, 
Caroline married .lolin Lohn, Postmaster of 
the town of Elver, Vermont township; and 
Dorothea, married James Ilarloff, a retired 
farmer of Middleton station. 

Our subject was married in Dane county, 
to Miss Minnie Lohff', born in Mecklenburg, 
Germany, who came with her parents to 
America in 1853- They settled on a farm 
in Blooming Grove township, where her 
parents resided until their deaths, the father, 
Henry, <leparting tliis life in 1870, aged si.xty 
years, an<l the mother in the summer of 1890, 
being then past three score and ten years. 
They were botli consistent members of the 
Lutheran Church. Mr. and Mrs. Elver are 
the parents of four children, namely: Al- 
bertena, deceased when twenty-two, a bright 



young lady; Othelia, Howard and Elmore, 
are at home. 



►>+J- 



R. ANTINOUS A. ROWLEY, a suc- 
cessful practitioner of Dane county, 
Wisconsin, was born in I'rown county, 
Ohio, January 6, 1841, a son of Dr. Newman 
C and Sarah H. (Davies) Rowley. The 
father was born in New York, a son of Aaron 
and Martha ((Campbell) Rowley, natives also 
of New York. They both died at Evansville, 
the former at the age of seventy-eight years, 
and the latter about seventy years. He was 
a merchant by occupation, but was financially 
ruined by the free trade of 1848, after which 
he engaged in farming in Evansville. Rock 
county, Wisconsin. He was a soldier through 
the war of 1812. Newman C. Rowley, father 
of our subject, removed to Ohio in 1S40, 
where he engaged in teaching; in 1844 he 
taught school and studied medicine in Du- 
ratul, Illinois, and in 1840 went to Evansville, 
that State, where he took his first course of 
lectures in La Porte, Indiana, Dr. J. Adams 
Allen being one of the professors. His son 
and grandson also studied under tliat gentle- 
man. Mr. Rowley tluai jjracticed two years 
in Middleton, Dane county, Wisconsin, and 
later at Verona Corners, same county. About 
twenty-five years ago he retired to his first 
residence, and three years later came to the 
village of Middleton, where he died at the 
age of fifty-six years. He was a member of 
the State and County Medical Society. His 
brother, William R., was an otlicer in Jo 
Daviess county for over tliirty-tive years, an<i 
was also on General Grant's staff. Tiie 
mother of our subject, nee Sarah II. Davies, 
was born in New York. 

She died at the home of our subject at the 
same age as her husband. They were the 



DANK COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



545 



parents of seven children, four now living, 
and one dauehter married Dr. AV. S. Wheel- 
Wright, who resides at Belleville, AVisconsin. 
A. A. Rowley, the snhject of this biog- 
raphy, first attended the district school at Ve- 
rona, after which he spent one year at Has- 
kell University, Mazo Manie, and one year 
at the State University. Yor the following 
year he was engaged in office work, then one 
year in Findlay's drugstore, and ne.xt worked 
on his grandfather's farm. September 27, 

1861, he enlisted in Company F, Eleventh 
Wisconsin Infantry, under Captain E.R.Chase 
and Colonel Harris, and served seventeen 
months. Mr. Rowley was with his regiment 
in every skirmish until he was taken sick, 
spent ten weeks in the hospital at fronton, 
Missouri, and was discharged February 26, 

1862. He afterward served as Lieutenant of 
the National Guard of Midtlleton two years, 
under Captain James M. Bull. After his 
discharge from the army our subject contin- 
ued the study of medicine until his gradua- 
tion at the Rush Medical College, in 1868, 
after which he continued the practice of his 
profession with his father three years. He 
was then in Ashton for one and a half yearSj 
and next re-engaged in practice with his 
father, with whom he remained until the lat- 
ter's death. Since that time he has continued 
alone. Mr. Rowley is a member of the State 
and Central Medical Societies, of the Masonic 
order, and of the I. O. O. F., and of L. T. 
Park Post, G. A. R., of Black Earth. His 
first presidential vote was cast for A. Lincoln, 
since which time he has always voted the 
Republican ticket. 

April 11, 1863, our subjected was united 
in marriage with Miss Olivia W. AVlieel- 
wright, who was born in Cattaraugus county. 
New York, September 30, 1843, a daughter 
of Jesse and Mary (Gilbert) AVheelwright. 



The father was born in Lincolnshire, En- 
glaiul, August 2(5, 1816, and came to this 
country at the age of seventeen years. He 
now resides at the home of our subject. The 
mother of Mrs. Rowley was born in New 
York, a daughter of Mary (Jacobs) Gil- 
bert, a native of New Jersey. The parents 
were often visited by George Washington. 
Mrs. AViieelwright died at Middleton, Dane 
county, at the age of sixty-nine years. Mr. 
and Mrs. Wheelwright reared a family of 
three children, all of whom are now deceased 
but the wife of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. 
Rowley have had four children, viz.: Jesse 
C, born June 22, 1866, graduated at Rush 
Medical College, of Chicago, in 1S90, and is 
now a promising physician of Prairie du 
Chien, AA'^isconsin; Edna Olivia, born Jan- 
uary 15, 1870, was educated at the Wayland 
University and has taught three years, the 
last one in the Evansville High School; An- 
tinous G., born April 1, 1875, is attending 
school at Wayland University ; and Mary 
Bernice, born February 25, 1885. Mrs. Row- 
ley and her eldest daughter are members of 
the Baptist Church. 



|1IARLES MoNEIL, of Dane county, 
AVisconsin, was born in Oneida county, 
New York, November 4, 1832, a son 
of Miller and Rowena (Sweet) McNeil, the 
former a native of Litchfield, Connecticut, 
and the latter of Otsego county. New York. 
The paternal ancestors were of Scotch-Irish 
descent and the maternal progenitors came 
from Germany. 

Charles McNeil, the second of a family of 
three sons and three daughters, received his 
preliminary education at a country school, 
which he supplemented by a complete course 



546 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



at Wliitesboro (New York) Seminary. At the 
age of twenty-one years he left his native 
State for Wisconsin, pnrchasing 320 acres of 
land on sections 22 and 15, Dunkirk township, 
Dane connty. Since coming coining to 
Stoughton he has been engaged in buying 
live stock, with the exception of five years, 
during which time he followed the grain 
business. In 188G Mr. McNeil erected his 
handsome residence, which is the finest in 
Stoughton. He votes with the Republican 
party, and, with the exception of Supervisor 
of Dunkirk township, has never held public 
office. 

Our subject was married January 1, 1862, 
to Helen McNeil, a native of Newark, Illi- 
nois, and a daughter of Charles McNeil^ a 
dealer and speculator in land. They have one 
son, Don C. II., born in March, 1863, is a 
druggist of Platte Center, Nebraska. 



p,ON. M ATTHEW' ANDEKSON) a 
prominent Statesman, progressive busi- 
ness man, and successful farmer of 
Dane county, Wisconsin, was born in county 
Londonderry, Ireland, March U, 1822, and is 
a son of George and Jane (McKee) Ander- 
son. The father was born in county Antrim, 
Ireland, July 15, 1792, and was a son of 
Matthew Anderson, also a native of that 
county. Matthew was a farmer by occupa- 
tion, and died in connty Londonderry, at the 
age of seventy-seven years. His wife, nee 
Sarah Wilson, also died in the latter county, 
aged seventy-five years. She had a brother 
and an uncle who were seceder ministers, and 
quite prominent men. George Anderson, 
father of the subject of this sketch, was one 
of seven children, and was reared to farming, 
which occupation he followed through life. 



In 1834 he emigrated to the United States, 
on the ship Henry Gratton, which was 
wrecked at sea, and the passengers were 
picked up by a schooner, which landed them 
in I'hiladelphia, August 1, 1834, after they 
had been seven weeks on the ocean. George 
Anderson went to Lancaster county, Penn- 
sylvania, where he bought a small farm of 
improved land, on which he and his lainily 
resided until 1850. In that year, he sold his 
farm for S225 an acre and removed to Ohio, 
settling on land which his son, the subject 
of this sketch, had selected for him. On 
this place of 126 acres, in Logan county, the 
father died March 19, 1879, greatly lamented 
by all who knew him, on account of his many 
excellent qualities of heart and mind. The 
mother of the subject of this notice was horn 
in county Londonderry, Ireland, May 20, 
1791, and was a daughter of Moses and 
Nancy (Cousty) McKee, also natives of that 
county. Her father was a farmer by occupa- 
tion and both parents lived to a very great 
age. They had four children, but as far as 
known, none are now living. Mrs. George 
Amlerson, their daughter, having died in 
Logan county, Ohio, ■\Iarch 29, 1858. She 
wasa woman of rare sensibility and intelli- 
gence, whose life was replete with good works. 
She and her husband reared eight children: 
Wilson, born December 29, 1815; David, 
December 18, 1818; Matthew, March 9, 
1822; Isabella, April 4, 1825; Sarah, Janu- 
ary 9, 1828; Nancy, January 6, 1831; Mary 
A., October 9, 1833; and Eliza J., August 4, 
1836. All were born in county Londonderry, 
Ireland, except the last named, who is a na- 
tive of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. 

Matthew Anderson, the subject of this 
sketch, was engaged at farm work until com- 
ing to the United States, when he served an 
apprenticeship of five and a half years at the 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



547 



shoemakers' trade. In 1840 lie started a 
small shop of his own, which lie conducted 
until 1847, when he began the same busi- 
ness in Bellefontaine, Ohio. He afterward 
began the manufacture of shoes in that city, 
emjdoying from twenty to thirty men, being 
the father of the shoe business there, where 
he remained thirteen years. August 1, 18G0, 
he removed to the town of Cross Plains, 
Dane county, Wisconsin, wiiere he now re- 
sides on one of the best farms in that section, 
having 340 acres, all un<ler cultivation. Mr. 
Anderson is now practically retired from 
active labor, but is probably the most active 
man in the State in political matters. His 
first vote was cast in 1843 for free schools, 
that being his first, lie feels very proud of it. 
His tirst presidential vote was cast for James 
K. Polk, in 1844. Ilis sterling qualities and 
genial personality rendered him pojnilar, and 
in 1851 he served as Mayor of Bellefontaine, 
Ohio, and was a member of the Town Coun- 
cil three years. He has also held many posi- 
tions of trust since removing to Wisconsin. 
He was Chairman of the Township Board 
in Cross Plains, Dane county, for two years; 
was a member of the Assembly in 1871; was 
elected to the State Senate in 1877, and 
served four years, and in 1879 was re-elected, 
serving as a member of the Committee on 
State Affairs, and of Agriculture. He took 
an active part in having laws passed in the 
interest of the tillers of the soil, and intro- 
duced and secured the passage of a bill to 
prevent the adulteration of foods; also had a 
bill introduced to prevent double taxation on 
incumbered real estate; and a bill to reduce 
the legal rate of interest to six per cent, the 
passage of which he advocated with zeal and 
energy. He was President of the Dane 
County Agricultural Society six years; was 
presiding officer of the first meeting of the 



National Alliance in Chicago, in 1881, and 
also in St. Louis, at the opening of its ses- 
sion in 1882; and was Overseer of the Wis 
cousin State Grange for two years. He was 
a recognized leader in the Wisconsin Lecis- 
lature, establishing a record second to none 
for energetic and aggressive efforts for the 
benefit of his fellow-men. 

He was married in Logan county, Oliio, 
June 22, 1847, to Miss Elizabeth C. Harner, 
who was born in Lancaster county, Pennsyl- 
vania, August 14, 1825. She was a daugh- 
ter of John A. and Klizabeth C. (Emery) 
Harner, natives of Chester county, the same 
State, the former born April 5, 1795, and the 
latter, September 17, 1798. Her parents 
settled on a farm in Logan county, Ohio, in 
1840, where the father died December 14, 
1870, and the mother, February 21, 1876. 
Mrs. Anderson's maternal grandparents, Peter 
and Elizabeth (Clemens) Emery, were pio- 
neers of Chester county, Pennsylvania, where 
they lived to a very great age. Mr. and Mrs. 
Anderson had six children, all born in Belle- 
fontaine, Ohio, three of whom are now livino-; 
Mary Belle, born November 27, 1852, mar- 
ried John W. Anderson, a railroad engineer 
of Madison, Wisconsin, and they have two 
sons; Charlotte McKee, born November 5, 
1853, married Peter Kehl, a miller of San 
Bernardino, California; and David, born 
May 19, 18(50, is a cattle-raiser of Nebraska, 
is married and lias one daughter. The de- 
ceased are: George W., born April 8, 1848, 
died September 16, 1849; John F., born 
August 5, 1849, died August 16, 1850; and 
Georgiana, born May 7, 1851, died August 
15, 1852. The devoted wife and mother 
died in Dane county, Wisconsin, March 30, 
1880, and her remains were taken to Belle- 
fontaine, Oliio, to the family burying-ground, 



5 48 



BIOGIiAPIIlVAL REVIEW OF 



Mr. Anderson being one of tlie charter 
nieu^bers of tlie cemetery association. 

On March 8, 1882, Mr. Anderson was 
married to Harriet Arland, the ceremony 
being performed by Bishop Fallows, of Chi- 
cago. This lady was a native of Leicester- 
shire, England, and a danghter of Thomas 
and Ann (Main) Arland, the former born 
August 19, 1801, and the latter August 12, 
1804. Both parents died in Dane county, 
the father, October 5, 1873, and the moilier, 
January 24, 1872. Mrs. Anderson came to 
the United States with her parents in 1846, 
who settled in Cross Plains township, Dane 
county, Wisconsin. She graduated at the 
Woman's Medical College, Chicago, Illinois, 
in 1882, and practiced her profession in Dane 
county for a time, and is a member of the 
Wisconsin State and Central Wisconsin Med- 
ical Societies. Her mother was an own 
cousin of the Earl of Shrewsbury. 

Socially, Mr. Anderson is one of the old- 
est members of the 1. O. O. F., No. 72, in 
Bellefontaine, Ohio; and of the Encamp- 
ment, No. 73, at the same place, lie is a 
member of the Masonic order at Black Earth, 
and of the Chaj)ter at Madison. 

From a cobbler's bench and without school- 
ing but thatol)tained in the old-fashioned sub- 
scription school our subject has arisen by his 
own efforts to the front rank of jxijiularity, 
honor and esteem; and, by hard labor, judi- 
cious economy and a lirst-class system of 
agricultural pursuits, has amassed a fortune 
quite sufficient to enable him to retire several 
years ago. llis friends and neighbors, how- 
ever, will not permit him to retire from the 
political arena. Ilis irreproachable charac- 
ter, sound and safe business principles, un- 
erring judgment and keen sensibility of the 
best interests <jf all, is platform enough to 



satisfy the people. He is a Democrat and is 
in favor of a protective tariff'. 



•HOMAS P. CHAPIN was born in the 
State of Vermont, as was his father 
and grandfather, Gideon Chapin, as far 
as known, and he by occupation was a black- 
smith. He resided in Vermont until 1837, 
when he removed to Wisconsin, located at 
Janesville, and later bought 320 acres of land 
near Janesville, where he engaged extensively 
in farming. The land was located two miles 
from Janesville, and upon that place he re- 
silled until his death. 

Thomas P. Chapin learned the trade of 
blacksmith with his father, and came west to 
Wisconsin with him in 1837, establishinii 
the first blacksmith shop in the village of 
Janesville, when there were at that time 
only two or three houses, no railroads coming 
for years. All communication with the place 
was via stage. Here he condncted business 
for eight years, and then sold his shop and 
bought 360 acres of Government land in the 
town of Union, in Rock county. Here he 
erected a substantial frame house, and for 
many years this was the only frame house 
for many miles around. 

IJefore the building of the railroad conj- 
munication our subject did his marketing in 
Milwaukee, drawing the grain with teams. 

He has resided in the pleasant home which 
he has made in Union ever since, having 
erected a tine set of frame buildings, and 
made improvements, which will compare 
favorably with any in the county. He had 
put his farm of 360 acres into a fine state of 
cultivation. He has been a Rejiublican ever 
since the formation of the party, and is one 
of the most esteemed citizens of the town of 
Union. 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



549 



Our subject was married July 4, 1847, at 
Madison, Wisconsiu, to Miss Amanda Ells- 
worth, who was born iu Canandaigua, New 
York. Iler father, Jonathan Ellsworth, was 
born in the Empire State, and was the son of 
Eeuben, Ellsworth, lie spent his last years 
in Canandaigua. The maiden name of his 
wife was Amanda Babcock, wlio was born in 
Vermont, the tlaugliter of Thomas Babcock. 
She survived her husband many years, and 
came to Wisconsin in 184C, and settled in 
Oregon. 

Mr. and Mrs. Chapin are both living, and 
the}' reared eight children, as follows: Anna, 
Thomas S., Celia A., Juliet, Emma, Fred, 
James and Lillian M. 

--^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

lEOKGE WILSON CUKRIEK.— The 
interested reader will find in this vol- 
ume the names of many prominent men 
of the State, and among them the name of 
our subject deserves a fitting place. George 
W. Currier is known to a large circle, and is 
regarded as one of the leading and promi- 
nent men of Stoughton, Dane county. lie 
was l)orn in Topsham, Orange county, Ver- 
mont, May 9, 1847, the eldest son of Edson 
C. and Lucinda Curi-ier. The mother of Mr. 
Currier died September 10, 1878, but his 
father still lives at the old iiomestead. Three 
children have been born to tliem: Our sub- 
ject; Charles M., now a resident of Milwau- 
kee, Wisconsin; and Frank E., a resident of 
Madison, Wisconsin. 

Our subject remained in his early youth 
and young manhood in his native county, 
engaging hi farming, mining and stage-driv- 
ing, but at the age of nineteen, in 1860, he 
removed to Manchester, New Hampshire, 
where he was employed in the mills for one- 



half year. In the fall of that saine year he 
emigrated to Rock county, Wisconsin, where 
he was employed on a farm. In the fall of 
1867 he entered Albion Academy. In order 
to obtain funds to carry him through school, 
he taught school at Oakland, Kutland and 
Sun Prairie, and for two years taught at 
Elgin, Minnesota, graduating from the acad- 
emy in 1872. Tlie following year he was 
elected principal of the Stoughton schools 
and remained there five years, at which time 
he was appointed to a position in the House 
of Representatives at Washington, District 
of Columbia, during the Forty-third Con- 
gress and served one year. After this he 
served as principal of the schools at Shaw- 
ano one year, and in the same capacity five 
years more in Stoughton. In 1885 he re- 
signed his position and engaged in the in- 
surance l)usiness. So successfully did he 
fulfill his duties at Washington that the 
Wisconsin Legislature appointed him in 
1874 to a position that he held for two 
years. 

Being a good Republican, his party con- 
sidered him the ])n>per ])er8on to till tlio 
office of clerk of the court and consequently 
made iiim its nominee. He was also a 
member of the County Board for three years, 
and is now serving his fourth term as City 
Justice. In 1876 he started the Stoughton 
Courier, of which he was the editor for some 
time, and then engaged iu the .same capacity 
on the Stougiiton Hub. 

Mr. Currier was married in 1874 to Miss 
Augusta Head, of Albion, Wisconsin, who 
died five weeks after marriage. Two years 
later he was married again, his second wife 
being Annette B. Bnrdick, daughter of Dr. 
B. Burdick, of Edgerton, Wisconsiti. Two 
ciiildren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Currier, namely: Louis Claire, born June 



550 



BIOORAPHWAL REVIEW OF 



18, 1878, and Zoe Lucinda, born June 26, 
1880. Mr. Currier is a man highly respected 
in every relation of life by all who have had 
any connection with him. In all of tlie 
positions which he has held he has acquitted 
himself faitlifuUy and honorably and fully 
justified the confidence the people showed in 
hiiu by placing him in positions of promi- 
nence. 



jROF. JOHN W. STERLING, a scholar 
W of ripe attainments, an eminent literary 
man and a successful educator, was par- 
ticularly notable as having from the first 
identified himself witli the University of 
AVisconsin at a time when its future lay as 
deeply hidden in obscurity as did the object- 
ive point of the visionary Genoese of 400 
years ago. By faith both undertook monu- 
mental enterprises, and by faith both attained 
the cherished goal of their desires. In the 
case of the university, indeed before Prof. 
Sterling became connected with it, petitions 
had been sent to the Legislature, asking for 
its abandonment and for a division of the 
funds among denominational colleges in the 
State, and a bill was once actually introduced 
to tliat effect. Subsequently the Legislature, 
with a more enliglitened policy, determined 
to build up, rather than to destroy, but met 
with only partial success against this unac- 
countable opposition. The election by the 
Board of Regents, on the 7th day of October, 
1848, of John II. Lathrop, LL. 1)., as Chan- 
cellor, and John W. Sterling, A. M., as Pro- 
fessor of Mathematics, was the first action 
looking toward the organization of a faculty 
for the institution, and from that day, and 
notably through tlie influence and manage- 
ment of Prof. Sterling, it has ever since 



prospered. 



Prof. Sterling was a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, born in Wyoming county, July 17, 
1810. His earliest education was such as 
could be obtained in common schools, but 
aspirations for more liberal instruction caused 
him to attend an academy at Hamilton, New 
York. At this institution, and at a similar 
one at Homer, in the same State, he received 
the necessary preparations for entering col- 
lege. At this point of his life a desire to 
study law induced him to spend two years in 
the othce of Judge Woodward, at Wilkes 
Barre, Pennsylvania, and although qualified, 
he did not enter upon the practice of that 
profession. When twenty-one years of age 
bis desire for broader culture and more com- 
plete education induced him to enter the 
Sophomore class of the College of New Jer- 
sey, where he completed the regular course 
and graduated with honor in the class of 
1840. 

In the meantime he was elected Principal 
of the AYilkes Barre Academy, and entered 
upon his duties there as instructor, where he 
continued one year. He then resigned to 
enter upon another course of study, this time 
in tlie Theological Seminary at Princeton, 
New Jersey. Here he completed the course 
in the spring of 1844, during which time be 
had performed the duties of tutor in the 
College of New Jersey. His proficiency 
was so great and his talent so manifest tliat 
he became a great favorite and friend of the 
Princeton professors, whose names he always 
revered. 

After this the subject of this sketch 
preached in tlie Presbj'terian Church in his 
native county for one year, and was then 
honored by a call to take charge of Carroll 
College at Waukesha. This brought him to 
tlie State of Wisconsin, and later to the city 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN 



551 



of Madison, to fill the chair to wliich he had 
been elected in the university. 

As an instructor he was conscientious, 
prompt, painstaking and accurate. Other 
teachers could, perhaps, carry their pupils 
over more ground in a given time, but none 
could instruct them better. Ilis methods 
and manner of teaching had this important 
characteristic, that they produced satisfactory 
results. Of his ability in the class-room, 
hundreds of students who had the benefit of 
liis instruction can testify. Hut not alone as 
a teacher was the career of Prof. Sterlinir an 
honorable one. He was in fact the acting 
head of the university. The connection of 
Chancellor Barnard with the institution was 
little more than nominal, particularly as re- 
gards the actual administration of affairs, and 
the burden was upon the shoulders of Prof. 
Sterliuir, who was during the whole time 
virtually its chief officer. 

PVom the resignation of Dr. Bernard to 
the installation of President Chadbotirne, a 
period of more than six years, he was, by the 
authority of the regents, acting chancellor. 
He proved himself, during this period a wise 
counselor, a faithful friend to the students, 
extending encouragement and generous aid to 
all who were in need, ruling the university 
affairs with a firm but kindly hand, and by 
precept and example stimulating all of the 
classes to higher culture and nobler man- 
hood. 

Throughout all of these university years, 
besides the care and numerous duties con- 
nected with the office, he was engasred most of 
the time five hours daily in the class-room. 
Professor Sterling's unselfish devotion to the 
university, through evil as well as good 
report, his faithful stewardship, whether as 
professor or as chief officer, endeared him in 
a peculiar way, not only to those immediately 



connected witli the institution, but to its 
friends everywhere. 

Having previously acted as Dean of the 
Faculty he was in 18R0 continued by the 
regents in that office, and in 18G5 be was 
elected vice-chancellor and in 18G9 vice- 
president, which office he held until the date 
of his death, March 9, 1885. In 1861) he 
was offered the presidency of a college in San 
Francisco, which he declined. For one year 
after the resignation of Pi'esident Chad bourne, 
he was the acting head of the university, by 
virtue of his office of vice-president and again 
after tlie resignation of President Twombly. 
In addition to the Chair of Mathematics, he 
filled those of Natural Philosophy and As- 
tronomy from the time the first instruction 
was given in those branches down to 1874, 
when they were assigned to others. While 
acting chancellor, after the resignation of Dr. 
BeiTiard, Professor Sterling presided at com- 
mencements until Dr. Chadbourne took 
charge, giving a brief address at each, which 
are models of excellence and show the caliber 
and character of the man. 

In 1866 Professor Sterling received from 
his Alma Mater the honorary degree of Doc- 
tor of Philosophy and the same year from 
Lawrence University at Appleton, Wisconsin, 
that of Doctor of Laws, honors worthily 
liestowed, not only upon an earnest and faith- 
ful teacher, an intelli<Tent and high-minded 
citizen, but upon a conscientious, Christian 
gentleman, for as a man Professor Sterling 
was above reproach, his integrity of charac- 
ter and exalted sense of honor are beyond 
question. 

Professor Sterling was married, in 1851, to 
Miss Harriet Dean, a native of Massachusetts. 
She is a woman of culture and refinement and 
made for Professor Sterling a bright and 
happy home. She was of material assistance 



552 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



n the manac^einent of all financial affairs, 
possessiii<f rare executive ability. She now 
lis'es at tlie old home pleasantly situated near 
the university. She is the mother of three 
children now living: Grace, who was educated 
at the university, married George L. Linds- 
ley, of Tortland, Oregon, where his father 
was for years one of the greatest Presbyterian 
divines of the Pacific coast; Susan, the second 
daughter, was also highly educated; after 
graduating at the university, she spent a year 
at Wellesley College and studied a year at 
Brunswick and Berlin, (ierniany. She taught 
at Lake Forest, Illinois, and is now instructor 
in German in the University of Wisconsin. 
Charles G. also graduated at the university 
with the first honors of his class in 1880. 
He subsequently attended Princeton and 
afterward graduated at the McCormick Theo- 
logical Seminary, in Chicago, Illinois, in the 
class of 1886. Prior to this, for the benefit 
of his health, he had spent two years in the 
A'orthwest in the employ of the Northern 
Pacific and Canadian Pacific Railroad com- 
panies. He spent five years at Pine Ilidge 
agency as a missionary to the Sioux Indians. 
This was during the late troubles there. He 
is now pastor of the Lowe Avenue Presby- 
terian Church in Omaha, and fills a chair in 
the Omaha Theological Seminary. He re- 
ceived the decree uf Ph. I), from the Omaha 
University. He married Miss Lulu Fisjier, 
of Madison, who was formerly a teacher. 
Thus will be seen that the family of Professor 
Sterling inherited in great measure the 
characteristics so prominent in their father, 
which have made of them persons worthy to 
bear his honored name. 



:>>. 




-"[^ON. EDWARD W. D WIGHT, an early 
settler of Dane county, was born in 
Catskill, Greene county. New York, 
April 8, 1827. His father, Benjamin W. 
Dwight, was born in Greenfield, Connecticut, 
and his father, Timothy Dwight, was for 
many years president of Yale College. The 
father of our subject graduated from Yale 
College and practiced medicine in New Yt)rk 
city and Catskill a number of years, finally 
failing health compelled him to abandon 
practice and he engaged in the hardware 
business. In 1855 he removed to Clinton, 
Oneida county, and was there elected treas- 
urer of Hamilton College, retaining that 
position until his death in 18G0. The maiden 
name of the mother of our subject was Sophia 
Strong, born in Uadley, Scott county, Massa- 
chusetts, daughter of Rev. Joseph Strong. 
She died in Clinton, New York, and reared 
six children, as follows: Benjamin, a teacher 
and preacher; Theodore, a professor of law at 
Columbia College: Sophia, Mary, Elizabeth, 
and E. AV. 

Our subject left home at the age of fif- 
teen, went to Boston and engaged in the 
whaling service. He embarked on the 
schooner Council, and made tlie principal 
ports on the Atlantic coast and returned to 
Boston after an absence of one year. He 
then went to Clinton, New York, was em- 
ployed on a farm, remained there until 1847, 
then came to the Territory of Wisconsin. 
His journe}' was made via the lakes to Ra- 
cine, and then he secured a ride in a lumber 
wagon to Walnut, Wisconsin. At this time, 
northern Wisconsin was little inhabited, ex- 
cept by the Indians, and the southern part 
but little improved. Some of the land was 
still owned by the Government. There was 
no railroad, and Milwaukee and Racine were 
the markets to which the people made trips 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



553 



witli oxen. We fomiueneed life there, work- 
ing by the montli. Land was very chenj) 
and he vei'y soon hought IGO acres at |8 an 
acre, made some improvements on the ph\ce, 
and then sold it and bought a forty-acre 
tract near by. Later he sold tliatand bouo;ht 
again. In 1855 he went to Iowa, making 
tiie journey with an ox team. lie located in 
Winneshiek county, where he was a pioneer, 
entering 3(30 acres of Government land, lOO 
of wliicii had been improved. He only re- 
sidetl here one year and then returned to 
Wahiut, resided tliere one year, came to Dane 
county and bought a tract of military land, 
his present farm. There was a log house on 
the place at the time and in this the family 
camped for a few years. He has some improve- 
ments on his place, as he planted fruit and 
shade trees, and erected some good frame 
buildings. His improvements rank with the 
best in town. 

He was married in May, 1847, to Miss 
Elizabeth Foote, born in Clinton, Oneichi 
county, New Wirk, daughter of Joiin and 
Mary (Love) Foote. Mr. and Mrs. Dwight 
have four children, namely: Mary, Delia, 
Edward and Theodore. 

Mr. Dwight is a member of the Congrega- 
tional Church, but his wife is a l>aptist. For 
many years he lias been a leader in the Ro- 
pulilican party and has filled various offices 
of trust, and in 18()0 was elected to tlie State 
Legislature, where he becanu? very prominent. 
He is now very wealthy and besiiles the laud 
before mentiotied he owns another tine farm 
of IGO acres on section 2l). 

ROBERT BEN N ETT, one of the pioneer 
of Dane county, now living retired in 
'*'■ the town of Dunn, was horn in the Al- 
bany, Npw Vork, June -i, 1819. His father, 



William C. Bennett, was born in Stephen- 
town, Rensselaer county. New York, (jrand- 
father of our subject, also William C. Ben- 
nett, was born in Connecticut, and went 
from there to Stephenson, New York, bought 
land, cngatred in farminir, and spent the re- 
n}ainder of his days there. The father of 
our subject learned the trade of a tanner 
and currier. He went to Albany, New Vork, 
a young man, and conducted the business 
there until 1821, then moved to Cobleskill, 
Schoharie county, and continued the business 
there until 1838, then moved to Chenango 
county, where he ])nrcliased a farm and eu- 
iraired in agricultural pursuits, and resided 
there until 1818, from there he came to 
Wisconsin and spent the remainder of his 
days in Dane county. Ho died in 1854. 
The maiden name of our subject's mother 
was Laura Mygatt. She was born in Dutch- 
ess county. New York, and was the daughter 
of Isaac and Sarah (Smith) Mygatt. After her 
husband's death she went to Albany county. 
New York, on a visit, and died there. She 
reared two ciiildren: Egbert, and Isaac M., 
who resides in Chicago. 

Our subject was reared and edicated in 
his native State, and resided with his parents 
until 1848. The last few years of that time 
having charge of the farm. In 1840 he 
made his iirst visit to the Territory of Wis- 
consin, and at the age of twenty-seven years 
he purchased a tract of land in the town of 
Oreirou, Wisconsin. After a short visit there 
he returned to his Eastern home, and resitied 
there until 1848, when he returned to make 
a permanent settlement. He purchased ten 
acres of land in the village of Oregon, built 
a home and while residing there was im|)rov- 
ing the iirst tract which he had purchased. 

When he tirst visited Wisconsin the Ten-i- 
tory was but sparsely settled, and much of 



554 



BIOGRAPHICAL HE VIEW- OF 



the laud was still owned hy the Government. 
Deer and other wild game were plentifni. 
There had been no railroad there for some 
years, and crrain was drawn to Milwaukee in 
teams. In 1857 he purchased a tract of land 
on section 31 of the town of Dunn. There 
was at that time a frame house and forty 
acres broken. He began at once to make 
further improvements on the place and was 
soon the owner of 200 acres, with good build- 
ings. 

He was married February 9, 1840, to Miss 
Margaret Miranda Holmes. She was born 
in Albany, New York, and was the daughter 
of John and Alma Holmes. Mrs. Bennett 
died October 16, 1884. Mr. Bennett has one 
daughter, Huldah C. She married Mason M. 
Green, and has two children, George and 
llattie. Mr. Bennett's only son, William 
C, was born in 1843, and married Louisa J. 
Gritfen. He died in 1877, aged thirty-four 
years, leaving two sons, William C. and 
Louis J. Tile former was a graduate from 
Lake Forest University and from the Univer- 
sity of Wisconsin, and is now a student of 
the Rush Medical College. Four of Mr. 
Jiennett's grandchildren are dead: Mary Fran- 
ces Green died at the age of three years; Eg- 
bert Lee Bennett died aged one year; Mabel 
Louisa Bennett died when four years of age; 
and Wayne Griffen Bennett died at the age 
of one and one-half years. 

Mr. Bennett was formerly a Whig and cast 
his first presidential vote for William Henry 
Harrison. He has been a Republican since 
its formation. 

;--*T',XT)nEW IIOFF, a general merchant 

l\ of Mt. Iloreb, was born in Gudbrans- 

'" ~ dalen, Norway, March 14, 1863, a son 

of Hans Anderson. Both parents still reside 



in Norway. Andrew was reared to farm life 
attended the common schools, and remained 
with his parents until thirteen years of age. 
He then worked for a minister for a time, 
and the following four years was employed 
in a general mercantile store. In 18S2 he 
came to America, and after landing in New 
York came direct to Madi.son, where he was 
engaged at farm labor for about four months. 
Mr. Hoff was then employed in a general 
store at Mount Iloreb two years; next at- 
tended the Northwestern Business College, 
at Madison, then purchased a sliare in the 
business in which he is now engaged, and 
subsequently, after a number of changes in 
partnership, he bought the whole concern. 
He is still the sole proprietor of the business, 
and carries a full stock of general merchan- 
dise. 

Mr. Hoff was married in 1887. to Mattie 
Buck, a native of this country, but of German 
parentage. Our subject is a young man of 
promise in the business interests of the town, 
is genial, accommodating and trustworthy, 
and his knowledge of both English and Nor- 
wegian has a brilliant prospect for the fu- 
ture. 



HOMAS ATKINS, one of the leading 
farmers of Sun Prairie, is the subject 
of this brief sketch. His father, 
George, was born in Sussex, England, where 
he lived and died a farmer. Ilis father's name 
was also George. The mother of our sub- 
ject was a native of England, wliere she lived 
and died. Of the three children born to these 
parents, Louisa, John and Thomas, our sub- 
I ject, is the only one who left his native land 
to come to America. 

This removal was made when our subject 



D.\NE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



was about twenty-live years of age. His 
early lite had been spent on a farm, and his 
instriK'tion was received from his father in 
addition to wliat he learned in the two weeks 
be attended school. In addition, he was well 
grounded in the catechism and Bible at a 
Sunday-school that he walked one and one- 
half miles to reach, every Sunday, and also 
learned to write at a writing school. When 
he started to America he embarked in a sail- 
ing vessel from London, and after a voyage 
of thirty-six days landed in New York. The 
passage was a pleasant and safe one, and after 
landing at Castle Garden he journeyed up 
the Hudson river to Albany, thence to Madi- 
son, Madison county. New York, where he 
remained five years, spending the most of his 
time on a farm. He then went, via canal and 
lakes to Milwaukee, and thence to Dane 
county, when he obtained a farm of 176 acres, 
part of which was Government land, on 
which he moved. Here he found a log house 
and a blacksmith shop, the former 12x14 
feet. On this land he settled with a yoke of 
oxen obtained in Milwaukee, and began to 
break land and make other improvements. 
Our subject now resides with his son, in Sun 
Prairie on a farm. 

Mr. Atkins was married in New York to 
Mary A. Futman, whose father removed to 
Mississippi and there lived and died a farmer. 
Mrs. Atkins died in January, 1891, in Sun 
Prairie. She bore her husband the following 
children: DeWitt, Ella, John, deceased; and 
Charlie, Libbie and Emma, married; and 
George a single man. Charlie has two boys j 
and it is with this son tliat our subject makes 
his homes in his declining years. The farm 
is a good one, and as the father helped 
Charlie gain it, the son is only too glad to 
have his father with liim. Mr. Atkins has a 
house and lot in Sun Prairie, but it is too 



lonesome for him to live alone since the death 
of his faithful wife. 

Mr. Atkins was converted in 184^, in New 
York, and has continued a devout, devoted 
Christian ever since. He has spent a large 
portion of his time exhorting and takes a 
great interest in the salvation of souls. 
His only desire now is to devote the 
balance of his life to the salvation of men's 
souls, to which end he spends all of his time 
in church work, in which he has always been 
interested. While his wife lived he had a 
faithful fellow-worker, as she too was inter- 
ested in the same good work. Mr. Atkins 
is now connected with the Methodist Episco- 
pal Chnrch of Sun Prairie. 

Mr. Atkins has always been a hard worker 
and aided his children in obtaining a start-in 
life. Although greatly interested in church 
work, he is ready and willing to go when the 
Lord calls. He is a Class Leader and Sunday- 
school Superintendent, and embraces every 
opportunity to do good. 



|TIS BAKER, a farmer, stock and tobacco 
raiser of section 10, Bristol township, 
Dane county, is a son of Ephraim 
Baker. The latter's father, HoUister Baker, 
was reared on a farm in Ilawley township, 
Franklin county, Massachusetts, and lived to 
the age of eighty-six years. He was the 
father of eleven children; Horace, Harvev, 
Hollister, Ephraim and Noah, deceased; Ros- 
well: €51iarles, deceased; Rebecca. 

Ephraim liaker was born in Hawley town- 
ship, Franklin county, Massachusetts, Novem- 
ber, 7, 1807, received an ordinary educa- 
tion, and remained at home until twenty- 
two years of age. He then bought a farm of 
lOQ qcros, in bis native State, later added 



156 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



forty acres in another place, and after im- 
proving his land sold out and came to Wis- 
consin. He first rented land in Koshkononij;, 
where he remained from March until the fol- 
lowing September, but during that time had 
paid a visit to Dane county, and bought a 
tract of Government land. Tn the spring of 
1815 he settled on section 10, this county, 
erected a small frame house, which is still 
st:mding, and at that time his nearest neigh- 
bor was four miles distant. The following 
summer he built an addition to his residence, 
30 X 18 feet, which now comprises a part of 
the home of his son, Otis. Mr. Baker was a 
strong, robust man, and frequently made the 
journey to Milwaukee on foot, to buy horses. 
At the time of his death he owned about 500 
acres of land. lie departed this life November 
9, 1888, and was buried on lii.s own land. Mr. 
Baker was married January 21, 1830, at 
Hawley, Massachusetts, by lie v. John Grout, 
to Roana B. Ilawkes, who died February 18, 
1832. They had one son, William, of Vern- 
dale, Minnesota. January 12, 1834, the father 
married Fannie M. Ilawkes, a .-sister of his 
tortner wife, and they had the following chil- 
dren, viz.: Rowena, deceased; Otis, our sub- 
ject; Washburn, deceased, and his widow now 
resides in Miimesota; Margaret, wife of C. 
D. Stiles, of Columbus, Wisconsin; Harriet, 
deceased; Ephraim, deceased; Charles, of 
Madison, Wisconsin; Ereda Ann, deceased; 
Ann Maria, deceased. The mother died 
Miirch 2. 184:9, and May 23, same year, Mr. 
Baker married Harriet Rice. To this union 
was borne one child, Ereda B., deceased. 

Otis Baker, the second child of the second 
marriage, was born in Franklin county, .Massa- 
chusetts, August 12, 1836. Ue remained 
■ in the home farm unti two years after his 
marriaiTC, in 18G2, then purchased a place 
and remained in Windsor township, from May 



4 to September 4, when he sold the land to 
the man he had purchased it from, making 
§1,000 in the transaction. He ne.\t pur- 
chased and moved to the farm of eighty acres, 
known as the Nathan Dodge place, but two 
years later sold out and returned to the old 
homestead, paying $1,000 annually for the 
use of the place. After one year, in 1868, 
Mr. Baker bought 160 acres in Floyd county, 
Iowa, remained in the village of Floyd three 
years, engaged in the stock and livery busi- 
ness at Parkersburg, Albion township, But- 
ler county, thirteen years; was a traveling 
salesman one year; and then returned to the 
old home to take care of his father, who died 
about three years later. Mr. Baker now has 
charge of the entire farm of 110 acres. Politi- 
cally, he affiliates with the Republican party. 
He was first married September 16, 1862, 
to Harriett Crowell, who died March 21, 
1884. December 28, 18S5, ho was united 
in marriage with Nina Yonke, and they had 
two children: Harriett Mina, born Novem- 
ber 9, 1887; Frederick Otis, born March 4, 
1889, died May 13, same year. The mother 
; died October 22. 1889, and March 18, 1890, 
in Madison, Wisconsin, Mr. Baker married 
Mrs. Maria L. Hacker, nee Brown. She was 
born in Cottage Grove township, this State, 
was educated in Madi.^on, and was engaged 
as a teacher for some time, both before and 
after marriage. Her grandfather, Roswell 
Brown, settled in Cottage Grove township, 
Dane county, in 1841, and was one of the 
first six to make a settlement in that town- 
ship. He acquired large land interests, and 
remained there until his death, which oc- 
curred at the age of seventy-one years. His 
wife, nee Emma M. Smith, was born in Ohio, 
a daughter of Church Smith, a prominent 
man of that State. She is a sister of Mrs. 
Simeon Mills, of Madison. Mrs. Brown sur- 



DjXNE COUNTT, WISCONSIN. 



vived \wr hiisbiuid many jears, dyiui; at an 
old aire in Cottage Grove townsliip. Mr. and 
Mrs. Brown were members of the Baptist 
Chnrcii. Tiieywere the parents of three 
children, of whom Orvan, the father of Mrs. 
Baker was the eldest child and the only son. 
The two daughters, Mrs. A. 11. Harris and 
Mrs. Caroline Hainnn.)nd reside in Cottage 
Grove township. Orvan Brown was quite 
young when he came with his parents to Wis- 
consin, lie was married in Sun Prairie 
township, Dane county, to Clarinda A. 
Baikiy, a native of New York, and who set 
tied in the above township with her parents 
in a!)out 1846. She was the daushter of 
Samuel and Almira (Bisby) Baily, early set- 
tlers of Sun Prairie township. Both are 
now deceased, the mother living to the age 
of over ninety years. After marriage Mr. 
and Mrs. Brown began life on a farm, where 
they remained many years, although the 
father is now spending his last years quietly 
in Sun Prairie township. He has been twice 
married and is now a widower. He and his 
first wife were meml)er8 of the Baptist 
Church. Mrs. Haker was the eldest of a 
large family of children, of whom four sons 
and one daughter are still living. By her 
former husband she had five children: Harry 
C, Archie L., Elfleda, Mary M. and Barbary 
A. Our subject and wife have one daughter, 
Margaret. 



(EORGE JOHNSTON, the head cook 
AV& '" flit' Wisconsin State Asylum for the 
Insane, was born in Black Rock, New 
York, in 1854, a son of Andrew Johnston, 
who was born in Edinburg, Scotland, in 1822. 
His father, George Johnston, was a native of 
the same place, and died there at the age of 

37 



sixty-five years. He was highly educated, a 
great worker in the temperance reform of 
the second Athens of the world, and estab- 
lished some of the first coffee-houses, there. 
He reared four sons and two daughters, 
giving each a good education. Andrew John- 
ston is a graduate of St. Andrew's College; 
then he leai-ned the trade of baker and con- 
fectioner. He was married in Edinburfr, to 
Elizabeth Cormack, a native of that city, and 
soon afterward they came by sail vessel to. 
xVmerica. After landing in New York he 
went immediately to Buffalo, where hei 
worked in a hotel for a time, and later fol- 
lowed the same occupation at Niagara Ealls. 
He has been in many parts of the United 
States, and is well known in his profession, 
from Manitoba to New Orleans. For the 
past ten years Mr. Johnston has been engj^ge^ 
as cook in a hotel in Evansville, Indiana. 
He and his wife have two living children, 
George, our subject; and Daniel, an electric 
enirineer in Chicago. Four of their children 
died in early childhood. 

George Johnston, the subject of this 
sketch, came to the State Asylum for tlie 
Insane in the fall of 1872, at the atre of 
eighteen years, as an attendant; was then 
employed as farm attendant some j'ears, next 
as a, butcl^er, and then was promoted to the 
position of head cook. After marriage he 
purchased eighteen acres of land near the 
asylun^ for itisane one mile east of the 
asylum, for which he paid §850, erected a 
good bi"ick dwelling, at a cost of $1,200, and 
he has ^dded to his original purchase from 
time to time, until he now owns seventy-five 
acres. Mr. ffohnston was married September 
1, 1875, to Jennie McCrystal, a daughter of 
A. M. McCrystal, who settled in this county 
about forty years ago. Mrs. Johnston was an 
attendant at the asylum when she met her 



558 



BICGRAPHICAL REVIEW OP 



husband. Our subject and wife liave had five 
children, four now living: Andrew, aged 
sixteen years, is in tlie preparatory depart- 
ment of Mrs. Kichinoud's school; George, 
aged fourteen years; Grace, thirteen years; 
and Daniel, nine years. The family are mem- 
bers of the Presbyterian Church. 



^ 



IJfSON. UAVID STEPHENS, contractor 
;; fft] ii'id builder, proprieter of the Madison 
^.'1 Stone Quarry and the Bellaire P)rick 
aud Tile Works was born in Kincardineshire, 
Scotland, July 20, 1838, and was the son of 
John Stephens, and grandson of Andrew 
Stephens, who both were born in the same 
shire, all being Scotch. The father of our 
BHl)ject was reared to agricultural pursuits 
and removed to Aberdeenshire about 1857, 
where he engaged in farming and is still 
living at the age of seventy-six. The maiden 
name of the mother of our subject was marion 
Scott, who was born in Kincardineshire, a 
daut^hter of Alexander and Anna (Balfour) 
Scott, both native of Kincardineshire, where 
they spent their entire lives. The mother of 
our subject is still living, aged seventy-live 
years. They reared four children; David, 
Jean, Joseph ami James. 

Our subject was reared and educated in 
his native land and while still young wont to 
England, remaining until 1863, when he went 
to the East Indies. At that time the railroad 
was being liuilt from IS'agpore to Bombay 
and he was superintendent in the construc- 
tion department and remained in that far- 
off land until 1807, when he returned to 
Scotland and remained one year, in 1868 
coming to America. He crossed the ocean in 
the steamship Caledonia and upon landing 
at New Vork came directly to Madison, 



where he was employed by the Government 
as superintendent of the construction of the 
United States Custom llouse and post office 
and had charge of the work until the building 
was completed. He then formed a partner- 
ship with W. T. Fish and commenced business 
as a contractor and builder, this partnership 
lasting until 1874, since which time he has 
been alone. 

Among the many buildings which he has 
constructed we mention the following which 
will be mementoes of him long after he has 
passed away, Dane County courthouse; 
Jefterson County courthouse; the court- 
house at Appleton; part of the asylum at 
Oshkosh; the insane asylum at Elgin, 
Illinois; the public school building at Albert 
Lea, Minnesota; the normal school at White 
Water, Wisconsin; the Ladies' Hall and 
Science Hall of the University of Wis- 
consin; the Female (College; the P'ifth 
Ward school; the First National Bank 
building and many other public buildings of 
note, besides some of the finest residences. 
In addition to this he has l)een engaged in 
the manufacture of brick for many years, 
and in 1870 he opened the Madison Stone 
Quarry, which he has operated ever since, 
getting out building material and crushed 
stone. He has a stone-crusher at the (piarrv, 
which has a capacity of 150 cubic yards per 
day. From 1880 to 1884 he was interested with 
Chicago parties operating a granite quarry 
at Waterloo, Wisconsin, from which were 
8hip[)ed daily large quantities of paving 
blocks and crushed granite to Chicago. 

On .hiiie 21, 1870, our siiliject married 
Miss Isabella R. Herd, who was born at St. 
Cyrus, Kincardineshire, Scotland. Her fatiier, 
George Herd, was born at the same place, 
and her grandfather, David Herd, was a 
native of Scotland and was for some years a 



DANE COUNTY, WISCOISSIN. 



soldier in the British army, iifihtiiig under 
Wellington at the battle of Waterloo and 
was a pensioner dnrincr his last years, which 
were spent at St. Cyrus. The father of Mrs. 
Stephens was a farmer and a number of years, 
ago went out to Australia, where he still 
resides, and engaged extensively in sheep- 
raising. The maiden name of the mother of 
Mrs. Stephens was Margaret Robert, born in 
Xincardinesliire, a daughter of David and 
Isabella (Taylor) Roberts. Roliert Taylor, the 
father of the latter, was also a native of 
Scotland, a soldier in the British army under 
Wellington at the battle of Waterloo and 
drew a pension during his last years. 

Mr. and Mrs. Stephens have a family of 
five children: Isabelle, Arthur, Jessie, Ciiarles 
and Jean, another, Lucy, having died in 
infancy. They are members of the Presby- 
terian Church and Mr. Stephens belonged to 
tlie Masonic lodge, in his native country, 
and now atHliates witli Hiram Lodge, No. 50, 
having been a Mason since 18(37. Politically 
he is a Republican, has been Supervisor of 
his town several times, and was elected to 
the State Legislature in 1888. 

CD 

fOIIN A. BOWMAN, deceased. During 
life our subject was a man of more than 
the average intelligence, ability and 
business acumen, a graduate of the Union 
College and a successful practitioner at the 
bar. He was born in New York, and in that 
State entered Union College at Schenec- 
tady, New Vork, and he was later ad- 
mitted to practice law in the State. This 
continued until failing health caused his 
withdrawal from that profession aud induced 
him to go into the manufacture of reapers at 
Brockport, N"ew York. This firm was a 



pioneer firm in the business, and from his 
factory the McComas reaper was first turned 
out. lie Ijecame a successful business man 
and here made a fortune. Li 1864 he re- 
tired from active business and came to the 
beautiful city of Madison, to spend his 
last days, becoming prominent here in 
local aud social life, and held many of the 
offices of the city, being an Alderman 
for some time. He was always inter- 
ested in educational matters, and was an 
active member of a society which had been 
founded in Union College. In religion he 
was a Presbyterian, always liberal to hig 
church; in politics, a Democrat, earnestly 
advocating what he knew to be right. 

The father of our subject, lion. John Bow- 
man, was born in Pennsylvania, ami became 
a prominent citizen of New York, where he 
served the people as Senator and Canal Com- 
missioner of the Erie Canal; was Probate 
Judge and a contemporary of such men as 
Silas AYright. < >ne of his warm personal 
friends was ex-Presideut James I'.nchanan, 
and his last years were passed at Brockport, 
New York, where he was respected and be- 
loved for his many admirable traits of cliar- 
acter. 

Our subject came to Madison while yet a 
bachelor and here married Mrs. Rose M. 
(Smith) Donnell. She was born in Massa- 
chusetts, educated at Westford and West- 
minster Academy, and was the accomplished 
daughtor of George and Betsey (Richardson) 
Smith, native of Massachusetts, who were 
connected with the distinguished families of 
Haywood and of Commodore Perry. Mr. 
aud Mrs. Smith died when well on in years, 
having lived honored, useful lives. The ma- 
ternal grandfather of Mrs. Bowman was a 
Colonel under General Washington in the 
Revolutionary war, and had the houor of be- 



560 



BIOORAPUIGAL REVIEW OF 



ing born on the same day of tlie year and the 
same year as was the Father of liis Country. 
The whole family were prominent in the his- 
toid of the colonies, taking important parts 
in the settlement of Massachusetts and in 
the subduing of the Indians. Mrs. Bowman 
came to Ohio when a yonng lady and while 
there was married to Samuel U. Donnell, 
who was a native of Pennsylvania, grew up 
here and was educated in Williamsport, where 
he became an architect. In 1849 he went to 
California by way of the Isthmus and there 
carried on a mercantile trade for some three 
years, returning to take chari;e and to super- 
intenil the building of a railroad and stations 
in Ohio. After he came West his work as an 
architect made him prominent, as he was the 
designer of the Wisconsin State House, the 
Madison City Hall and the building which is 
now the Orphans' Home, but which was 
formerly the mansion of (Tovernor Farwell. 
Other public and private buildings attest his 
skill. He died at the early age of thirty-seven, 
having been a successful business man. The 
beautiful liome which he built in this city, 
overlooking lake Monona, is occupied by his 
widow, now Mrs. I'owman. He left two 
children, Minnie and Dumont, but Mrs. 
Jiowman was bereft of both of them, they 
having died the same year as did their father. 

Mrs. Bowman is a lady of great culture 
and refinement and adorns her beautiful 
home. She is the mother of four livinjx chil- 
dren, one daughter, Rose having died in in- 
fancy. Her son, John H., is a member of 
tiie firm of Dodd & Bowman, attorneys of 
St. I'aul. He is a brilliant young man, who 
was educated at the Wisconsin University 
and at Harvard. Frank resides at home, a 
student of the university; and Elizabeth is 
at home, graduating at the city high school. 

For some years before his demise, Mr. 



Bowman had been living retired from public 
life. His lamented death occurred at Madi- 
son, February 5, 1882, in the seventy-fourth 
year of his age, at which time he passed 
away full of years and honors. 

HOMAS A. EVERILL, editor and pro- 
prietor of the V"erona Inquirer, was 
born in Stafibrd shire, England, July 6, 
1855, a son of Abraham and Estiier (Cole) 
Everill. The family came to the United 
States in 1S71, and settled at Mount Vernon 
on a farm. The mother of our subject died 
in 1872, but the father of our subject resides 
now in Mount Vernon. Mr. Everill, Sr., was 
engaged in business as a merchant in Eng- 
laiul and became very well to do. 

Thomas A. was the only child nf the mar- 
riage who grew to maturity. He had good 
school advantages in England and also at- 
tended school after coming to Wisconsin. 
For some time after coming to this country, 
lie remained with his parents, but finally de- 
cided to learn a trade and selected that of 
wagon-maker, and pursued this for eight 
years. April 10, 1S91, he founded the Weekly 
Independent at Mount Vernon, where he edited 
the paper, although the mechanical part of it 
was doneat Mount Horeb. Tliis he continued 
until Fei)ruary 19, 1892, when he purchased 
a printing press and outfit ami changed the 
name of the paper to the Mount Vernon En- 
terprise. August 5, 1893, he removetl to 
Verona, where he founded the Verona In- 
quirer. At this pleasiint little town he now 
resides and continues the publication of the 
Enterprise at Mount Vernon and the Inquirer 
at Verona, and has the mechanical work done 
at home. The Inquirer is a seven-column 
folio, devoted to the interests of Verotn ati^ 



DANE COUNTY, WltiCONSIN. 



661 



vicinity and is a paper that appears to be 
hijfhly appreciated by the citizens. 

He is a member of the ]5aptist ('hurcli, in 
which lie is very prominent, takiiifj; a ij^reat 
interest in the cause of temperance, and all 
educational enterprises. He is also a mem- 
ber of the I. (). G. T. and renders ethcient and 
to the cause by his work in the lod^e. Al- 
though a young man he is very enterprising 
and has a promising career before hitn. 



|ILS FREDRICKSON, a member of the 
P/f firm of N. Fredrickson & Son, owuers 
of a planing-mill and e.xtensive dealers 
in lumber, also contractors and builders, is 
the gentleman of whom this sketch is written. 
The business was started under the jiresent 
firm title four years ago, being the outgrowth 
of a business run under different firm titles 
for some years. They are well located and 
do a thriving business and give employment 
on an average to forty men. Their trade is 
local and is increasing evei-y year. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Den- 
mark, May 10, 1822, in the city of 8tagelse. 
His birth was of poor, but respectal)le people, 
who lived a laborious life in their native 
country. The first member of the family to 
come to America was Peter, a brother of our 
subject. He is now a successful farmer in 
South Dakota. Two years later Nils decided 
he would follow the example of Peter, and 
came to New York in April, 1833. He had 
learned his trade in Denmark and had no dif- 
ficulty in finding eiuploynient after he landed 
on these shores. 

In 1857 he came to Madison and began in 
a small way. He was young and poor, but 
he had spirit and energy and combined these 
with industry lie soon became well enough 



known to gain the confidence of the people. 
His first mill was run by horse power and in 
a small way lie started into building and con- 
tracting and soon found his i)usiiiess pushing 
him and making necessary more extended 
facilities. The mill which tiie firm owns is 
a large one and able to accommodate a great 
amount of lumber. 

Owing to failing health our sul)jec.t has in 
late years been obliged to withdraw somewhat 
from active labor. Ho is a good and well- 
known citizen and is highly regarded by all. 
In his political views, Mr. Fredi-ickson is a 
llepublican and believes that party best repre- 
sents his ideas of good government. Both 
he and his good wife are members of the 
Presbyterian ('liurch. Mrs. Fredrickson was 
born in Denmark and her maiden name was 
Emma Peterson and she was born and reared 
a neighbor to her husband. Immediately 
after marriage the brave young couple started 
out into the world and upon the long journey 
into the unknown country acToss the seas. 
The voyage was made ujxin a sailing vessel 
out from Copenhagen and for six weeks the 
young Danish adventurer and his bride were 
at the mercy of wind and wave. Four years 
were spent in New York city, and then the 
family located in Wisconsin. They are the 
parents of four children: Albert D., who is 
the manager of his father's business; John 
v., is the bookkeeper of the business; Edward 
assists his brother; and Dora M., is at home. 

wCLELLAND DODGE, a prominent 
business man (.)f the city of Madison, 
is the subject of this sketch. He 
was born in Madison county, Wisconsin, 
June 20, 1862, a son of Hiram and Annette 
(Newell) Dodge. The father was a native of 




563 



BIOGRAPHICAL BEVIEW OF 



the State of Vermont and his mother of New 
York. The father was by occupation a dealer 
in coal and grain, and for tliirty years was a 
business man of this city. There were seven 
children in the family of the father of our 
subject and McClelland is the youngest of all: 
Anna A., married B. F. Buch and resides in 
Spokane Falls, Washington; Xewell H., is a 
coal dealer in Madison; Harriet, is at home; 
Hiram, E., lives in St. Louis; P'lorence A., 
married (-reorge Tenney, of Beaver Dam, and 
Walter I., who is a traveling salesman and 
lives in Madison. 

Our subject received his education in the 
public schools of Madison and in 1880 he 
entered the university and took a course in 
engineering, graduating in 1884. For two 
years he was engaged with his father in his 
business but in 1887 his talents as an engin- 
eer were recognized and he was given the 
appointment as City Engineer, which office he 
has held ever since. In the fall of 1890 our 
subject was elected to the office of County 
Surveyor and is again a candidate. He is a 
Democrat in his politics, but was elected away 
ahead of his ticket at the last election. 

The marriage of our subject took place 
February 11, 1886, to Miss Lizzie Only, of 
Madison, Wisconsin. She was born in Clay- 
ton county, Iowa, July 3, 18G5. For the 
past three years our subject has been a mem- 
ber of the Drainage Board of Dane county, 
also Drainage Commissioner and Engineer of 
the county. 



fAMES DOIIIi, a wagon-maker of Middle- 
ton, Dane county, was born in Mecklen- 
burg, Germany, August 14, 1823, a son 
of Charles and Lena (Lenunel) Dohr, natives 
also of that place. The father, a wagon - 



maker by trade, was a son of Charles Dohr, 
also a native of Germany. The latter took 
part in the German war, and died at a very 
old age. The mother of our subject came to 
America about 1860, and died in Middleton, 
Wisconsin, at the age of sixty-five years. 
They were the parents of six children, two 
of whom still survive. 

James Dohr, the subject of this sketch be- 
gan learning the wagon-maker's trade at the 
age of fouiteen years, and has continued that 
occupation through life. After marriage he 
came immediately to the United States, on 
the sail vessel, Helena Sloman, landing in 
New York after a voyage of twenty-three 
days. Three days afterward he came to 
Wisconsin, spent one year in Milwaukee, and 
then came to where he now lives. During 
the tirst summer he worked by the day, and 
then purchased forty acres of land in Dane 
county, where, in addition to his farming he 
has also followed his trade. In his political 
views, Mr. Dohr votes with the Democratic 
party, and his tirst presidential vote was cast 
for Buchanan. He has served as Treasurer 
of the Township Board two terms, as Super- 
visor two terms and a member of the School 
Board twenty-four years. Socially, he is a 
member of the Masonic lodge, No. 183. 

In the spring of 1S49 our sul)ject was 
united in marriage with Miss Albertena 
Filler, who was born in Leipzig, Germany, 
April 29, 1829, a daughter of Jacob and 
Amelia Filler, also natives of that country. 
The parents came to the United States in 
1855. locating in this countv, where the 
father died, at the age of seventy years, and 
the mother, at sixty-seven years. They were 
the parents of two children, only one now 
living. Mr. and Mrs Dohr have had eleven 
cliildren, eight of whom are still living: 
Louis, married and has two children; Amelia, 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



563 



married and has five children; Artiiiir; 
Theodore, married and lias one child; (Teortre: 
Charles; William, and Hugo engaged in the 
shop with his father. The family are mem- 
bers of the Lutheran Church. 



,IRAM G. DODGE, a retired 
Inisiness man of Madison, Wisconsin, 
is now enjoying the fruit of years of 
hard labor in- his pleasant home, at No. 101 
Butler street. Mr. Dodge has been a resi- 
dent of Madison since 1850, when he en- 
gaged in business as a general merchant, 
continuing until 1863. During this time 
he also established a lum])ei' and (jrain busi- 
ness and was active in the latter business for 
twenty-five years, dealing to some extent in 
the former and house supplies, continuing in 
the same until his retirement some lew years 
ago, when his business was taken by his sons, 
who are now extensive lumber, grain and coal 
dealers. He has never sought for office, but 
has always been a decided Democrat, public- 
spirited in all that contributed to the wel- 
fare of tlie city. Success has attended his 
eftbrts and he is now the owner of some 
very valuable property in Madison, while 
his brick house is one of the old landmarks 
of North Butler street. 

Mr. Dodge was born in New Hampshire, 
at Claremont, June 17, 1815, coming of old 
New England stock.- The family came to 
the colonies in the days of the Pilgrims, in 
1627. Our subject was only two years of 
age when his parents removed to the township 
of Willsborough, Essex county. New York, 
where he grew to manhood, receiving his 
education in the common schools. Here his 
parents, Peter and Rebecca (Pettit) Dodge 
li\-cd and ili(Ml. The former was a native of 



New Hampshire, where his father, Aaron 
Dodge, had moved from Massachusetts, be- 
ing a farmer of New England. He died in 
New Hampshire when an old man, leaving a 
large family, of whom Peter Dodge was the 
youngest. After the marriage of the latter 
he moved to New York, where he was en- 
gaged as a millwright, which trade he pur- 
sued in addition to caring for his large land 
interests until his death, when he had reached 
the age of eighty years. One brother, John, 
by name, nearly reached his hundredtii birth- 
day. The mother of our subject was born 
in Claremont, New Hampshire, and also 
came of an old Nevv England family. She 
died when about forty-five years of age, 
after rearing a family of seven sons and two 
daughters, of whom our subject was the 
fourth child and son, and the only one of the 
nine cliildren now living. He remained in 
the Empire State until he came to manhood's 
estate, when he was married in Newport, to 
Miss Annette Newell, born in the county seat 
of Essex county, where she was reared and 
educated. Like her husband, her family is a 
good old New England one, who aided in 
the upbuilding of the infant nation. She is 
yet living and is a lady of great charm of 
manner, who lias friends on every side, but 
whose physical health at present is not very 
good, although her mental faculties are ex- 
ceptionally strong. She is the mother of 
four sons and three daughters yet living, 
namely: Annette E., wife of E. Buck, of 
Spokane Falls, Washington; Newell A., a 
coal and lumber dealer of this city; Hiram 
C, a lumber, coal and wood dealer of this 
city; Harriet E., at home; Walter L, a com- 
mercial traveler; and McCellaiid the present 
County and City Surveyor and Civil Engineer. 
All of the sons are married. Mrs. Dodge is 
a inemher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 



564 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



with which she has been connected for the 
past forty years. She comes of a family 
whose history is a prominent one. Her fa- 
ilicr, r. Newell, was for years a prominent 
citizen of New York, a merchant and iron 
dealer, and a soldier in the war of 1812. He 
participated in the battle of Plattslmrtr and 
other notable engagements, and his father, 
Norman Newell, was an influential man in 
New York and built the first fort at West 
Point, New York. He was a very promi- 
nent marine soldier, being at the West Indies 
at the time of the Revolutionary war. 

lOOLEY L. COMSTOCK, a farmer resi- 
dent of the town of Dunn, was born 
fifteen miles from Erie, in Erie county, 
Pennsylvania, August 16, 1842. His fatlier, 
William, was born in Rhode Island, and his 
grandfather, Aaron, was a native of the same 
State. lie moved from there to Ostego, New 
York, and thence to Wisconsin, and spent 
his last years in Rock county. The father of 
our subject was a natural mechanic, and fol- 
lowed the trade of stonemason and carpen- 
ter all his life. He married in Otsego county, 
and removed from there to Erie county, 
Pennsylvania, where he resided for a few 
years, and then, in 1844, emigrated to the 
Territory of Wisconsin. He canie by team 
to lake Erie, by lake to Milwaukee, and then 
by team to Dane county. At that time this 
section of country was but sparsely settled, 
and the greater portion of the land was 
owned by the Government. Game was very 
plentiful. He selected forty acres of Gov- 
ernment land in section 31, in what is 
now Dunn township, at once built a log 
house and commenced to make a farm. He 
bought a cow and a pair of oxen. As there 



were no railroads he was compelled to haul 
his grain to ^niwaiikee with o.xen, which 
meant a trip of six or seven days, when the 
weather was good. Wheat sold as low as 
twenty-five cents a bushel. He usually man- 
aged to get a load of merchandise to haul 
back for Madison parties. As his means ac- 
cumulated he bought other land, until his 
farm contained 200 acres. He died P^ebru- 
ary, 1873. The maiden name of the mother 
of our subject was Fannie Chapin, born in 
New York State, Otsego county, in the town 
of Butternuts, July 5, 1810. Her father, 
Luke Chapin, was a native of Connecticut, 
who lived in New York State, and spent his 
last years there. He had been a soldier of 
the war of 1812. The maiden name of his 
wife was Thirza Shaw, who died in the town 
of Hutternuts also. The mother of onr sub- 
ject still lives, and enjoys good health and 
memory. She was the mother of four chil- 
dren: Francis, Melissa A., Cooley and Edgar. 

Our subject was a year and a half old when 
he came to Wisconsin with his parents, hence 
has no recollection of any other early home. 
He attended the pioneer schools of Dunn, and 
his father was a friend of schools and do- 
nated the land on which to build a school- 
house, lie commenced farming and re- 
mained with his father until his marriage, 
then bought a farm on section 32, upon which 
he resided three years, then sold it and re- 
turned to the old homestead, where he has 
since resided. The farm contains 200 acres 
of fine land, well improved. 

He married, in 1856, Damans Johnson, 
who was born in the town of Dunn, daughter 
of Solomon and Polly (Baker^ Johnson. Mr. 
and Mrs. Comstock have two children: Lelia 
L. and Fanny J. He is a Democrat in pol- 
itics, and has served two terms as a member 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



5(i5 



of the County Board of Supervisors. lie is 
a member of Rome Corner Camp, M. W. A. 

fOHN L. ERDALL, of Madison, Wiscon- 
sin, was born in Deertield, Dane county, 
Wisconsin, June 5, 1865, a son of Lars 
J. Erdall, wlio was born in Bergen stift, Nor- 
way, May, 1839. The latter was a son of 
James Erdall, a native of the same locality, 
where he remained until 1847. April 24 of 
that year he sailed from Berpen, and May 
24 landed in New York. The same day he 
came to the, then. Territory of Wisconsin, 
via the Hudson river to Albany, by railroad 
to Buffalo, on the lake to Milwaukee, and 
then by team to Dane county. After remain- 
ing a short time in Pleasant Valley he hired 
money and entered forty acres of Government 
land, paying $1.25 per acre, in Deerfield 
township. Here he erected a small habita- 
tion of half logs, but one year later built a 
good, comfortal)le log house. IMr. Erdall 
resided there many years, and then came to 
Madison, where he (iied in 1889; his wife 
departed this life one year later. The father 
of our subject was but eight years of age 
when he crossed the ocean with his parents, 
and at that time the southern part of the 
Territory of Wisconsin was sjiarsely settled, 
and the nortliern part was inhabited by In- 
dians and wild crame. No railroad was built 
for many years afterward; Milwaukee was 
the nearest market, it requiring a week to 
make the journey; and wheat was sold as low 
as forty-nine cents a bushel. During his 
youth Mr. Erdall attended school and assisted 
on the farm, later taught school, and in 1869 
rented a farm, which he now owns. He was 
afterward employed as clerk and bookkeeper 
in an agricultural implement house eight 



years, then in an insurance office a short 
time, and ne.xt as a clerk in the office of the 
Secretai'y of State, which position he held 
until 1890. He was married in 1861 to 
Anna Zeeland, a native of Bergen, Norway, 
and a daughter of John T. Zeeland. 

John L. Erdall, the subject of this sketch, 
came to Madison, Wisconsin, at the age of 
eight years, where he attended the high school 
until entering the university, in 1881. lie 
graduated there in 1885, and the following 
fall entered the law school, where he <rrad- 
uated in 1887, and since that time has been 
actively engaged in the practice of his pro- 
fession. Mr. Erdall is a Republican in his 
political views, and in 1888 was elected Dis- 
trict Attorney for one term. He was married 
in 1885, to Bertha T. Swansen, a native of 
St. Croix county, Wisconsin, and a daughter 
of Thortin Swansen, a farmer of that county. 
To this union have been born three children: 
Agnes, Leonard and Arthur. Mrs. Erdall 
was educated in the high scliool of Madison, 
and also attended Monona Academy of this 
city. 

fi|M^ATHIAS ESSE R, a successful farmer 
/'AT *^' Dane county, Wisconsin, was born 
'^%^^ in Prussia, January 15, 1835, a son 
of Francis and Agnes (Whalen) Esser, also 
natives of that country. The paternal grand- 
father of our subject, John Esser, was a 
miner of coal, and was accidentally killed in 
a mine at the age of fifty yeai's, leaving six 
daughters and two sons, of whom Francisco 
was the eldest child. The grandmother Esser 
died in Germany in 1863, in her eighty- 
seventh year. The maternal gramlparents, 
Jacob and Wilbarger (Horatz) Whalen, were 
farmers of Prussia, where they died in the 



5G6 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



prime of life, leaving four daughters and one 
son. The latter, Christian Whalen, a soldier 
in the French army, was killed in 1809 at 
the age of twenty-seven years. In the sum- 
mer of 1856 the parents of our subject emi- 
grated to America on an American schooner, 
Captain Kendrick commanding, and arrived 
in Boston after a pleasant voyage of fifty-two 
days. They brouglit their family of three 
sons and two daughters, and also two sisters 
of Mr. Esser. The latter are: Anna J., wife 
of Theodore CuUen, a farmer of Berry town- 
ship, Dane county; and Christine, wife of 
Conrad Shauf, a farmer of Grant county, 
Wisconsin. From Boston they came to 
Madison, Wisconsin, their ol)jective point 
when they left their native land, and after 
reaching that city they were comparatively 
without money. Tliey soon found remunera- 
tive employment for all, except the youngest 
son, then a lad of nine years, and one year 
later, in April, 1857, they rented a farm in 
Middleton township, where they lived live 
years. During that time the father and sons 
worked together, and soon accumulated suffi- 
cient money to purchase twenty acres of land 
for the parents, and erected a comfortable 
dwelling. The father died on this place 
April 28, 1880, at the age of seventy-tiiree 
years; and the mother June 12, 18G5, aged 
sixty years. They were the parents of the 
following children: Mathias, our suliject; 
Barbara, formerly Mrs. Kessnech, died in 
Missouri in May, 1892; Sabilla, wife of Ed- 
ward LaCrosse, a farmer of Vienna township; 
and Jacob, proprietor of a shoe store in 
Madison. 

May 12, 1860, Mathias Esser, the subject 
of this sketch, was married to Margaret 
Clemens, a daugiiter of Matliiaa and Anna 
(liehreiids) Clemens. Her mother died in 
Germany, and in the spring of 1852 she CAvne 



with her father and stepmother to America, 
being then in her thirteenth year. Tlie 
father was twice married and reared a family 
of nine children, lie died very suddenly of 
heart disease at Cross Plains, Wisconsin, at 
the age of sixty-two years. Mr. and Mrs. 
Esser began married life on a rented farm 
in Madison township, and later lived on 
rented land in Springfield township until the 
spring of 1866. In that year they purchased 
forty acres of land, which was covered with 
second-growth timber, and for which they 
paid $10 })er acre. They soon erected a 
one-story, two-roomed log house, where they 
lived from 1866 to 188i, and in the latter 
year moved into their fine large brick 
dwelling. Mr. Esser cleared his first forty 
acres; in 1868 purchased forty acres more, 
paying $10 per acre; in 1870 bought the 
third forty acres, for $22.50 per acre; and still 
later, in 1882, added ninety acres adjoining, 
but in Springfield township. They now 
own 210 acres of good land, with fine rail- 
road facilities for shipping, and is located 
near Waunakee. He has a fine large stone 
basement barn, 32 x 60 feet, with eighteen 
foot posts, and is engaged in general fanning 
and stock-raising. 

Mr. and Mrs. Esser have eight living 
children: Frank, of Waunakee, is married 
and has two children; Agnes, wife of Igna- 
tius Wright, also of Waunakee; John, a 
blacksmith of that city; Jacob, at home; 
Mary, wife of Herman Dull, a blacksmith 
of Waunakee; Erwin, at home; ami Anna 
F., aged seventeen years, is also at home. 
Mr. Esser served as Supervisor of the Side 
Board two years, as Town Treasurer one 
year, as Postmaster, as a member of the 
School Board, and is a Republican in his 
political views. Religiously, the family are 
members of the Catholic Church. 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



567 



fAMES GILLIES, Sr., one of the pio- 
neers of tlie town of Rutland, was born 
in Fifeshire, Scotland, June 20, 1815. 
Ilis father, James Gillies, was born in the 
same shire and his father, Walter, was born 
in Glasgow. He learned the trade of mill- 
wright, which he followed in Fifeshire and 
vicinity for many years and spent his last 
days there. The maiden name of his wife 
was Margaret Bronson, who was born in Fife- 
shire, and spent her entire life there. The 
father of our subject learned the trade of flax 
dresser and linen weaving. This was at a 
time when all linen was made by hand. He 
followed these trades and also engaged in 
farming and with the exception of a short 
time spent in Paisley, his entire life was spent 
in Fifeshire. lie died in 1837. The maiden 
name of the mother of our subject was Janet 
Hutton, horn in the parish of Kingstettle, 
Fifeshire, Scotland, a daughter of William 
and Janet (Thompson) Ilutton, both natives 
of Scotland. The mother of our subject died 
in 1845, after rearing ten children, namely: 
Walter, William, JaTiet, John, James, David, 
Robert, Margaret, George and Andrew. Five 
of these, James, David, Margaret, George 
and Andrew came to America. 

Our subject was reared and educated in 
his native land, where he learned the trade 
of weaving. He was employed in a mill 
eighteen years, and in 1847 came to America, 
accompanied by his wife and two children. 
He went from Scotland to Liverpool and 
sailed from there the first of May, in the 
sailing vessel, " liurkiiihead,'" and landed in 
New York the 31st of the same month. He 
came immediately to the Territory of Wis- 
consin, via Hudson river to Albany, then by 
Erie canal to Buffalo, then by lake to Mil- 
waid^ee and then by team to Dane county. 
At that time there were liut few settlers in 



this neighborhood and deer were occasionally 
seen. Our subject bought eighty acres of 
land that is included in his present farm and 
there were ten acres which were broken and 
fenced and this constituted the improvements. 
He built a log house at once which was the 
first permanent home of the family in Amer- 
ica. He has been a resident of this place 
continuously since a period of forty-five years 
and has seen the entire growth and develop- 
ment of this 'section. He has purchased 
other land, has erected a brick house, a frame 
barn, planted fruit and shade trees and other- 
wise improved the farm. 

In 1841 our subject was married to Elspit 
Hume, who was born in Fifeshire, in 1815, 
a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Biggie) 
Hume. Iler father was a farmer and spent 
his entire life in his native land, but her 
mother came to America and spent her last 
years with Mrs. Gillies. Mr. and Mrs. Gil- 
lies have two children, James and Janet. 
James married Isabella Newman and has 
three children, Ira, William N. and Beth. 
Janet married Nathaniel Slosson, and has 
three children, namely: Ernest, Elsie and 
I'almer. Mr. Gillies is a very intelligent, 
just, self-made man and excellent citizen. 



^ 



(H> 



^ 



) R O F. O B A D I A H MILTON CON- 
m OVER was born in Dayton, Ohio, Oc- 
^ tober 8, 1825, and is the son of Obadiah 
Berlew and Sarah (Miller) Conover. On his 
father's side Dr. Conover traced his ancestry 
back through a long line of New Jersey fam- 
ilies, to an old estate in Holland, and was 
always proud of his Dutch ancestry. The 
boyhood of Dr. Conover was spent in Day- 
ton, then a thriving village of about ('),000 
inhabitants. The educitional advantages were 



568 



BIOORAPHIGAL REVIEW OF 



good, and he studied in an academy, where 
he afterward became instructor. At the aee 
of fifteen years he entered Miami University 
at Oxford, Ohio, and remained three years, 
and then went to Princeton, New Jersey, 
from which he graduated in 1844. The two 
years succeeding liis graduation were spent 
in teaching, first near Lexington, Kentucky, 
and then in Dayton Academy, and while at 
the latter place he began tlie study of law in 
the office of Schenck & CorTover, the latter 
being his brother, and the former the cele- 
brated statesman, Robert C. Schenck. In 
1846 he entered Princeton Theological Semi- 
nary, and graduated from there in 1849. 

In 1849 Mr. Conover came to Madison, 
then a little village of large expectations, and 
for a few months was the editor of the North- 
western Journal, but in 1850 he was ap- 
pointed instructor in the ancient languages 
in the University of Wisconsin, and was the 
third member of the faculty in order of ap- 
pointment in a roll that now includes many 
famous names. In 1852 he was made Pro- 
fessor of Ancient Lansjuaj'es and Literature, 
and filled the position with marked ability 
until 1858. At this time he passed out of 
the university and devoted himself to other 
pursuits, but he became one of the Board of 
Kegents, and filled this position until 1867. 

Turning his attention to law, he was ad- 
mitted U) the Dane county bar in 1859, and 
in the spring of 1861 he became associated 
with P. L. Spooner as Reporter of the Su- 
preme Court of Wisconsin, and upon the 
resignation of Mr. Spooner in 1864 he be- 
came his successor, and held the position 
until his death in 1884. For eleven years of 
this time he held also the position of Libra- 
rian of the State Library. 

Dr. Conover was married in 1S49, to Miss 
Julia Dart, in Dayton, Oiiio, a noble, Ciiris- 



tian woman, who won for herself the warm 
esteem of all who knew her. Three children 
were born to them: Edith W.; Allan D., 
Professor of Engineering at the University; 
and Frederic K. (See sketch.) A heavy 
affliction l)efoll Dr. Conover when his wife 
was removed by death, and out of this trial 
sprang the two poems, "Via Solitaria" and 
'• Reconciliation," which have attracted much 
attention and praise. The former has been 
mistaken for one of Longfellow's choicest 
poems, but was first published in the Inde- 
pendent. 

As a recognition of the large attainments 
of Dr. Conover, and of his literary ability, 
the University of Wisconsin conferred upon 
him, in 1878, the honorary degree of Doctor 
of l^aws. For nine years he was a Deacon 
in the Congregational Church, and his famil- 
iar presence was always greatly prized. In 
1882 his son Frederic took charge of his 
duties, in order that the Doctor might make 
a cherished trip to Athens, tlie ancient home 
of the literature he so much enjoyed. In 
September, 1882, he was married to Mrs. 
Sarah Fairchild Dean, a friend of many 
years, and together they turned their faces 
to the Old World. Some delightful acquaint- 
ances were formed while in Greece, among 
others that of Mr. and Mrs. Schliemann, 
Hon. Eugene Schuyler, the American Minis- 
ter and his wife, with Prof. Goodwin, of 
Harvard College. 

The sad ending of the pleasant visit 
occurred in 1884, on the way home. The 
heavy fogs of London caused a cold from 
which Dr. Conover could not rally, and on 
April 29, 1884. his spirit passed away. His 
body was brought to Madison on May 28, 
and was laid away in beautiful Forest Hill 
Cemetery. 



DANE GOUNTT, WISCONSIN. 



569 



jr.iONKAD M. CONRADSON.-Amoncr 
iff, the aids to civilization in a new country, 
that of the manufactory cannot be over- 
looked. The development of trade is civil- 
izing, as it opens communication with tiie 
outside world by so many avenues, and by 
giving employment to many, circulates money, 
and thus opens wider doors to higher life and 
culture. 

The subject of this sketch is the vice- 
president of the Gisholt Machine Company, 
whieli employs about 100 men all of the 
time, and is one of the most complete plants 
in the West, making a special feature the 
erection of the Turret Lathes, of which our 
talented subject is the patentee and inventor. 
They are sold all over the country, and have 
a reputation for completeness and superiority 
over all others. Mr. Conradson is also a 
draughtsman of great skill. lie is a self- 
made man, having a talent, and growing up 
from an apprenticeship in a blacksinitii shop 
to the understanding of the higher and more 
complicated works in iron and metal, all of 
the time having before him the one object, 
that of becoming a practical inventor, and of 
putting this talent to great use. Since his 
connection with the present business it has 
much increased, and the market has grown 
larger, botii on account of the value of tlie 
patents and also because of the superior grade 
of work turned out. The completeness of 
these machines is unsurpassed. The tools 
alone connected with this manufacturing 
plant were purchased at an expense of $!(>,- 
000. The business was started some three 
years ago, and so complete were all of their 
arrangements that eight montiis later they 
began the shipment of machines, which found 
a ready market. They (>an turn out a large 
latlie every day, which represents a niaciiine 
worth from S2,000 to $3,000. Mr. Conrad- 



son has held the office he now holds since tlie 
business was first started, and has been the 
inventor and the chief manager. Three or 
four draughtsmen are employed nearly all of 
the time, besides our subject. 

Mr. Conradson had formerly been con- 
nected with the Fuller & Johnson Manu- 
facturing Company of this city, and was with 
the Allison Manufacturing Company of Mil- 
waukee for more than two years. He has 
lived in Madison for eleven years, except 
three years when he was in Milwaukee. He 
took a course with the class of 1883, in the 
mechanical and engineering department of 
the State University of Wisconsin. He be- 
came a practical machinist early in life, and 
has rapidly developed his talents. First-class 
mechanics only handle the works of this com- 
pany, and hence they do not fear competition, 
and for first-class work they pay first-class 
wages. 

Our subject was born in Dane coiinty, 
Wisconsin, and has grown up in this neitrh- 
borhood. His parents were natives of Nor- 
way, who came to America some time in the 
'40s, and are now living in (-rreene county, 
Wisconsin, highly respected. He was mar- 
ried in Evansville, Wisconsin, to Miss Stella 
Prentice, who was born near White Water, 
Wisconsin. She is a true, good woman, and 
they have one child. 



=^: 



^^T- 



fOIIN C. FREEMAN, A. M., LL. I).— 
The subject of our subject. Professor of 
'^K English Literature in the University of 
Wisconsin, at Madison; was born in Broome 
county, Xew York, Feljrnai-y 1-4, 18-42, being 
the son of Charles W. and Charlotte (Prock- 
way) Freeman. To have been a founder or 
defender of one's counti-y is the only true 
patent of American nobility. The name 



570 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



Freeman suggests self-reliance, courage, 
leadership. Professor Freeman is of Pnritan 
ancestrv; liis tjraniUatlierof the eighth genera- 
tion, Edmund Freeman, led fifty-eight fami- 
lies into the new world and in the year 1637 
planted the town of Sandwich, Massachnsetts. 
He seems to have been a man of substance, 
since the Lynn records show that he presented 
to the Lynn colony 200 corselets, or pieces of 
plate armor, brought with him from England. 
Not only did he love freedom for himself, 
but as the records show, was determined that 
the sorely persecuted Quakers of the time 
should enjoy the same privilege. The farm 
on which he settled in Sandwich, is still in 
the possession of the Freeman family. His 
son, John Freeman, married Rebecca, the 
daughter of Governor Prince of the Massachu- 
setts colony, and was deputy of the general 
court for seven years. Rebecca Prince was, 
on lier mother's side, of a " Mayflower " 
family. 

The Freeman family was connected by 
marriage and by friendship with the Adamses 
and the Otises, and with these historic fami- 
lies was active in the events that led to the 
American Revolution. In the prosecution 
of that war Colonel John Freeman was in 
command of a continental regiment in the 
defeat of Burgoyne at Saratoga. General N. 
Freeman also held a command in the contin- 
ental army. Our subject, descended from 
such distinguished and patriotic stock, has 
proven himself every way worthy the name 
lie bears. His exceptional talents began to 
be apparent at a very early age, as may be 
seen from the fact that he prepare<l for col- 
lege, had been principal of the academy of 
Kinderhook, New York, for two years, — 
from 1S58 to 1800, studied medicine for 
nearly two years, and then, in 18G1, when but 
nineteen years old, enlisted as a private in 



Company F, Twenty-seventh New York Vol- 
unteer Infantry; served in the ranks; re-en- 
listed at the expiration of his term of service, 
and, Septeml)er 17, 1863, was commissioned 
Captain of Company M, First New York 
Veteran Cavalry. He led a regiment under 
Sheridan in the battles of the Shenandoah 
valley and commanded on the raids to Lewis- 
burg and Covington, Virginia. In the en- 
gagement at White Sulphur Springs he was 
in command of two regiments; routed the 
rebel forces, took 2,000 prisoners, including 
General John McCansland, the officer in com- 
mand of the enemy. A reward of $10,000 
had been oifered for the capture of General 
McCansland, dead or alive, and our subject 
should have received that sum, just as those 
were rewarded who captured Jefferson Davis; 
but he was allowed to be exchanged, and the 
reward offered by the State of Pennsylvania 
was not paid. 

At the close of the war the professor en- 
tered Michigan University, ranking with. the 
classical sophomores, and was graduated with 
the A. B. degree in 1868. He at once be- 
came Assistant Professor of Greek in the 
Cliicago University, and held that position 
for six years. In the year 1874 he became 
Professor of Latin in the same institution 
and three years later, in 1877, was trans- 
ferred to the chair of English Literature and 
Rhetoric. This position he held until Jan- 
uary, 1879, when he was elected Professor of 
English Literature in the University of Wis- 
consin and entered upon the duties in Sep- 
tember, 1879. In the year 1879, while 
Assistant Professor of Greek, he was grad- 
uated from the Chicago Theological Semin- 
ary; and received the honorary degree of 
LL. D. from the University of Chicago in 
1880. Since his connection with the Uni- 
versity of Wisconsin he has made several 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



571 



voyages to Europe, and has traveled exten- 
sively throughout America. 

As a teacher of Enirlish literature Dr. 
Freeman has had a full measure of success; 
is e.\act, popular and inspiring. He has seen 
the classic places of the old world and the 
mighty names in the realm of literature are 
not merely names to him but sj)irits that still 
live to animate these present times. For 
himself he believes that his most successful 
work has been done as a teacher of the Greek 
languages. He edited in 1872 an edition of 
Xenophon's Memorabilia; also in the same 
year the Dialogues of Lucian, which have 
found an extensive use in classical schools. 
The exactions of his profession and the de- 
mand upon his time for public addresses 
have left him little leisure for the use of the 
pen. For the period of one year he was edit- 
or of a literary journal, the Michigan Maga- 
zine, and for a long time has been an occa- 
sional contributor to educational and political 
papers. On the whole, however, he is to be 
reckoned a speaker rather than a writer. 
His style is oratorical, being admirably fitted 
for oral delivery. It is a well authenticated 
fact that Nathaniel Freeman, son of General 
N. Freeman, of the Continental Army, won 
the prize in the oratorical contest at the 
Harvard commencement in 1787, over .Idliii 
Quincey Adams, William ('ranch, James 
Eridge, and many others who were afterward 
distinguished in public life. It is as an ora- 
tor that Dr. Fi-eeman has won his most grat- 
ifying success. For six years the State has 
been in a large sense his class-room. He 
has brought the university to the special 
notice of over 100 cities and villages in Wis- 
consin liy evening lectures. To many of 
these places he has been called again and 
again. No other professor of the university 
is more widely known throughout the State. 



This service is deemed very im]iortant; to 
the university as well as to the people. 

As a lecturer Professor Freeman is both 
wise and witty. He sees things in concrete 
and in picturesque; through anecdote and 
illustration he holds his ideas before the 
mind. He has the kind of memory we all 
long for; what he loves he cannot forget. 
Apropos, a friend tells the following: On 
the Professor's last trip to Europe he took 
down a boastful Englishman who, on board 
the ship was sneering at Ainericon culture 
and ottered to wager that no American on 
board could repeat two successive lines from 
any great English poet, the Briton to name 
the poet. A gentleman present called upon 
Professor Freeman to stand for American 
culture, after he had accepted the wager. 
Chaucer was selected by the sneerei-, when 
to his infinite amazement the Professor re- 
cited verbatim the Knight's Tale entire. 
With such a memory how can bis mind be 
other than full? His lectures and writings 
are crowded with apt quotations and happy 
illusions, s\iggesting the literary acquisition 
of a Lowell or an Einerson, and then through 
all tine humor and wit, which bubbles and 
Hows, as well as flashes. He lectures upon 
many topics; but perhaps his most popular 
ai'e his travels and English literature and 
English literary men. Among the titles of 
his lecturers are the following: Alfred the 
Great, Chaucer, Father of English Song. The 
Last Knight and the First Gentleman; 
Shakespeare, Man and Poet; Shakespeare as 
a Dramatist, six lectures; The Novel; Our 
Educational Policy; Wonderland of the Yel- 
lowstone; Up the Rhine; Round about Lou- 
den; The Land of Burns and Wordsworth; 
Italy. Some of these, in courses, have en- 
riclied the programmes of some of our sum- 
mer schools and assemblies, as at Monona 



niOGRAPHlCAL REVIEW OF 



lake and Chautauqua. His delivery is so 
simple and so unpretentious, so easy it 
winds its way, that we forget to call it elo- 
quent. We go with him up the Rhine or 
through the Western Wonderland, the Yel- 
lowstone Park, or live through the times of 
the fathers of English literature and are al- 
ways charmed and instructed. 

baring the winter of 1891-'92 Dr. P>ee- 
man received three hundred invitations to 
lecture and accepted and filled 139 of them; 
at the same time discharging fully his pro- 
fessional duties. He has been chosen orator 
at the inaugeration of President Adams of 
the University of Wisconsin. The professor 
won enviable distinction in a joint discussion 
last year with Ignatius Donnelly on the al- 
leged Baconian cipher, at Minneapolis, Chi- 
cago, and various other cities. Tiie ])ress, by 
almost common consent, accorded the palm 
to Dr. Freeman. Dr. Freeman is in the 
very prime of life, possessed of good phy- 
sique, is studious, enthusiastic, investigating 
and patient. His day of usefulness, yet in 
its morning, offers every promise of greater 
brilliancy and power. He can reach no dis- 
tinction that his host of friends will not be 
ready to applaud as the reward of honest 
merit. 

[UNDER EDWARDS, a farmer of Dane 
county, Wisconsiti. was born in Talle- 
iTiarken, Norway, January 2, 1841, a 
eon of Even and Ingerbert (Olsen) Edwards, 
natives also of Norway, but of Scotch de- 
scent, the great-grandfather of our subject 
having moved to that country from Scot- 
land. 

Guilder Edwards received a good educa- 
tion in Norway, and was reared to farm life. 



His father died when he was ten years of age, 
and eight years later he was induced by his 
cousin, A. Gunderson, to come to America. 
He located in Burke township, near Madison, 
and shortly afterward sent for his mother, 
where she still makes her home. 

In 1862 Mr. Edwards enlisted in Company 
I, Twenly-tiiird AViscousin Infantry, and was 
taken prisoner at Louisiana, carried to 
Alexandria, that State, and remained there 
from JS'ovember 3 until July 1. He was 
then mustered out of service at Mobile, Ala- 
bama. After returning to Wisconsin he was 
engaged in fanning in Madison township un- 
til 1869, and in that year purchased 155 
acres on sections 21, 22 and 28. He is en- 
gaged in general farming, but raises princi- 
pally tobacco and live-stock. In 1887 Mr. 
Edwards also purchased 220 acres on sections 
31 and 32, Christiana township. In his 
political views he affiliates with the Repui)- 
lican party, and has served as township and 
school Treasurer, and as Supervisor. Socially, 
he is a member of the G. A. R., and re- 
ligiously is identified with the Lutheran 
Church. 

Our subject was married July 1, 1862, to 
Seba Torguson, then of Burke township, Dane 
county, but who came from Norway, her 
native State, to America at the age of live 
years. They have nine children, viz.: Eddie, 
Mary, Tedor, Alfred, Tilla, Anna, Gabriel 
and Mollie. One child, Nellie, died at the 
age of three years. 



^. >b .|.. c|; .^ 



j^^A T RICK D O W N E Y, was born in 
Ireland, March, 26, 1826. His father 
was born in Ireland and died there also 
on his farm. The grandfather of our subject 
was Michael Downey, a farmer of Ireland. 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



573 



His wife was a Miss Good, aiul tliey reared 
three sons, all of whom lived and died farniei-s 
ill the same place. The inotiier of our subject 
was Peiryy Hildrutf, of tliat place and they 
reared four sons, our subject beinjj; the third 
child. 

Our subject landed in Boston, froin the 
ship Davenport, which took six weeks from 
Liverpool to Boston. lie soon obtained a 
position with Samuel G. Perkins, who had a 
green-house. Our subject started in this 
place aB a gardener at $10 per month. His 
employer died one year after going into 
business with him, and he continued the 
business at the same place some ten years. 

He married Miss Mary Calhoun, the 
daughter of Jene and Mary (Flynn) Calhoun, 
a native of Ireland, who came to America 
in 1846. She was one of six sons and four 
daughters. Her parents died in the Old 
country. Mr. and Mrs. Downey came West 
in the Spring of 1855 by railway and bought 
160 acres of land for $2,000, or §1.25 per 
acres. On this he had an indebtness of $1,000. 
He then built a small frame house in which 
they lived for many years, until 1855, when 
they built their present large, fine brick 
house. Mr. Downey is a great stock-raiser. 
He raises horses, cattle, sheep and swine and 
does a profitable business. Our subject is a 
Democrat. They are members of the Roman 
Catholic Church. Mr. and Mrs. Downey 
have buried one son and one daughter, both 
being infants. They have one daughter, Mary, 
a maiden at home. She ia we]l edupated ;>ud 
attended the academy. 

jANIEL STEELE DUURIE, deceased. 
Seldom has the death of any one been 
felt as deeply as has been that of the 
distinguished subject of this sketch. For 

38 



nearly thirty-seven years he faithfully dis- 
charged his duties as Librarian of the State 
Elistorical Society, although for the last few 
months of his life he was obliged to cease his 
labors in that capacity on account of failing 
health, which was pronounced heart trouble 
by his physician. For some time he was. 
confined to his bed and all hope of recovery 
was abandoned, but he finally rallied and 
after a time was able to move about the house 
and sit upon the porch. Two weeks b.eforp 
his death, however, his strength failed ag^in, 
and the day before the final end he began to 
sink rapidly, passing away very peacefully, 
surrounded by loving friends and relatives. 
Mr. Durrie was born in Albany, New 
York, January 2, 1S19, son of Horace Dur- 
rie, a native of Hartford, ConDectictit, aqd ^ 
grandson of John Durrie, of Stony Stratford, 
Buckingham county, England, who came to 
America in 1781. His mother was Johanna 
Steele, daughter of Daniel Steele, a book- 
seller and stationer of Albany, to which place 
his father I'einoved about 1817. From both 
parents he was descended from John Steele, 
the first secretary of the colony of Connec- 
ticut and William Bradford, Governor of the 
Plymouth Colony. Mr. Durrie was educated 
at the Albany Academy, and a select school 
at South Iladley, Massachusetts, after which 
he entered the store of his uncle and learned 
the bookselling business, succeeding him in 
the same in 184-^. Four years later he lost 
his property \n the great fii-e that oecuri-ed 
|hat year at Albany, and in 1850, he removed 
to Madison in which city he continued to 
reside until his death. He continued in the 
same occupation from 185-4 to 1857, when he 
withdrew from mercantile business and 
accepted a pt)sition in the office of Hon. L. 
C. Draj)er, then State Superintendent of Pub- 
blic Instruction, which he held for two years. 



574 



BIOGRAPHICAL BEVIBW OF 



He was elected a member of the State His- 
torical Society in 1855, and librarian in 
1S56, which office he retained until his 
deatli. a period of thirty-six years and nine 
months. 

In 1859 he published his first work, '• A 
Genealogical History of John and George 
Steele, Settlers of Hartford, Connecticut, 
1635-'36, and their Descendants," a second 
and enlarged edition of whieli he issued in 
18()2. containinij 161 pages. In 1864 he 
followed this with '• A Genealogical History 
of the Holt Family in the United States, 
more particularly the descendants of Nich- 
olas Holt of Andover, Massachusetts, 1634, 
and of William Holt, of New Haven, Con- 
necticut, 1644." In 1868 l»e published his 
Bibliograjihia Genealogica Americana; an 
Alphabetical Index to Pedigrees and (Jeue- 
alogies Contained in State, County, and 
Town Histories, Printed Genealogies and 
Kindred Works," a volume of nearly 300 
pages. This work was subsecjueutly enlarged 
and revised and published in 1878, and has 
proved a most useful book to all students. 
A third edition was issued in 1886. In 1869, 
he prepared and puldished in the Historical 
Magazine a '* Bibliography of the State of 
Wisconsin," giving the title and and refer- 
ence to all |)ul)lications that have been is- 
sued on the State, — a volume of great serv- 
ice to all persons interested in Wisconsin, its 
history and resources. Other works by him 
included historical papers on, " Early Out- 
posts of Wisconsin," " Green Bay for Two 
Hundred Years," "Annals of Prairie du 
Chien," an article on "Captain Carver," an 
early traveler in Wisconsin. In 1874 his 
" History of Madison and the Four Lakes 
Country of Wisconsin" appeared. In 1875, 
he assisted C. K. Tuttle in his preparation of 
the histories of Wisconsin and Iowa, and the 



■ollowing year he prepared an historicKJ ad- 
dress for the twenty-fifth anniversary of the 
organization of the Presbyterian Church at 
Madison, which was published that year in 
pamphlet form. Of this church Mr. Dur- 
rie and his wife were members at its organ- 
ization, and always retained their connection 
with it. lu the same year be was associated 
with W. B. Davis in writing a history of 
Missouri, which was prepared in St. Louis. 
In 1877 he prepared a paper on the " Public 
Domain of Wisconsin," for Snyder d: Van 
Vechten's Historical Atlas of Wisconsin. 

He was a member of the Connecticut, 
New Hampshire, Ilhode Island, Pennsylva- 
nia, Minnesota, Bufl:alo, Chicago and AVest- 
ern Reserve Historical Societies; of the New 
England Historical and Genoalugical Society, 
and (xenealogical and Biographical Society of 
New York; the Pilgrim Society and thePiiila- 
delphia Numismatic and Antiijuarian So- 
ciety. 

Mr. Durrie was married October 15, 1844 
to Miss Anna Holt, at Albany, New York, 
who preceded him to the great beyond. July 
2, 1891. To them were born six children, 
five of whom arc living. Miss Isabelle having 
died at her homo in this city in October, 
1889. The children surving are as follows: 
George II., of L^'on, Wisconsin; Ilev. Arch- 
ibald, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church at 
West Superior; Fred A., station agent at 
Pa})illon, Nebraska; Mrs. Henry A. Arnold 
of Helena, Montana; Miss Anna, wiio re- 
sided with her father. Rev. Archibald Dur- 
rie, Mrs. Arnold and Miss Durrie were at 
home at the time of their father's ileatii. 

^fr. !)urri(< was a familiar figure in the 
city, a man for whom the people entertained 
the profoundest feelings of respect, venera- 
tion and warm regard. In his death, not 
only did the city lose a valued, trusted and 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



respected citizen, but the State Historical 
Society was deprived of one wliose counsels 
have been wise, his judgments abundant to 
meet tlie requirements of iiis position and 
whose work for tlie npljuildinir of the socie- 
ty's interests partook of the most earnest 
devotion. As a Christian he was faithful 
and conscientious, living a pure life which 
the greatest troubles never swerved from the 
straightforward path of duty and obedience. 



ATRICK B. KNOX, of Madison, Wis- 
^ consin, was born in county Limerick, 
Ireland, December 8, 1857, a son of 
Patrick and Anna (I'lackburne) Knox. Our 
subject was educated in the ecclesiastical 
colleges of Limerick and Tunic, Ireland, and 
after coming to America, in 1881, he spent 
one year at St. Francis Seminary, in Milwau- 
kee, Wisconsin. Mr. Kno.x was ordained a 
minister in that city, .January 25, 18S2, by 
the late Bishop Heiss, and iii September of 
that year he took charge of a mission in Ore- 
gon, Dane county, Wisconsin. lie remained 
tliere until in May, 1888, when lie erected 
and still has charge of St. Patrick's Church. 
It was completed and dedicated March 17, 
188!), and now has a membership of about 
170 families. Our subject also organized a 
church at Oregon, wiiich was dedicated in 
1886. 



~-^?^^/^^Z^/Z/i^ 



|OBERT MARIOX LA FOLLETTE was 

pCK born in a log cal)in in the town of Prim- 
rose, Dane county, Wisconsin, June 14, 
1855. When six years old his parents moved 
to Argyle, in the neighboring county, where 
his time was divided between workiniron the 



farm and attending a district school. In 
1873 the family moved to Madison and there 
he attended a private academy, preparatory 
to entering the State University, where he 
was admitted to the freshman class, in Sep- 
tember, 1873. His early college work was 
characterized by his activity in debating 
societies and in literary work as editor and 
joint owner of the University Press. In his 
junior year he was elected by the Athenian 
Society as its orator in the junior exhibition. 
In his senior year he represented the univer- 
sity in the Inter-State contest at Iowa City, 
winning the prize on his oration, " lago.'' 
Tlius his reputation as a writer and orator 
was established. He took his diploma with 
the class of 1879 and entered the law school, 
attending the same one term and then com- 
pleted his studies in an otiice. Ho was ad- 
mitted to the bar in 1880, and in the fall of 
the same year he was elected District At- 
torney of Dane county and re-elected in 
1882, notwitlistanding the average plurality 
against his ticket was over 1,000. Thus 
fairly tested, in 1884 he was elected Congress- 
man of the Third District and was the young- 
est man in the Forty-ninth Congress, being 
but twenty-nine years old. He was re-elected 
in 1888. He was a tireless worker in the 
political fielii and attracted much attention 
by liis discusssion of the river and harljor 
bill of 1885, his rejily to Speaker Carlisle's 
speech on the Well's bill, iiis advocacy of the 
Constitutional power of Congress to tax man- 
ufactured compounds deleterious to health, 
and his speech indorsing the tariff bill of 
1890. Besides this work he has been called 
upon to do much political speaking. During 
his first term in Congress he made the an- 
nua,! address to the Harvard Law School at 
Washington, delivered the oration at the 
Grant memorial exercises lield at the Monona 



576 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



Chautauqua Assembly, and made a notable 
political address in Ciiickeriiig Hall, New 
York. 

In 1880 he was married to Miss Belle 
Case, ot" Baraboo, ^Yisconsin, who had been 
his classmate in the university, and to whom, 
uj)on graduation in the class of 1879, was 
awarded the Lewis prize for the best com- 
mencement oration. In addition to her uni- 
versity training she also took a full course in 
the "Wisconsin University Law School and 
was the first lady to receive a dijjloma from 
that institution. 



fOHN GALLAGHER, a well-known and 
popular citizen of Madison, a tent and 
awning manufacturer, established for 
many years, came to Madison in 1858 and 
has lived here continuously ever since, e.xcept 
three years that he was employed in the ser- 
vice of the United States. In fact, he has 
lived here from boyhood, completing his ser- 
vice at tile trade of tent-making, and after- 
ward working as a journeyman for several 
years and then setting up in business for him- 
self. His present enterprise was established 
soon after his return from the war, but for 
several years he made a specialty (>f sail-mak- 
ing, at the same time selling boots and shoes, 
being located on King street. Since 1882 
he has made an exclusive business of manu- 
facturing tents and awnings himself, being 
an e.xperienced and practical workman. Suc- 
cess lias crowned the labors of Mr. Gallagher, 
who has fome very nice business and resi- 
dence in the city to show as a result of his 
labors. 

Our subject was born in county Cork, Ire- 
land, near Cape Clear, July 16, 1844, where 
he was educated, and where he was taught 



the trade of sail-maker, having been thus en- 
gageii from early childhood. His iiuither 
brought him over to the United States in 
1854-, the father having come over the year 
before and earned money to defray the ex- 
penses of the remainder of the family over. 
His parents first settled in Madison in 1857, 
but other brothers of his had come here be- 
fore. Here the father, Samuel Gallagher, 
continued to reside until his deatii, at the age 
of tifty-six years, having been a boot and 
shoemaker and a very good workman. Our 
subject's mother survived her husband many 
years, not dying until October, 1892, at the 
age of seventy-five years. Her maiden name 
was Sarah Berchem. The parents of Mr. 
Gallagher, as were their forefathers, were 
members of the Episcopal Church. 

John Gallagher is the second child t)f seven 
ohildren, he l)eing the only son. Five of the 
six daughters are still living and all of the 
childi'en have been married. 

Our subject was married in Madison to 
Miss Ella McAllister, born and reared on a 
farm near Baraboo, Sauk county, Wisconsin, 
daughter of Peter and Mary (McGuire) Mc- 
Allister, the two latter being, respectively, 
from the North of Ireland and ('ouiity Gal- 
way. Mr. iVIcAllister was of Scotch-Irish 
stock and his wife had Irish ancestors. They 
came to the United States when quite young 
people, settling in Syracuse, where they met 
anil were married soon afterward, came west 
and settled in Sauk county. Here ail their 
children were born, and after this the family 
settled in Dane county, and here in Pittsburg 
township, the father died in 1871, aged fifty- 
one years. Mrs. Ciallagher is yet living, 
making her home with her sou, John, on the 
old homestead, in the sixty-tiiird year of her 
age. Siie is a member of the Roman Catho- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



577 



lie Chni-cli, her husband having also lived 
and died in that faitii. 

Mr. and Mrs. Gallagher, subjects of this 
notice, are the parents of three children, 
namely: Sadie E.; John A. and Samuel E. 
When the war of the Rebellion broke out Mr. 
Gallagher was not of age, but he felt an irre- 
sistible desire to enlist, so on August 11, 
1862, he became a member of Company A, 
Twenty-third Wisconsin Infantry, Captain 
Vilas, the colonel being J. J. Gappy, of 
Portage, Wisconsin. While Mr. Gallagher 
assisted very materially in the raising of the 
company, he declined any distinction other 
than that of private. He participated, in 
December, 1862, in the battle of Haines' 
BlufE, when General Sherman attacked the 
enemy's right flank at Vicksburg, and after 
supporting General Steele on the right for 
two daysi finding himself outnumbered, 
made a midnight retreat, the Twenty-third 
escaping without serious loss. Later, the regi- 
ment embarked on transports for Yazoo 
river, up to Arkansas Post, and came under 
the command of General McClernand, of Illi- 
nois. On the afternoon of January 10, 1863, 
supported by a river flat, advance was made 
on Arkansas Post. The Wisconsin soldiers 
did noble service by raking the fort with a 
cross-flre from across the river, especial credit 
being due the First Wisconsin Battery. The 
Twenty-third sufi'ered from exposure, having 
laid on their guns for some time after wad- 
ing in deep water. It was likewise shelled 
severely from the fort and won praise for the 
valor it displayed. After sustaining some 
severe loss from the raking fire of the fort, 
the men began to recover from their exhaus- 
tion, and when the enemy raised the white 
flacr the Twenty-third was among the first to 
enter the post, and, for that reason, were 
used as a provost guard. Subsequently, the 



regiment was sent out as scouts; in the spring 
of 1864, it moved up to Milliken's Bend and 
prepared for the Vicksburg campaign, taking 
part in the various engagements that made 
that campaign historic. Where ever the 
Twenty-third came up with the enemy they 
proved their courage and their staying quali- 
ties. They took part in the battle of Cham- 
pion Hills, and later at Black River, captur- 
ing the Sixtieth Tennessee without loss; 
and also building the bridge'. Soon after- 
ward they marched with General Sliei'man 
into the city, having won fine laurels for gal- 
lant service. The regiment fought in the 
front ranks at Jackson, Mississippi, driving 
out Johnson. Then ordered back to Vicks- 
l>urg and to the Department of the Gulf, it 
took part in tlie attack of Dick Taylor and of 
Kirby Smith. When all of the regiment ex- 
cept less than lOU were captured, recruiting 
was resorted to, but the numbers were cut 
down. It sustained severe loss in the Red 
River campaign ; later at Jackson, Mississippi, 
our subject served three months on special 
duty. He escaped capture and was never 
wounded, and was Anally discharged at Mad- 
ison, Wisconsin, in May, 1866, on account 
of disability. 

Mr. Gallao-her is a very earnest man and 

o 

strong in his convictions of right. Earnestly 
a Republican, he has voted that ticket ever 
since he attained his majority in 1864. Mr. 
and Mrs. Gallagher are most kind and hos- 
pitable people, highly esteemed by all within 
the circle of their acquaintance. 

«HARLES HALL, a prominent citizen 
of Westport, was born in Edinburgh, 
Scotland, August 31, 1846. His father, 
Robert, was an accountant and bookkeeper. 



578 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



who married Margaret Johnson of the pame 
place. He died in Edinburgh at the age of 
forty-eight, in 1846, wiien this son was but 
an infant. Tiie mother of our subject had 
three sons and had buried two infant daugh- 
ters. The names of her children were: Rob- 
ert, William and Charles. Robert is a book- 
keeper in Scotland. The mother of onr 
subject married again, and with her second 
husband, William Jones, the family came to 
this country, in 1849, coming to Montreal in 
a sailing vessel and remained in that city, 
where Mr. Jones followed the trade of stone- 
mason. In the fall of 1855 they moved to 
Portage, Wi.^consin, remained there two 
years, then came to Westport township and 
settled on a small place near the State Asy- 
lum. One son, John, has been born of this 
marriage. 

Onr subject learned the bricklayers' trade, 
to which he went at the age of eighteen. He 
and his brothers had good home schooling 
and our subject left home at the age of 
twenty years and worked at his trade through 
Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois. 

Mr. Hall was married in 1876, when 
thirty years of age, to Miss Mary Wilson, 
the daughter of Thomas and Ann (Richard- 
son) Wilson, both from North of Ireland and 
had come to Staten Island when young, 
in 1830. They were farmers and came to 
W^isconsin in 1850 when Mrs. Hall was four 
years of age. She has one brother, William 
Wilson, a farmer of Dakota. The mother 
died February 10, 1881, at the age of seven- 
ty-eight and the father, in 1886, aged sev- 
enty-five. Their lives ended in the house 
where Mr. and Mrs. Hall have spent the 
greater portion of their marrieil life. When 
Mr. and Mrs. Wilson came here they had 
some means and bouglit some eighty acres of 
land, on which this house now stands. They 



began life on this new farm in a rough log 
house, 14 X 16, and one and one-half stories 
high. Here they lived sojne twenty years, 
during which time they prospered and bought 
more land, until they had 240 acres. At one 
time they had the misfortune to have their 
crop of wheat burned in the bin, tlirough the 
carelessness of Pome one smoking in the barn. 

The maternal grandmotliei- of Mr. Hall 
died hero, in this house, where she had lived 
four years and six months, her death occur- 
ring in September, 1890, at the great age of 
101 years, nine months and eleven days. She 
had buried two husbands, the last one, Alex- 
ander Thompson, of Scotland, died at the ago 
of eighty-six, still tine and fresh looking. 
Her first husband was wealthy. The old 
grandmother was well preserved to the last, 
having her sight, hearing and mental facul- 
ties. She was the mother of thirteen chil- 
dren, only six of whom came to adult age. 

^Ir. and Mrs. Hall have four children, 
namely: Annie L., fourteen years old; Robert 
M., eleven years old; Margaret J., eight 
years old; and Thomas Wilson, six years old. 
They are all attending school, and the daugh- 
ters are all making fine progress in music, 
^fr. Hall has served as Constable and is now 
clerk of the school district. He does a 
mixed farming, raising wheat, corn and oats, 
forty-five acres in wheat, four and three-quar- 
ter acres in tol)acco, fine flock of forty sheep, 
of a grade between Shropshire and Saxony. 
They keep three horses and three fine Ayr- 
shire cows. The farm consists of eighty-five 
acres of fine land and twenty acres of marsh 
and wood. The family are Presbyterian and 
Mr. Hall votes with the Republican party. 
He has long been a Mason and an (Jdd Fel- 
low. 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



579 



|OP>ERT GILLETT, a fanner of Dane 
^? county, Wisconsin, was Itorn in Derby- 
shire, England, in 1841, a son of 
George Gillett, a native of Eno-land. The 
latter brought his wife and five children to 
Spring{ie]<l township, Dane county, Wiscon- 
sin, in 1846. Tiiey caine by sail vessel from 
Liverpool to New Orleans, landing after a 
rough and tedious voyage of six weeks. 
They next went to Galena, Illinois, via the 
Mississippi river, and then by team to this 
section, wliere they purciiased 200 acres of 
Government laud, erected a good frame house 
for that period, which is still standing as a 
shelter for stock. Mr. Gillett after added 
sixty acres to his original purchase, and in 
1881, sold the entire place to Mr. Reynolds, 
its present owner. lie then moved to Belle- 
ville, Dane county, where his second wife 
died. He was first married to Fanny Hen- 
derson, and they had five children, namely: 
Ann, wife of John Bardsley, of Cerro Gordo 
county, Iowa; Mary, wife of John D. Uill- 
ier, of the same county; William, a twin 
brother of Mary, resides in Madison; Robert, 
our subiset; and John, who resides near 
Belleville, in Green county^ this State; By 
the second marriage, the father had one son 
and a daughter, and the latter, Blanche, was 
employed as a teacher two years. Mr. Gil- 
lett was a sea captain many years^ and often 
took his two sons with him as cabin buys. 
He was a self-made man, and a fine scholar, 
having been well versed in both Latin and 
Greek. 

Robert Gillett^ our subject, was reared on 
a farm, and received only a limited educa- 
tion. August 12, 1861, at the age of twenty 
years, he enlisted in the Eleventh Wisconsin 
Infantry, Company A, and served in the 
ranks about four years, with the exception of 
six months as hospital cook, and while ctm- 



fined with the small-pox a short time, lie 
escaped the deadly Tnissiles of war, but at one 
time had a close call from a spent ball, which 
grazed his head. He was also stung by a 
tarantula while in Alabama, and narrowly 
escaped death from the poison which lurked 
in his system along time. After the close of 
hostilities, Mr. Gillett rented land in Spring- 
field township, Dane county, for a time, and 
then purchased seventy acres of his father-in- 
law's farm. He now rents the entire place 
of the latter, of which the stepmother has a 
life interest, and reside in tlie frame house 
erected by the father. 

Our subject was married during the late 
war, to Miss Emma Ford, a daughter of John 
W. and Mary (Allison) Ford, the former a 
native of Hampshire, and the latter of Nor- 
folk, England. They came to America in the 
spring of 1845, with a small cash capital, 
and purchased 160 acres of land in this 
county, to which he afterward added forty 
acres more. The mother died on this farm 
in 1860, at the age of fifty-four years, atid 
the father afterward married. He died at 
that place in 1879, in his seventy third year, 
leaving a large estate. While in England, 
he was employed as a gardener, and after 
coming to this country was a local Methodist 
minister, an<l was an earnest and efiicient 
worker in the church. His son, John, served 
in the late war four years, in the Eleventh 
Wisconsin Infantry, of which regiment Mr. 
Giilett's brother, William, was a member, as 
was also his brother-in-law, Lieutenant J. B. 
Hillier. Mrs. Giilett's two brothers, John 
and James P^ord, are Methodist ministers in 
the regular work. Our subject and wife have 
nine living children, viz.: Robert E. and 
George M., at home; Joseph E. ; Blanche J., 
wife of P'red Wilson, of St. Paul, Minnesota, 
and they have one son; Flora L., at home; 



580 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OP 



Anna Z., attending school; Arthur C, aged 
thirteen years; Prudence L., ten years; and 
Edith E., seven years. One son, Edward, 
died at the age of two years. Mr. Giliett is 
one of the leading Kcpuhlican's of his town- 
ship, and is faithful in attendance at the 
conventions. Eoth he and his wife are loyal 
Methodists. 

YLVESTER O. Y. GDRNEE, a resi- 
dent of Fitchburg, Dane county, was 
born in the town of Skaneateles, Onon- 
daga county, Kew York, Eebniary 20, 1830. 
LI is fatlier, Caleb, was boin in iS'ew York 
city in 1802, and his father, Caleb Gurnee, 
Sr., was also born in New York, and the 
great-grandfather of our subject was born in 
France, and his name was Samuel. This 
gentleman, with his brother Stephen, came to 
the United States in colonial times. The 
grandfather of our subject learned the trade 
of shoemaker, but did not follow it long. In 
1810 he emigrated to Onondaga county, 
Kew York, making the removal in the win- 
ter season. Here he bought a tract of tim- 
ber, turned his attention to faj-ming, resided 
there some years, then sold and settled in the 
town of Sempronius, Cayuga county, where 
he died at the age of sixty-five years. The 
maiden name of his wife was Margaret Gur- 
nee, born in New York State, daughter of 
Stephen Gurnee. The father of our subject, 
learned the trade of mason, which he followed 
until 1844, when he rented land in Cayuga 
county, remained there until 1850 and then 
removed to Wisconsin. He was accompanied 
by his wife and five children. The journey 
was made over the Erie canal to IJulfalo, and 
then with steamer to Patchen, Wi.-;consin, 
and Port Washington, same State. He lo- 



cated sixteen miles north of Milwaukee, in 
the town of Mequon, in what is now Ozaukee 
county, and resided there until 1865, when he 
sold his farm and moved to Dane county, 
buying land in Cottage Grove township, and 
there he remained until his death, which oc- 
curred November 1, 1884. The maiden name 
of the raotlier of our subject, who married 
November 9, 1823, was Electa Young, born 
near Skaneateles, Onondaga county, New 
York. Slie was the daughter of James and 
Rachel Young, and died in Cottage Grove 
township, January, 1876, aged sixty-eight 
years. She reared seven children, namely: 
Robert Earl, who lives in Skaneateles; Le- 
vina married Henry L. Mandeville and lives 
in Rockford, Hlinois; subject; Emeline E. 
married Rev. George Fellows of Waukesha; 
Mary J. married William H. (yolby and lives 
in Wesley, Kossuth county, Iowa; Adeline 
married Vincent C. Gaston and lives in Cot- 
tage Grove, Dane county; and George E. re- 
sides in Tacoma, State of Washinjjton. 

Our subject was three years old when his 
parents moved to the Territory of Michigan 
and lived in one year in Ypsilanti and then 
moved to Cayuga county. New York, where 
he attended the public schools. At the age 
of fifteen years he began to work with his 
father at his trade and alternated with that 
and working on the farm until the time of 
the coming of the family to Wisconsin. In 
the fall of 1851 he returned to New York, 
remained there a year and then returned to 
Wisconsin, rented land and engaged in farm- 
incr in addition to working at his trade. In 
1855 he went to Appleton, where he re- 
mained two years at college and after this 
until 1860 he taught school during the win- 
ters and followed his trade the remainder of 
the year. In 1860 he rented a farm in Wal- 
I worth county for two years and then worked 



DANE COUNTT, WISCONSIN. 



581 



in Waukeslia at his trade until 1870, wlien 
he went to Kansas, located in Johnson county 
and made a claim on the Shawnee reserva- 
tion. Uere he built and lived six years, then 
sold his land, went to Texas, settled on school 
land in Navarro county, where he Imilt, im- 
proved a part of the land, lived there a few 
months, then sold his claim and returned to 
his farm in Cottage Grove. He bought this 
farm and resided there until 1887, when he 
sold and boutrht where he now resides. 

He has been twice married, first in 1857, 
to Miss Mary A. Thompson, born in Wauke- 
sha, Wisconsin, whose parents were pioneers 
of Waukesha, but slie died the same year. 
His second marriage was in 1868 to Miss 
Jane Cleveland, born in Brooklyn, New 
York, daugiiter of Charles Cleveland, a 
pioneer of Winnebago county. 111. Mrs. 
Guriiee was left an orphan at an early age 
and was reared and educated by Mr. Grear 
and commenced teaching when quite young, 
first at Evans ville for twelve teriris and then 
at Waukesha until her marriage. Tiie chil- 
dren of the first marriage are Edgar C. and 
Jesse A., and of the second marriage, Emma 
J. and Floyd G. Mr. and Mrs. Gurnee are 
both members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. He is a Republican in politics and 
has served as delegate to various connty, 
district and State conventions. 

(DWAKD H. HEATH, widely and fa- 
vorably known as the energetic and 
efficient manager for Wisconsin and 
northern Hlinois for the Advance Thresher 
Company of Battle Creek, Michigan, was born 
in Burlington, Wisconsin, April 19, 1803. 
His parents, Jeremiali II. and Anna (Gran- 
ser) Ileatli, were natives of Caltot, Vermont, 



and Canada, respectively. They were mar- 
ried in Wisconsin, and had four sons, all now 
living and occupying positions of trust and 
honor in business and society. Of these, the 
subject of this sketch is the third in ordei- of 
birth. His father held foi- twenty-five years 
the position of officer in the State Prison at 
Waupun, but upon the ascendency of the 
Democratic party he was dispcssessed of his 
desirable position. 

Mr. Heatli, of this sketch, spent the first 
seventeen years of his life in attending public 
school in Waupun. At the end of that time 
he secured a position as salesman with H. E. 
Utter, a local dealer in macliinery, who did a 
large business in Waupun. lie remained two 
years in this position, and then secured an- 
other, in 1880, with D. S. Morgan & Com- 
pany, for whom he acted as traveling sales- 
inaTi, with territory in central Wisconsin. 
He was afterward jjromoted to tlie position 
of general agent of this territory, and re- 
mained with the latter firm five years. 

In the spring of 1884 he became connected 
with W. G. & W. Barnes, of Freeport, Illi- 
nois, as general agent for southern and west- 
ern Wisconsin, witii headquarters in Madison, 
with which firm he remained five years. In 
tiie spring of 1889 he secured the manage- 
ment of the Wisconsin branch of tiie Advance 
Thresher Company, and was the first to intro- 
duce their goods into this territory, the ti'ade 
he has worked up being sufficient evidence of 
his energy. Becoming impressed with the 
advantages of Madison as a location for the 
branch for this territory, he lost no time in 
apprising his company of his views, which 
were heartily acquiesced in, and a commodious 
warehouse and office were erected here. Mr. 
Heath was given cliarge and has well re- 
warded the confidence placed in him, l)y tiie 
fulfillment of every requirement to the minut- 



582 



BIOORAPHICAL REVIEW OP 



est detail. Although a young man he has 
developed marvelous commercial genius, and 
bids fair to take a prominent position in the 
world's affairs. 

Mr. Heath was married April 29, 1889, in 
Waupun, to Mary E. Lang, an intelligent 
lady, whose parents were worthy pioneers of 
this State. They have two children: Monona, 
named after that clear, pellucid lake, whose 
waters are a fitting symbol of a spotless, in- 
nocent life; and Ciertrude, a daughter of two 
summers. 

In July, 1891, Mr. Heath combined busi- 
ness and pleasure in a tire months' trip tour 
of the Pacific coast country, which proved 
both a recreation for himself and a valuable 
business vacation for the company. 

Mr. Heath owns a handsome residence on 
Jenifer street, surrounded by attractive 
grounds. He has also recently purchased 
two acres of choice residence property on 
lake Monona, near Hotel Tonawatha, Mound 
Park, whicii he intends to plat and place on 
the market. 

In the several capacities of husband and 
father, citizen and business man, Mr. Heath's 
actions have always been characterized by- 
good judgment, unswerving integrity, and 
cordiality, and he stands deservedly high in 
the estimation of the community. 

JLE H. HEMSING, a successful business 
man of Dane county, Wisconsin, was 
born in Cottage (irove township, this 
county. May 30, 1853, a son of Ole Olson and 
Rachel (Sheldstad) Hemsing, both born and 
reared in Sorgdon, Norway. They came to 
America in about 1850, settlinc in Wiscon- 
sill, and were married in Cottage Grove town- 
ship, this State. After residing there two 



years they removed to Pleasant Spring town- 
ship, later to Mitchell county, Iowa, and one 
year afterward returned to their farm in 
Pleasant Spring township. The father fol- 
lowed fanning in both the old country and 
America. Mr. and Mrs. Hemsing have four 
living children, one son and three daughters, 
and have also three children deceased. 

Ole H., the subject of this sketch, was ed- 
ucated in the district schools of this township, 
and remained at home until twenty-six years 
of age. He then opened a general stock of 
merchandise and farm machinery at Crooks- 
ton, Polk county, Minnesota, which he con- 
tinued one year, and for the next eighteen 
months was engaged in real estate. Mr. 
Hemsing then bought the old homestead on 
section 28, this township, and began farming. 
In 1883 he began the tobacco business in 
Stoughton, where he buys for himself, and 
also for Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago Bos- 
ton and Milwaukee. His handsome residence 
was erected in 1888, and contains thirty acres 
of land. In addition to his otiier business 
interests, Mr. Hemsing is also largeh' inter- 
ested in real estate and in the raising of 
horses. 

He was married June 24, 1879, to Mariah 
Flone, a native a Christiana township, Dane 
county, and who was educated in the Utica 
schools. They have four children: Obert 
Komonus, Morris Abrasa, Clara Matilda, and 
Mabel Galena. Politically, Mr. Hemsing 
affiliates with the Republican party, and re- 
ligiously, isa member of the Lutheran Church. 



^.— 



^ 



USTUS HEUSER, a farmer and stock- 
raiser of section 28, Dane county, is a 
son of Peter Heuser. a native of Ger- 
many. The latter was engaged as a farmer 



DANE COONTT, WISCONSIN. 



583 



and stoneiuason in that country. In 1853 
he came by sailing vessel to America, land- 
ing in New York after a voyage of forty-two 
days, went to Eutfalo, thence to Chicago, 
next to Milwaukee, then to Madison and 
next by team to Blue Mound township. At 
the latter place he bought 112 acres of Gov- 
ernment land, paying ten shillings per acre, 
and erected a log cabin, with a grass roof and 
no floor. Mr. Ileuser was married in Ger- 
many, to Sophia Schneider, and they had 
eight children, all of whom came with them 
to this country: Mary, deceased; Jacob, a 
farmer of Blue Mound township; Justus, our 
subject; Mary Ann, of Mt. Iloreb; Henry, a 
farmer of Blue Mound township; Catherine, 
deceased; and Daniel, also a farmer of Blue 
Mound township. The father died at the age 
of tifty-six years, and the mother at the age 
of seventy-six years. The former was buried 
in the Mt. Horeb cemetery, and the latter in 
the German Lutheran cemetery in Blue 
Mound township. 

Justus Heuser, the subject of this sketch, 
was born in Germany, February 23, 1838, 
attended school in his native country eight 
years, and came with his parents to America 
at the age of fifteen years. He remained at 
home until his marriage, when he purchased 
an improved farm, for which he paid $600. 
He now owns three good farms, consisting of 
405 acres, where he is engaged in general 
farming and stock-raising. He is a Republi- 
can in his political views, has served as a 
member of the Board of Supervisors ten 
years, and has always taken an active interest 
in all township offices. Mr. Heuser is a 
leading man in his locality, has great in- 
fluence among his people, and deservedly has 
their esteem. 

He was married at the age of twenty-four 
years, to Augusta FensteJ, a native of Ger- 



many, and they had three children: Annie, 
wife of Henry Maurer, of Mt. Horeb; Frank, 
a farmer of Blue Mound township; and 
Catherine, at home. For his second wife 
Mr. Heuser married Mary Stier, also a native 
of Gernaany. To this union has been born 
eight children, all at home, viz.: Augusta, 
Emma, Ida, Peter, Pauline, Freddie, Willie 
and Adolph. 

fOIIN B. HICKS, a farmer of Dane 
county, Wisconsin, was born in Dover- 
shire, England, May 29, 1842, a son of 
John and Mary Ann (Fincli) Hicks, both 
born and reared in that country. John B., 
the eldest of four sons and four daughters, 
was taken by his parents to Canada at the 
age of two years, wiiere he received a good 
practical education. At the aire of eig-liteen 
years, in 1860, he came with his parents to 
Wisconsin, locating in Waukesha county. 
He immediately secured a position in the 
Empire mills of Milwaukee, having learned 
the trade from his father, where he was en- 
gaged until August 2, 1804, with the excep- 
tion of a brief period spent at Barton, Wis- 
consin. In that year Mr. Hicks enlisted for 
the late war, in Company H, Sixth Wisconsin 
Volunteer Infantry, which formed a part of 
the famous Iron Brigade, or the Fifth Army 
Corps. Tlio regiment participated in the 
Second battleof Hatcher's Run and Appomat- 
tox Court House, and after the close of the 
struggle was mustered out of service at 
Madison, Wisconsin. 

Mr. Hicks then returned to his parents' 
home in Mapleton, AVaukesha county, this 
State, next spent three years at his trade in 
Delafield, that county, employed two years in 
a mill in Michigan, worked in Colonel Saw- 



584 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



yer's mill at Milwaukee until 1878, and in 
that year came to Mazo Manie, Dane county. 
He was immediately installed as superintend- 
ent of the mills of this city, and in 1883 
purchased a one-fourth interest in the com- 
pany. In 1890 he sold his interest to Bron- 
son & Draper. Mr. Hicks owns a fine fertile 
farm in this township, located within a mile 
of the incorporate limits of this city. He 
votes with the Republican party, has served 
as Alderman of Mazo Manie for some time, 
and has been appointed to till the unexpired 
term of Mr. Taylor, as a member of the 
County Board of Supervisors. Socially, he is 
a member of the G. A. li. 

May 17, 1870, the subject of this sketch 
was united in marriacre with Margaret Jane 
Kearney, a native of Canada. They have 
had nine children, as follows: Clarence, 
George, Mary, Lizzie (deceased), Alice, Mollie 
(deceased), Frank, John and Clyde. Mr. and 
Mrs. Hicks are members of the Catholic 
Chnrch, although the former was reared as 
an Episcopalian. 

f<JHN CLESOX, deceased, was born near 
Bergen, Norway, February 9, 1822. He 
was reared to farm life, and received 
only limited advantages for an education. In 
1849 he came by sail vessel to America, 
spending ten weeks on the ocean, and after 
landintr in New York found himself in debt 
about §i2. He immediately began work on 
a farm, but, unfortunately, was soon taken 
sick with the ague, from which he did not 
fully recover for more than a year. After 
his recovery Mr. Oleson worked in a lumber 
yard in Chicago seven years, and at the end 
of that time, by economy and hard work, 
succeeded in saving ^1,G0(). With that 
nioney he came to AVisconsin and bought 



the land his family still owns. He moved 
into the small log house on the place, and 
thus commenced his pioneer life in Wis- 
consin. He afterward put the farm under 
a tine state of cultivation, erected good 
houses and barns, etc., but the old log house 
still stands on the place. Mr. Oleson de- 
parted this life November 29, 1890, and 
was buried in Columbia township, Dane 
county. 

He was united in marriage with Emily 
Earsken, a native of Norway, but who came 
to this country with her parents at the age 
of fourteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Earsken 
both died in America, the former at the age 
of eighty-six years, and the latter at eighty- 
five years. Our subject and wife had ten 
children, as follows: Annie, deceased at the 
age of five years; Christina, now Mrs. Munse 
Weed, of Dane county; Andrew, at home; 
Aimie Maria, now Mrs. Hortleburg; Joseph, 
Aluta M., Sena, Johanna at home; Martin, 
deceased; and Martin, at home. Mrs. Oleson 
has continued to manage the farm since her 
husband's death. Religiously, she is a mem- 
ber of the Lutheran Church. 



^ERMAN KLUETER, now living in 
California, but for many years a resi- 
dent of Madison, Wisconsin, is the sub- 
ject of this notice. He came to this city when 
a young man, without means, but endowed 
with ability and energy. He began working 
as a cabinet-maker, and being very economi- 
cal, in a few years he had accumulated enough 
money to go into partnership with a Mr. 
John Lawrence, in the general grocery busi- 
ness, locating on King street, but later sold 
out to Mr. Lawrence and went into business 
alone, at No. 506 Wilson street. Some time 



DANE OOdNTY, WISCONSIN: 



585 



after this Mr. Khieter built a storeroom of 
liis own adjoiiiiiiii;, which lie afterward oc- 
cupied for some years, liowever, his health 
failed and he crave his business up to his 
sons, Julius and Christopher. liemoving to 
San Bernai'dino, California, for a time he en- 
gaged in the milling business, but later re- 
tired from all active pursuits. Since his 
departure tiie sons have conducted the busi- 
ness successfully, buildinti; a new store in 
1891, on the old stand. This they now oc- 
cupy and it is one of tlie most substantial 
buildings on tlie street. They engage in the 
grain, hay and feed business, in connection 
with their grocery business and this has be- 
come one of the most important adjuncts 
of the business, and they are prepared for 
it by having a warehouse that they devote 
especially to that line. In groceries they 
carry a full, clean and complete stock. 

The birth of Herman Klueter occurred in 
Prussia, Germany, al)0ut sixty years ago, 
coming of pure German stock. His father 
died when be was young and he and his 
mother and sister, the latter now Mrs. Zim- 
merman, of Sheffield, Iowa, came to the 
United States on a sailing vessel, landing in 
New York city. From that tnetropolis they 
came directly to Wisconsin, where our sub- 
ject located in Madison and made that place 
his home nntil his departure for California. 
While residing in this city Mr. Klueter took 
an active part in local matters and for some 
time served as Alderman. He was Demo- 
cratic in his politics and was an active mem- 
ber and ]irominent promoter of the Turner 
Society of this place; was also a member of 
the order I. O. O. F., with whom he still 
afKliates. He is a member of the German 
Presbyterian Church, a good and worthy, 
foreign-born American citizen. 

The marriage of our subject took place in 



Madison with Miss Mary Rodefield, born in 
Germany, who came when young to the 
United States with her parents and lived 
some years in Schenectady, New York, com- 
ing thence to Madison, where Mrs. Klneter's 
father died. The aged mother is still livingaud 
both she and her husl)and were members of 
the Lutheran Church. Mrs. Klueter, the wife 
of our subject has been a true wife and 
mother, and is with her husband in Califor- 
nia. She is also a member of the Church of 
her husband, the German Lutheran. Plight 
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Klueter. 
One son, Edward, and a daughter, Bertha, 
the former died at the age of eleven, the lat- 
ter at the age of sixteen years. The living 
members of the family are as follows: IVIary, 
a clerk in a store and at present lives with her 
brothers; Julius is a member of the business 
firm, a very promising young man of good 
habits, belonging to the Masonic fraternity. 
No. 12, and K. of P.; he is a member of the 
City Council, having been elected from the 
Third Ward, is a Democrat in his politics 
and has been active in local afiiiirs, lie is yet 
unmarried and resides with his brothers and 
sister; Christian, the next child, is also 
another member of the firm, and witli his 
brother manages the business; Minnie is 
with her parents in California, as is also 
Herman and Henry. The children belong 
to the same church as their parents, the Ger- 
man Presbyterian. 

^iLBERT E. LANSING, a prominent 
farmer and resident of Bloominij Grove 

^^ township, was born in Vienna, Wayne 
county, New York, August 31, 1810. His 
father, was Robert W. Lansing, one of the 
early settlers of Dane county; and the grand- 



586 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



father of the subject of this sketch was 
Garrett Robert Lansing; tl)e latter a farmer 
by occupation spent his last days in the 
Mohawk valley. The father was reared in 
his native State. His opportunities for 
securing an education were very limited, but 
he was very studious and acquired a good 
amount of schooling and was admitted to the 
bar. He was afterward appointed JReceiver 
at the Government land office at Mineral 
Point, Wisconsin, and emigrated thither, 
accompanied by his wife and eight children. 
They came l)y the lakes from Buffalo to 
Milwaukee and thence by stage to Mineral 
Point. He remained there two or three years, 
then removed to Madison, making the 
journey with teams. At that time Madison 
was only a small village and the surrounding 
country was very sparsely settled. Mr. Lans- 
ing, Sr., opened and operated a hotel here 
and also practiced law. After he had been 
here two or three years he purchased a tract 
of land in Blooming Grove township, making 
that his home, although he continued the 
practice of law until his death, in 1885, at the 
advanced age of eighty-tive. The maiden 
?iame of the mother of our subject was 
Elizabeth Hardy, born in New York, daughter 
of William Hardy, a farmer, wiio spent his 
last years in the State of New York. The 
mother of our subject died, March 11, 1873, 
aged seventy-tour. She reared eight children. 
Our subject remembers very well the 
incidents of the journey to Wisconsin and 
the pioneer life here. He received his early 
education in the crity schools of Madison, 
after wliicii he attended the schools of Newark, 
New York. After his return from New York 
!ie settled in Blooming Grove township 
and engaged in farming, remaining until 
1883, when he entered the service of the 
Govern meat »8 clerk in the Depot Quarter- 



master's Department, being stationed at 
Natchez and Vicksburg for about two years. 
He then went to Missouri and engaged in 
steamboating on the Osage and Missouri 
rivers for about two years, then returned to 
Blooming Grove township and resumed 
farming. He is now the owner of a well- 
improved farm on section 17. 

April 14, 1874, he married Mary E. Brink, 
born in Mount Vernon, Wisconsin, daughter 
of Byron and Laura (Malone) Brink. Mr. and 
Mrs. Lansing have three children living: 
Maud E., Susie A. and Laroy E. Albert E., 
their third child, died in infancy. Mr. Lansing 
is a Democrat in politics, like his father 
before him, and is firm in his adherence to 
his party. His parents were members of the 
Episcopal Church, in which faith our subject 
was reared. Mr. Lansing is a man who enjoys 
the respect of a large circle of friends he has 
gathered about him by his own pleasant and 
obliging manner and honest integrity of 
character. 

tlL LEWIS, a merchant tailor of Mount 
Horeb, Dane county, Wisconsin, is a 
* son of Lars Hermundson, a native of 
Norway, where he worked at the tailor's 
trade. In 1862 the family came by sailing 
vessel to America, having spent eight weeks 
and two days on the ocean, and landed in 
Quebec. July 6, 1862, they settled iu Stough- 
ton, Wisconsin, where the father and sons 
worked on a farm for a time, and later the 
former began his trade in Cambridge, Dane 
county. Two years afterward the family 
bought two acres of land at McFarland, where 
tlicy immediately took up their residence. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hermundson were the parents 
of nine children, viz.: Hermon, deceased in 



DANE COUNTY, W18C0NHIN. 



587 



Matlison; Erick, a farmer and tailor of 
McFarlaud; Christopher, who served three 
years in the regular army, assisted in driving 
away the Indians at the Curtis massacre, 
took part iii other Indian engap;ements, and 
has not been heard from for over six years; 
Sophia, deceased in infancy, Lars H., our 
subject; Syver, who died at the old home- 
stead in McFarland; Ole, deceased at the same 
place; Sopliia, wife of Hans K. Levang, of 
Brandon, Douglas county, Minnesota; and 
Nels, deceased at the age of three weeks. 

Lai's 11., the subject of this sketch, was 
born in Norway, January 3, 1847, attended 
the common scliools in that country, and 
learned the trade of a tailor from his father. 
He came to America with his parents, wliere 
he again entered school, and afterward grad- 
uated in the business course at the Worthing- 
ton Commercial College. At the age of 
eighteen years he began work at anything he 
could find to do, and later followed his trade 
for a time in Madison. Mr. Lewis was mar- 
ried to Julia Torguson, a native of Norway, 
but who came to this country with her 
parents at the age of five years. They located 
in Sun Prairie township, Dane county, Wis- 
consin. The father died in Perry township, 
this county, and the mother now resides with 
the youngest daughter at Stoughton. Seven 
of their children still survive, namely: Julia, 
wife of our subject; Martha, now Mrs. John 
Hanson, of Forward, Dane county; Annie, 
wife of John Johnson, of Sacred Heart, 
Minnesota; Threna, wife of Gunder Erdahl, 
of Stoughton; Jacob, of the same jdace; 
Johanna, wife of Knute Lunde, and Andrew, 
both also of Stoughton. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis 
have iiad nine children: Emma Sophia, wife of 
E. C. Elbeu, of Mount Hoi-eb; Thai, at home; 
Henry, attending the high school at Plack 
Earth; Louisa, attending school at the same 



place; Sarah, Lena, Isaac and Clara, at home; 
and Theodore, deceased. Mr. Lewis now 
owns a line tailor shop at Mount Iloreb, 
where he has a good trade. He is reliable 
and accommodating, and speaks both English 
and Norwegian fluently. 



m^EORGE P. MILLER, president of the 
.IWff Miller Lumber Company, Madison, Wis- 
W^' cousin, IS a young man ot more than 
ordinary business ability and enterprise. 

He was born in Glenbeulah, Sheboygan 
county, Wisconsin, Fel)ruary 18, 1868, son 
of Philip and Mary Josephine (Uohogne) 
Miller. His father, a native of Germany, 
came to America when only a year old, and 
his mother, who was born in Marseilles, 
France, came to this country at the age of 
twenty years. They were early settlers of 
Milwaukee, Grandfather Miller at one time 
having owned the greater part of the jjresent 
site of that city. Philip Miller was a lum- 
berman and merchant. He and his wife had 
three children, two sons and a daughter. 
William Joseph is engaged in farming at 
Austin, Alinnesota. Marion is the wife of 
E. II. Stei'ling, and is also a resident of Aus- 
tin. The parents reside there, too. 

George P. Miller received his early educa- 
tion in the public schools of his native city. 
He graduated in the high school at Sheboy- 



Falls 



188- 



d tl 



len, a 



t th 



of 



fourteen, entered Ri[)on College. In 1884 
he left college and taught school one year at 
Waldo, Wisconsin. He afterward returned 
and completed his junior year in the modern 
classical course. This was in 1887. Then 
he was employed as traveling salesman for 
Radford Bros. & Co., of Oshkosh, Wiscon- 
sin, selling lumlier, sash, doors and blinds, 



5i<8 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



and followed this business two years and a 
half, the last year being located at Wichita, 
Kansas, as luanaifer of a branch house. After 
that he went to Stevens' Point, Wisconsin, 
and purchased a third interest in the Keller 
Lumber Company, and was made vice-presi- 
dent of the same. The business of tlie com- 
pany was afterward moved to Rhinelander, 
Wisconsin, and in April, 1892, he severed 
his relation witli it. Immediately tliereafter 
he organized tiie Miller Lumber Company, of 
which he was made president, and which is 
now doing a wholesale business throughout 
the North and West. 

Mr. Miller was married January 11. 1892, 
to Anna Lee, of Waupaca, Wisconsin. She 
was born in England, and remained there 
until her eighteenth year. 

Mr. Miller affiliates with the Republican 
party. 



^ 



^ 



§EV1 MUTCIILER, a farmer resident of 
the town of Fitchburg, was born in 
Warren county, IS'ew Jersey, June 7, 
1834r. His father, John Mutcliler, was born 
in tlie same county, but the grandfather of 
our subject was a native of Germany, named 
George. As far as known he was the only 
member of the family who came to America. 
He bought land in Warren county. New Jer- 
sey, engaged in farming, and spent the re- 
mainder of his days tiiere. The father of 
our subject was reared to agricultural pur- 
suits, and followed farming in Warren county 
until 1850, when, witli his wife and six chil- 
dren, he came to Wisconsin and located in 
tlie to.vn of Fitchburg, where he at once 
purchased 190 acres of land, forty of which 
was timber and tiie remainder unimproved 
land. He soon after bought the adjoining 
160 acres, and continiieil iiis pursuit of agri- 



cultural labor until his retirement on account 
of old age. He resided upon the farm until 
his death, which occurred about 1885. The 
maiden name of his wife was Mary Metz, 
who was born in Warren county. New Jer- 
sey, and her father, George Metz, was born 
in the same county, of German ancestry, and 
here he spent his entire life. The inotiier of 
our subject died in 1858, and reared eight 
children, namely: Lovina, Garner, Metz, 
Lemuel, Eliza A., Amzi, Levi and Reuben. 
Lovina was married and settled in Ohio. 
Metz settled in New Jersey, but the others 
came to Dane county. 

Our subject was reared and educated in 
his native county, and began when very 
young to assist his father on tiie farm. In 
1856 he came to Wisconsin witli his parents, 
and for two years had charge of his fatlier's 
farm. At the time of the latter's death he 
purchased 150 acres of the old homestead. 
He has since bought other land adjoining, 
and his farm now contains 207^ acres, upon 
which are good buildings. 

April 18, 1857, he married Anna Maria 
Missinger. She was born in Warren county. 
New Jersey, daughter of Michael and Mar- 
garet Missinger, natives of Pennsylvania, of 
German ancestry. 

Mr. and Mrs. Mutchler have four children 
living, namely: Ida Ednina, Lida Flod, Wal- 
ter and Philip. Mr. Mutchler and wife are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
in which they are prominent people. Mr. 
Mutchler is a Republican in politics, and cast 
his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. 



IIANCY ISIIAM, the oldest settler of 
Dunkirk township, Dane county, was 
born in Hamilton, Madison county. 
New York, September 18, 1816, a son of 



DANE COUUTT, WISCONSIN. 



589 



Cliaiify and Fannie (llaincs) Ishani, tlie 
former a native of Connecticut. Mr. Ishani 
was reared on his father's farm, and attended 
the common schools. At the age of eighteen 
years he was employed by the Boston & 
Providence Railroad Company, and stationed 
at Roxbnry, near Ijoston. lie was engaged 
as a lireman on the road until meeting; with 
a bad accident, after which he resigned his 
position. Mr. Isham was then engaged in 
the horse ti-ade in New Yoi'k, next as o\"er- 
seer on the construction railroad in Massa- 
chusetts about four years, and then began 
hotel keeping in Earlville, New York. In 
1843 he came by wagon to Wisconsin, having 
been three weeks from Fredonia to Jauesville, 
and at that time the country was new. He 
bought 520 acres of laud whei-e Stoughton 
now stands, erected a small house, and pur- 
chased a few cows in Janesville. Durino; the 
late war he speut two years in Stoughton, en- 
gaged in the produce business. Mr. Isham 
now owns 160 acres of fine land. 

He was married in July, 18-10. to Jane 
Arnold, a native of Washington, Massachu- 
setts, and they have had five children : Arnold 
H., deceased; Mary Jane, Theresa Reed, 
Fannie R. and Cora C. Mr. Ishani affiliates 
with the People's party, and has never aspired 
to public office. 



fOHN T. KING, a successful business 
man of Madison, Wisconsin, was born in 
Jefferson county, New York, December 
14, 1850, a son of Lorenzo D. and Julia A. 
(Schyver) King. His mother's people were 
from Pennsylvania, his father's from Ver- 
mont, and the paternal grandmother was of 
French descent. Lorenzo King, a clergyman 
in tiie Methodist Episcopal Church, came to 

39 



Wisconsin in 1^49, and the following year 
bought and improved a tract of land in Dodge 
county. 

The subject of this sketch spent his boy- 
hood days on the farm, workinir during the 
summer months, and attending school in the 
winter. His father died when he was four- 
teen years of age, and his mother when he 
was nineteen. In 1807 he was engaged with 
his brother in getting out wood for the Union 
Pacific railroad in Wyoming; next was em- 
ployed in the machine shop, and then worked 
at farm labor. At the age of twenty years 
he was an engineer on the Union Pacific rail- 
road; in 1873 returned to this State; in 
August, of the same year, and in company 
with an older brothei-, engaged in the lead 
mines, in operating a drill for the Diamond 
Drill Wnrks of Philadelphia; but two years 
later, on account of his wife's health, he re- 
turned to Fox Lake, Wisconsin, where he 
opened a small machine shop. In Novem- 
ber, 1877, Mr. King came to Madison, Wis- 
consin, where he was employed as assistant 
engineer on the State capital, also on the 
Park Hotel. In 1880 he began work with 
W. G. Walker & Co., manufacturers of print- 
ing presses. Mr. King has ol(tained si.x dif- 
ferent patents on the Prouty printing press, 
all of which are now in use, and has also 
taken out a patent for a steam heater. In 
1885 the lirm of King & AYalker was organ- 
ized, general dealers in Imilers and engines. 
The business has grown from infancy to the 
best in its line in Wisconsin. 

Mr. King was married in Dodge county, 
Wisconsin, August 17, 1872, to Mary A. 
Craig, a native of that county, and a daughter 
of Samuel Craig, a fanner of Dodge county. 
To this union has been born one child, Gil- 
bert W., wlio died in November, 1891, ac/ed 
sixteen years. Mr. King is a Republican in 



S'.IO 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



his political views; socially, is a Royal Arch 
Mason. K. of r. ami an Odd Fellow. 



IHELSON W. riERCE, inan;\ger of the 
freieht otlice of theChicairo, Milwaukee 
& St. Paul Railroad, at iladison, is the 
subject of this sketch, lie was born in King 
ston, Xew Jersey, April 10, 18-18, and was 
the son of William A. and Adaline (Vantil- 
burg) Pierce. The father was born and 
reared in Dutchess county, New York, and 
his mother at Kingston, New York. By 
occupation his father was a farmer and spec- 
ulator using his money wisely and living 
upon the investments. There were but two 
children in the family, our subject and one 
sister. Mrs. Mary A. Robinson, who resides 
in the city of Chicago, and is the proprie- 
tress of the Hotel Gladstone on Michigan 
avenue. 

The mother of Mr. Pierce died when our 
subject was but twelve years of age, but the 
father survived her until 1879, when he joinotl 
her in the realms of bliss. Nelson was edu, 
cated at the common schools of Kingston and 
spent one year at Lawrenceville, New Jersey. 
When he started into business life it was 
with the post office as clerk in Princeton, New 
Jersey, and remained there one year. At the 
close of that time he entered the telegraph 
business in the employ of the Camden i*c 
Amboy Railroad, which branch now forms w 
part of the gnat Pennsylvania system. As 
instructor our subject had Robert Stuart, who 
now is superintendent of the Baltimore A: 
Ohio Railroad Telegraph Department. 

Mr. Pierce continued under Mr. Stuart for 
two years thoroughly learning his business, 
lie then came to the State of Wisconsin and 
located at Milwaukee in 18()7. entering the 



employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. 
Paul Railroad. He was soon given a position 
at Watertown, Jefferson county, and was then 
transferred to Watertown Junction, where he 
became the freight and ticket agent. While 
l)ere he opened a hotel and eating house call- 
ing it the •' Bay State" House, but lie liad 
not conducted this establishment long before 
it was burned out, entailing a loss upon him 
of ^2,000. However he soon rebuilt and 
started airain, conducting it until he was 
appointed by the company as special travel- 
ing and passenger and freight agent at I'ort- 
laiui, (h-Cir<in. One year later he went to 
Perry, Iowa, where he took charge of the 
local business of the company, remaining 

I there until the spring of 1892. when he was 
promoted to the charge of the Madison office, 
which position he still holds. 

The marriage of Mr. Pierce took place in 
the spring of 1869, to Miss Mary E. Mitchell, 

' of Watertown, Wisconsin, and live children 
have come to this happy home. One son and 

I danghter died in infancy, and the names of 
those living are: Helen A., Albert E., and 
Negle II. Our subject is well known in this 
city, and is identitied with the Masonic frater- 
nity in this city. 

JROF. JOII.N B.\RBER I'ARICINSON 

^^ a successful business man of Madison, was 

I.. J'. 

~-v' born in Edwardsville, Madison county, 
Illinois, .Vpril 11. 1S34, a son of Peter and 
Valinda (Harbor) Parkinson, a native of East 
Tennessee and North Carolina, respectively. 
The fatlier, a farmer by occupation, moved 
to Illinois at the age of twelve years. The 
paternal grandfather of our subject, William 
Parkinson, was born in 1805, and removed 
to Wisconsin from Illinois in 1S17. The 



DANE GUIINTY, W ISCoX.'^rN. 



S'Jl 



piiternal o;reat-o-randl'atlier was a lievoliitioii- 
ary soldier, and met an accidental death 
while iTossini^ a stri^ain. 'J'he niat(U'nal 
grandfather, John Harher, was a I'n^shy- 
terian minister and a pi<jneer of Illinois. 

John It. Parkinson, the third of twelve 
children, six now living, was brought to Iowa 
county, now La Fayette county, Wisconsin, 
at the age of two years. His early educa- 
tional advantages were such as the times 
afforded, which were later supplemented by 
a preparatory course in Beloit College. lie 
then, when ready to enter college, took charge 
of an overland expedition to California, where 
he was engaged in mining three years. In 
the spring of 1855 returned to Wisconsin, 
iind the following year he entered the Uni- 
versity of Wisconsin, and after gi'aduation in 
1(S60, he spent one year as tutor in the uni- 
versity. He was then elected County Super- 
intendent of Public Instruction in I^a Fay- 
ette county, which position he held one term; 
taught in the academy in that county, was 
appointed regent of the university; thi^n be- 
came a member of the facidty in 1.^(57; was 
president of the Centennial Convention of 
Wisconsin. In company with his brother, 
M. Romor and It. M. Bashford, he bought 
out the "Wisconsin Democrat." In 1870 
Professor Parkinson was called to the (Muiir 
of Civil Polity and Piditical Economy, which 
position he still holds; has been vice-presi- 
dent of the University of Wisconsin since 
1SS5; lias always been idontilied with the 
Democratic party; was twice selected as can- 
didate for State Superintendent of Public In- 
struction; in 1888 was chosen a candidate 
for Congress, against La Follette; and was 
chairman of the Central Coinuiitteo. 

Our sul)jeot was mirriel Dtxvjmbor 19, 
1862. to -lane Grey, a native of Mineral 
Point, Wisconsin, and a daughter of Iloliert 



drey, a soldiei- of the IJlack Hawk war, and 
a merchant of Mineral Point. Mrs. Parkinson 
was a student at Hillsdale CoUem; Hillsdale, 
Michigan. ()iii- subject and wife have had 
eight children, live, sons and tliriH' daughters, 
viz.: Marshall M., a grain and commission 
merchant of Madison; Mary, wife of A. T. 
Schroeder, an attorney at Salt Lake City; 
John Monroe, assistant professor of Civil 
Polity in the University of Wisconsin ; Hen 
('arroll, principal of the pulilic scdiools of 
N(;w Lisbon, \Visconsin, and who will enter 
a law school this fall; Henry CJrey, a studetit 
in the Latin class of 1880, is now first assist- 
ai:t in the Fond du Lac schools, and who will 
also study law in the fall; Stanley liai-ber, 
Harriet and Myra. Professor Parkinson 
has prepared lectures on English and ^Vmeri- 
can Constitutional Law and on Political 
Economy, lieligionsly, he is a member of 
the Unitarian (Jlinndi. 



4^ 



^ 



fAMUEL D. LIPBY was born in Bu.x- 
ton Centre, Maine Novendier 20, 1827. 
•<a- His father, Nathan Libl)y,was a native 
of tiio same town, where lie was a farmer and 
shoemaker and where he resided until] 802. 
At this date he came to Wisconsin and set- 
tled in Pdooming (i rove, where he rented afarm 
and I'esided a few years. H(* then removed 
to the southern [lart of Wisconsin, and then 
to Lehigh, Iowa, and i'esided there until his 
death, which occurred in 1885. The maiden 
name of his wife was Maria Dunnell, born 
in Boston, Massaciiusetts, March 27, 1805. 
Her father, Samiud Diimudl, was a native of 
New iMigland and a farmer by occujiation, 
who spent his last years in liuxton Centre, 
Maine. TIk; mother of our subject di(;d in 
Lehigh, Iowa, April 23, 1887. Both parents 



592 



BIOORAPHWAL REVIEW OF 



were members for many years of the Baptist 
CIhutIi. 

Our subject was reared and educated in his 
native town, residing with liis parents until 
he reached the age of twenty-three. At that 
age, in 1850, he came to Wisconsin, via 
Buifalo and the lalces to Milwaukee, wlierc he 
was taken sick and remained ill so long that 
when he recovered he was not only out of 
money but in debt to bis landlady and the 
doctor. As soon as able lie sought work, 
and fortunately Hiet Mr. Judkins, a carpenter 
and builder, then residing in Milwaukee, 
later of Dane county. This gentleman en- 
gaged our subject to work for him at $12 
per month. He followed bis trade in Mil- 
waukee, wliich was then a small phice, until 
1860, sometimes being employed by ttie rail- 
road. At the later date he, with a party of 
others, went to Pike's Peak, making the 
journey across the plains. When he arrived 
he found that gold was not as plentiful as 
had been represented, and after remaining a 
short time he returned home. While working 
at his trade he had purchased a tract of land 
by working for it. After his return he com- 
menced improving it, and from that time 
devoted much of his time to agricultural 
])ursuits. He resideti on this farm until his 
death, which occurred April 30, 1890. 

lie married, December 25, 1861, Mary E. 
Hall, born in O.xford, New Hampshire, 
(laughter of John Hall, a native of the same 
town. Her grandfather was a native of New 
England and a farmer in the town of Ox- 
ford, where he spent his last years. Tiie 
father of Mrs. Libhy was married in Now 
Hampshire, but a few years later removed to 
Vermont, where he died at the age of thirty- 
six. The maiden name of the mother of 
Mrs. Libby was Sully (irimes, born at Ox- 
ford, New Hampshire, daughter of Nathan 



Grimes. She survived her husband many 
years and came to Wisconsin in 1857, locat- 
ing in Madison, where she resided for some 
years, but spent her last days with her son, 
George W., at his home, two and one- half 
miles from Evansville, liock county. 

Mrs. Libby commenced teaching at Win- 
chendon, Massachusetts, and in other towns, 
until coming to Wisconsin with her mother 
in 1857. After arrival in Dane county she 
taught school for some time, and attached 
herself to pupils and patrons alike. Mrs. 
Libby and her children occupy the old home- 
stead in Blooming Grove. Mrs. Libby has 
three sons: Charles J., John L. and Benja- 
min. 

Mr. Libby was an industrious and enter- 
prising man, a good husband ami father and 
kind neighbor. He was a great reader of 
good literature and was always well posted 
on all the events of the day. In politics he 
was a Republican and in religion a Methodist. 
Bloomincr (irove lost a jjood, inlluential citi- 
zen when death claimed Mr. Libhy for its 
own. 



-Hs^ 



3-t' 



?OHN S. LINDLEV, a retired farmer 
living at 231 West Gillinal street in 
the city of Madison, Wisconsin, is the 
subject of this sketch. After an active life 
for many years the quiet and comfort of a 
city home is very grateful and enjoyable. 

The subject was i)orn in Jennings county, 
Indiana, January 7, 1^20, and he was reared 
to the life of a farmer, living in both Jen- 
nings and Jackson counties until his removal 
to Wisconsin. The father of our subject 
came from sturdy Green Mountain stock, 
Alvin Lindley having been born iu the State 
of Vermont, where he grew to man's estate 
and then reiiiovetl to Indiana. The elder 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



593 



Mr. Lindley settled in Jefferson county, and 
tliere followed agricultural pursuits and there 
met the good woman who later became bis 
wife. Her name was Nancy Welch and her 
birthplace was Kentucky, where she was 
reared. Her father was opposed to slave- 
holding, and that caused his removal to In- 
diana. For some years Mr. Lindley and wife 
lived in Jefferson county, and then removed 
to Jenning-s county, and still later to Jack- 
son county, Indiana, where they remained 
until they made a last change into Kansas 
and there died at an advanced age. They 
were members of the Roman Catholic faith 
and were good and pious people. Our sub- 
ject is one in a family of seven, and five of 
these are yet living. 

The marriage of Mr. Lindley took place 
while he was living in Jackson county, In- 
diana, to Miss Christina Mahon, who was 
born in that county and there reared to 
happy maidenhood. She came of Irish 
parentage and has developed into a noble 
woman. Seven children have been added to 
the family, and they are named as follows: 
Thornton, who lives in the AVest; he grad- 
uated from Wisconsin State LTni versify; 
Addie, also a graduate of the Wisconsin State 
University, married Mr. Reed, an attorney in 
Merrill, Wisconsin; Daisy, also graduated 
from the university, became a teacher and 
married James Goldweather, who is a teacher, 
the principal of a school in Wisconsin; 
Charles adopted a railroad life and resides 
some place in the West; and Lena is now a 
student in the third year at the university. 

Mr. Lindley has lived in Madison for the 
past six years. His farm of 240 acres is 
located on section 14, Springfield township, 
and he moved from there in 1SS6. He came 
to Dane county, Wisconsin, in 1852, and 
purchased his line farm in Springfield town- 



ship in 1853, settled here and made it a 
first-clasa grain farm. This was the first 
place he located at after leaving his old home 
in Indiana, and here he successfully labored 
until 1886, when he decided to lay aside the 
cares of farm life and move into the city and 
take advantage of the tine university there 
for the education of his children, all of whom 
have developed very intelligent minds. 
Three of his children have already graduated 
with honor from that excellent institution, 
much to the pleasure and gratification of 
their parents, who are interested in educa- 
tional matters. 

Mr. Lindley is a sound Democrat in his 
political opinions and bravely upholds the 
principles of Democracy. Both he and Mrs 
Lindley attend the Unitarian Church and are 
liberal in their religious belief. They are 
good, excellent people, commanding the re- 
spect of all. 



ILLIAM II. DENISON, a jtrominent 
and popular young business man of 
l^^^l^ Madison, AVisconsin, whose honest 
and well-directed efforts have raised him 
from obscurity to his present position of 
wealth and influence, was born in the city 
of his residence, August 12, 1858. His part 
ents were Henry and Mary (Pyncheon) Den- 
ison, the former a native of Brookfield, New 
York, and the latter born in Madison in 
1846, when it was but a village, and Wiscon- 
sin had not yet assumed the dignity of state- 
hood. Mr. Denison's father, a horseshoer by 
occupation, enlisted in the late war, and 
while in the service, in 1865, was drowned. 
His loss was lamented by all who knew his 
sterling qualities and unassuming character. 
His widow afterward married John B. Eu- 




694 



BIOORAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



gene, a prosperous and respected buoiuuss 
man of Green Hay, Wisconsin. 

The subject of this sketch, an only child, 
was but seven years old at the time of his 
fatlier's death. He was reared in Madison, 
where he attended the common schools until 
he was fifteen years of age, when he began 
di-iviiiir a dray for John Pjncheon, his 
mother's brother. He continued to work for 
a salary one year, and then bought the bus- 
iness, and since 1874 has been engacred in 
general freighting on his own account. His 
grandfather, William Pynchoon, was the 
originator of tiie business, having started in 
a very humble way some years before the 
birth ot the present owner. At that early 
day the outfit consisted of one horse, lontr 
past its prime, and a dilapidated wagon, which 
were housed in a small shed. To-day the 
grandson has a substantial brick structure, 
which is capable of accommodating scores of 
horses, numerous carriages, floats and wacrons, 
besides the stock and wagons of the American 
Express Company, wiio patronize his 6tal)Ie. 
The greater part of the city's commerce is 
transported by the teams of this establish- 
ment, and the i-evenue derived therefrom is 
considerable. By economy and skillful man- 
agement this has accumulated until Mr. 
Denison is probably now as comfortably 
situated, in a pecuniary sense, as any person 
in the city. Mr. Denison makes a specialty 
of shipping ice, which in itself is exceed- 
ingly remunerative. This is gathered during 
the winter and shipped to the East, and to 
the Union Stock Yards, at St. Louis, Mis- 
souri. 

Mr. Dennison was married in 1876 to 
Anna Sullivan, a native of Madison, to which 
city her parents came in an early day. This 
union was aimulled by death in 1891, when 



the devoted wife was called from earth, leav- 
ing many friends to mourn her loss. 

As a citizen and business man Mr. Den- 
ison is known as a person of correct princi- 
ciples and unerring judgment, while in social 
life his actions are characterized by a genial 
hospitality, attracting to his standard all with 
whom he comes in contact. 

^APTAIN NELSON li. DUAN, a 
a farmer, resident of the town of Rut- 
land, was born in Lowell, Penobscot 
county, Maine, February 23, 1826. His 
at her, Joshua L. Doan, was born in the 
same town, and bis father, Ebenezer Doan 
was born in Portland, Maine, and became a 
pioneer of Lowell. He reclaimed a farm 
from the wilderness and resided there until 
his death. The father of our suhject was a 
natural mechanic, but never leai'neil a trade. 
He resided in Maine until 18-19, and then 
came to Wisconsin, settled in liutland, en- 
gaged in farming, and has been a farmer 
there ever since. He is now eighty-five years 
of age, but is well preserved. The maiden 
name of the mother of subject was Ilache 
llayden, who was born in the town of Lowell^ 
Maine, and died in liutland. She reared 
eight of her eleven children, namely: Iliram 
H., Nelson R., Regilla C, George W., Jer- 
emiah D., Charles L., Louisa and Luke. 

Our subject received his early education in 
the district school of his native town. He 
was thirteen years of age when he came to 
Wisconsin with his parents. They made the 
trip via steamer from Bangor to Boston, from 
there by rail to Albany, thence by canal to 
Buffalo, by lakes to Milwaukee, where they 
took an o.\ team and finished the trip to 
Dane county. At tliat time the section of 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



595 



coniitry was but little improved, and most of 
the laud was owned by the Government. As 
there were no railroads Milwaukee was the 
nearest market. Our snl)ject continued his 
education at Madison and Evansville Acad- 
emy, and at the early age of twenty com- 
menced teaching. 

At the lirst call for volunteers he enlisted 
iu Company C, First Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry, served UTitil the expiration of his 
term, in September, 18(51, and then again en- 
listeil as Orderly Sergeant, in Company 15, 
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, but was soon 
transferred to Conipany I, and was promoted 
to Second Lieutenant, then First Lieutenanti 
and then Captain. The regiment participated 
in eleven difierent engagements, the most 
important of which was the siege of Vicks- 
burg. He was honorai)ly discharged at the 
close of the war, and returned home, resumed 
teachiuiT, and continued that calling until 
1879, when he abandoned teaching and en- 
gaged in farming. Lie is a Ilepubliean, and 
has always taken an active interest in politics. 
He is a demitted member of C. C. Washburn 
Post, No. 11, G. A. R. 

fL. W. NEWTON, the subject of this 
sketch, is engaged in the blacksmith 
^ trade iu the city of Madison, having 
established himself there in 1866, hence is 
one of theoldest men in his line in the city. 
For some years he was a member of the 
foundry iirm of Newton & Slater, having 
spent four years in a foundry in Wat<n'loo, 
Wisconsin, and one year in Lodi, Wisconsin. 
For some years the present business of general 
blacksmithing has continued under the firm 
name of Newton & Lyons, and they carry on 
a good business in this city. Our subject 



has been the patentee of a number of valu- 
able machines, being a good macliinist and a 
skilled workman. Mr. Newton reached the 
city of Madison, April 1-t, 1865, upon the day 
that President Liucciln was assassinatcid, and 
that year was spent in farming, but he later 
came back to Madison. 

The birth of Mr. Newton took place in 
Bradford county, Pennsylvatiia, January 5, 
1825, where he remained until he was twelve 
years of age, when he came witli his parents 
to Ohio, living in various counties in that 
State. lie had learned his trade in Louis- 
ville, Ohio, with B. H. Langley, becoming a 
practical machinist, and afterward conducting 
a machine shop in Ohio. lie was the tirst 
man to make tools for the oil companies in 
the State of Ohio. 

The marriage of Mr. Newton took place 
at Center township, GiuM-nsey county, Ohio, 
to Miss Catherine Woods. She was born 
near Washington, that State, coming West 
with her husband, and has bcten his true wife 
and helpmate for forty-seven yours. She 
has been the mother of seveti children, four 
of wliom are deceased: Nathaniel and Emma 
died young; Jjouisa lived to be twenty-seven 
years of age, and Edmond was near twenty 
when he was called away, lie was a bright 
and promising young man. The surviving 
children are: Martha A., who is the wife of 
1). S. Slater, and now lives in Chicago, as 
Mr. Slater is an engineer, and is employed on 
the World's Fair grounds; Amanda J. be- 
came the wife of Dr. L. S. Brown (see biog- 
raphy); Florence became the wife of Asa 
Brown, a contractor and builder in Milwau- 
kee; Mr. and Mrs. Newton have been mem- 
bers of the Congregational Cliurch for the 
past forty years. lie is a very ])rominent 
Ke[)ublican, taking an active part in local 
affairs. ilis usefulness has been recognized 



596 



Bi OUHArii 1 UAJj HEy 1 h w ot 



and he is now serving the city as Aldernoan 
of tlie Second Ward for the third term-, being 
also a member of the leading committees 
and President of the Board of Healtli. 

While living in Ohio, our subject displayed 
his military mettle, by becoming Captain of 
a company of State militia, and had the com- 
mand of a regiment for some time, and for 
twenty-three days engaged in opposing Mor- 
gan's raid in that State. lie had been offered 
a captaincy three times in the regular service 
but was notable to accept on account of ill 
health in his family. Mr. Kewton is a man 
very well known in his neighborhood, and 
most highly esteemed through the city. His 
genial, pleasant manner makes friends of 
all with whom he comes in contact. 

[ALTER C. NOE, the secretary and a 
director of tiie Fuller & Johnson 
Manufacturing Company, of the city 
of Madison, is the subject of the present 
sketch. He has held his present position 
since the business was started in 1883. He 
was formerly secretary of the old company 
from which this one was formed, which was 
known as the Madison Plow Company. Mr. 
Noe was one of the promoters and incorpora- 
tors, as well as secretary of the old Madison 
Plow Company while it was in existence un- 
der that name. The plow company was 
started in January, 1880, and the first presi- 
dent was Frank II. Firman. It has hail a 
steady growth since it started and em|)loys 
300 men, and is the leading manufactory of 
this kiixl in the State, having business both 
in the Northwest as well as in the South- 
west. 

Mr. Noe, of this notice, came to the city 
of Madison in 1876 and in the fall of that 




year he started the business of plow manu- 
facturing under the hrm name of the Billinir 
& Xoe Plow Company, the former now de- 
ceased. It was continued until 1880, when 
the Madison Plow Company was incorporated. 
Mr. Noe came to this city from St. Louis, 
Missouri. He was born in the northern part 
of old Virginia, and was reared and educated 
in his native State, and came West when still 
a young man. 

His father, Crowel Noe, was a native of 
Vermont and came of French ancestry. He 
had grown up in his native State, where he 
became a contractor and then went to Vir- 
ginia, where he married Miss Mary Spauld- 
ing, who was born and reared in Maryland, 
and whose ancestry is the same as that of 
Bishop Spaiilding. Mr. and Mrs. Noe lived 
in Virginia, and there Mr. Noe died at the 
age of sixty-seven, but the mother of our 
subject came West a little later and died in 
Madison, Wisconsin, at about the age as was 
her husband. Both had been members of 
the Presbyterian Church. Our subject was 
one of six children, but he and one sister, 
Mrs. William Jameson, of St. Louis, are the 
only ones remaining. 

Mr. Noe was married in Madison, to Miss 
Jessie Bartlett, who was born reared and 
educateil in the city of Madison. Her par- 
ents came here from New England, and her 
father, Seth Bartlett. is yet living in this 
county, a farmer and is now quite on in 
years. Mr. and Mrs. Noe are members of 
the Episcopal Church, and Mr. Noe has been 
Alderman of the Second Ward of this city. 
He is a Democrat in politics and is quite de- 
cided in his views. Mr. and Mrs. Noe are 
the parents of four children, namely: Walter 
B., Roberta, Mary and Edgar. 



^^^ 



fj^®.^ 



::r<»- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



597 



P^A-LLECK K. Iv( )E, a successful farmer 
M\ of -Dane county, was bom on section 22, 
'W>i Pleasant Springs township, this county, 
December 10, 1847, a son of Knudt and 
Anna (Johnson) Halleckson, both born and 
reared in Norway. In 1840 they left their 
native country for the United States, locating 
first in La Salle county, Illinois, three years 
afterward went to Racine county, Wisonsin, 
and the following year, in 18-44, came to 
Dane county, this State. They were the 
parents of two sons and five daughters, and a 
sketch of our subject's only brother, (). K. Roe, 
will be found in this work. The father died 
in 1S73, and the mother still resides on the 
old homestead, aged seventy-five years. 

llalleck K. Roe received but few educa- 
tional advantages, and in early life began 
work on the farm. After the father's death 
the estate was divided between the two sons, 
our subject, being the eldest, received 160 
acres of land, and his brother 120 acres. 
Mr. Roe takes no active interest in politics, 
but votes with the Republican party. Re- 
ligiously, he is a member of the Lutheran 
Church. 

--^^^■'.^'^^^^/^^ 

fg||[ERNER IIILGERS, a farmer of 
jffl| Dane county, was born in C-rerniany, 
["^^y^ in 1840, a son of Casper Ililgers. 
The latter came to America in the spring of 
1867, and immediately began farming on 
200 acres of land purchased by his son, in 
Wisconsin, for which he paid $8, 000, paying 
$600 down. The land was under cultivation, 
but had poor buildings. In 1881 Mr. Hil- 
gers renced the farm to his son, and moved 
to Scott county, Minnesota, where he died in 
February, 1884, aged sixty-seven years. He 
left about $8,000 to his widow and nine liv- 



ing children. The mother still resides in 
that State, aged seventy-seven years. 

Werner Ililgers, the subject of this sketch, 
came from Liverpool to New York in 1805, 
at the age of twenty-five years, and imme- 
diately came to his present iioine in Spring- 
field township, Wisconsin. He was the first 
of the family to come to this country. He 
was married a few years aftei-ward, and they 
began life on her father's fanu, which they 
rented twelve years. Mr. Ililgers then 
rented his father's farm, and for the past 
three years has been working both farms, con- 
sisting of 350 acres. In 1888 lie purchased 
the Zeigler estate, consisting of 150 acres, 
for $5,000, which contained the same old 
hewed log house and barn he had helped 
build in 1872. lie is now erecting a new 
frame house, into which he will move as soon 
as completed. 

Mr. Ililgers was married in this county, 
in 1869, to Miss Christine Ziegler, who was 
born in Germany in 1848, and was brought 
to this country by her father, John Ziegler, 
in 1852. They have had twelve children: 
Mary, deceased in infancy; Casper, aged 
twenty-three years, married Lena Acker; 
John, aged nineteen years; Mary, seventeen 
years; Theodore, fifteen years; Martin, thir- 
teen years; Katie, eleven years; Matthew, 
ten years; Adeline, nine years; Lizzie, seven 
years; Peter, four years; and Anna, two years. 
The children have all received a good Ger- 
man education. Politically, Mr. Hilgers is 
a Democrat, and religiously, is a Catholic. 



C 



:^ 



K^ATHEW J. HOVEN, one of the 
leading butchers, packers and dealers 
in live-stock, is operating two mar- 
kets in the city of Madison. One of these 




598 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



markets, the Second Ward market is located 
at the corner of Ilamilton and Miftin streets 
and the other at the corner of State and Gra- 
ham streets. These markets give employ- 
ment to ten men all of the time and are con- 
sidered to be two of the best markets in the 
city. The Second Ward market has been in 
existence for the past twenty years and about 
six years ago he started his other one. Mr. 
Iloven has been engaged in this business 
ever since he came to Madison, in 1868. 

Our subject is a German by birth, having 
been born near the river Rhine, not far from 
the famous Cologne, in 1845, June 9. lie 
grew up in his native land and learned the 
trade he has since so successfully ])ursued in 
this country. He was yet a young man 
when he left the homo of his childhood to 
cross the great ocean. Mr. Hoven came di 
rectly to Madison upon liuiding, and was 
about tweiitv-one wlicn he beinin work at liis 
trade witlun iier limits. 

Mr. Hoven is a son of Peter and Annie 
(Esser) Hoven, both born, reared and mar- 
ried on the Rhine, not far from Cologne. 
These two old people are still living in the 
home of their childhood, hale, active people, 
members of the Catholic Church, witii which 
they have been connected all their lives. 
The father has been engaofed in the raanu- 
facture of wagons for many years. Our sub- 
ject is the only member of his family who came 
to the United States. Two brothers, Rem- 
iiardt and John, botii yet live in Germany. 
Tliey are both married and the former fol- 
lows the same trade as our subject, tiie latter 
has sncceeded to his father's trade. 

(3ur sulijeut was married in Madison, to 
Miss Meiinda Statz, who was reared and edu- 
cated near ('oloujiie, Germany, and came to 
the United States witii her parents, William 
and Maggie (Fischer) Statz, who settled on a 



farm in Bering township, Dane county, 
where they are now residing, the father aged 
seventy-six, while his wife numbers seventy- 
three years. They are members of the Cath- 
olic Church, of which our subject and wife 
are also members. Mr. Hoven has served as 
an Alderman of the city for four years and 
two years of that time was the presiding 
officer of the Council. 

Mr. Hoven is a member of the K. of P. 
Madison Lodge Xo. 12, in which he has filled 
the office of Treasurer. He is also a mem- 
berof the Maennerchor and other local orders. 

Mr. and Mrs. Iloven are the parents of 
five children, as follows: Rachel, Mamie, 
Lucy, Elizabeth, and Joseph. 

r^mRS. CORNELIA I'YBURX, the 
widow ofThoinasPyburn.a tiioroui^h- 
^^ going farmer, of Sun Prairie, Wis- 
consin, is living on section 24. Mr. Pyburu 
died, February 22, 1890. His father had been 
a native of Ireland. The father and mother 
of Mrs. Pyburn were born in New York 
State. For about fifteen years Mr. Pyburn, 
followed a scnifaring life and was captain of 
a vessel on the Atlantic Ocean. The father 
and mother came to Wisconsin about fifty 
years ago, from New York and located in 
Ozaukee county. They came via Erie canal 
and the lakes to Milwaukee and from there 
with ox teams to tlie place of settlement, 
requiring about four days to make the last 
part of the trip. He was the first farmer 
that had a horse team. At that time the 
country was heavily timbered, of which he 
secured eighty acres, unimproved. Tliere he 
built a log house and commenced to make a 
home and cleared oft" fifteen acres, cutting 
andbui-ning up tlie logs as timber which then 




DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



509 



had no value. The country soon became 
settled and at this time the wilderness was 
turned into a prosperous coinninnity. Captain 
Thomas oon tinned in the original house and 
then sold the plaee and moved to Saginaw 
county, Michigan, where ho bought an 
improved farm and died about five years 
after and the family still occupy the place. 

Mr. Pylmrn''s fatiier came here from 
Ireland after the death on his first wife, set- 
tled on a farm near Milwaukee, from there 
moved to Ozaukee county, tiience to Calumet 
county and lived there on the interest of his 
money until his death. 

Captain and Mrs. Thomas were the parents 
of four children, namely: Theodora, Henrietta, 
Cornelia and Mathew J., and three of these 
are yet living. 

Mr. Pyburn was born in Ireland and came 
to this country with his father when four 
years old. lie remained with him until 
twenty-two, attended the district school and 
passed his youth on the farm. Mrs. Pyburn 
were married, December 24, 1863, in Ozaukee 
county and remained at her father's home 
for one year, then Mr. Pyburn etdisted in 
Company G, First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery 
for two years of the war, Init only had nine 
month of service. He returned and settled 
on his f'M'm in Ozaukee county, wherti they 
continued about twenty years. They then 
sold out and removed to liacine, Wisconsin, 
where they bought twenty acres of land and 
a house and lot in town and there they lived 
nearly three years, then sold and moved to 
Dane county to the present location of Mrs. 
Pyburn. Here they bought seventy-eight 
acres, upon which was a nice house, also 
fences and improvements. Mr. Pyburn 
improved the place still further, but died in 
1890, am' new rests in the Pierceville ceme- 
tery. This union was l)lessed witli seven 



children, all of whom are living, namely: 
Frank, married, works at blacksmithing at 
C'olumbus; Thomas lives on the homestead; 
John works a farm near, as also does William; 
Anne married Jolm Harlaiid, in Dane 
county; James and Eddie are at home. All 
of the children endeavor to keep together 
near home and always take dinner with their 
mother on Sunday. The entire family seem 
very much attached to each other. She has 
managed the farm very successfully, is a cap- 
able, intelligent lady, and one who is most 
iiighly respected in the neighborhood. Her 
theory is that children should be taught to 
work and know somethinir of the duties of 
life. She has been a kind and indulgent 
parent and has reared her children to be 
useful members of society and this is a 
pleasant family, where the children delight 
in honoring their mother. 

lUrCTOR E. PECK, projirietor of the 
West Madison Hotel, of Madison, was 
born in Genesee county. New York, 
April 25, 1827. IHs great-grandfather was 
one of three brothers born in England, and 
came to America in Colonial times. He 
was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His 
son, Ebenezer Peck, removed from Vermont 
to Genesee county. New York, and s])ent 
the remainder of his days on a farm in Mid- 
dlebury township. His son, Ebenezer Peck, 
and the father of our subject, was l)orn in 
Shoreham, Addison county, Vermont, in 
1804. When quite young he removed with 
his parents to New York, where he was 
reared and educated. la 1827 he returned 
to his native State, was employed as clerk in 
Mid.lleton, and February 24, 1829, was 
uniteil in marriaore with Rosaline Willard. 



600 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



After luarriage he was engaged in farming 
on his father-in-law's farm in Vermont three 
years, and then settled on his father's farm. 
Previous to his marriage Mr. Peck had trav- 
eled in the Western country, and in 1835 he 
came to the then Territory of Wisconsin, in 
company with his two brothers, Stephen and 
John ^lullett. At that time AVisconsin was 
a wilderness, inhabited by Indians and wild 
animals, and not a house marked the now 
prosperous city of Madison. After farming 
here about one year he returned to New York 
for his wife and infant son, and they then 
made an overland journey to Blue Mound, 
Wisconsin. The family remained there until 
April 13 of the same year, and then started 
with teams, Mrs. Peck riding an Indian pony. 
The following is taken from Mrs. Peck's ac- 
count of the journey: '>We traveled about 
seven miles where some person had made a 
claim, and had laid about live rounds of logs 
for a cabin. We camped therein that night, 
with a tent over us. The ne.\t day, the 14th, 
we pushed on. A more pleasant day I never 
wish to see, but 1 had a severe headache be- 
fore night. We pitched our tent on a little 
rise of ground within three miles of Madison, 
spread down our beds, and rested comforta- 
bly until near three o'clock Saturday morn- 
ing, when we were awakened by a tremendous 
wind-storm and howling of wolves. We 
found snow five or si.x inches deep, which 
continued to fall until after we arrived in 
Madison. 

"Well now, here we are at Madison, on 
the 15th, sittinc in a wagon under a tree 
with a bed(iuilt tlirowii over my arm and 
my little boy's head, in a tremendous storm 
of snow and sleet, twenty-five miles from 
any inhabitants. On one side Blue Mound, 
and on the other, 100 miles distant, Milwau- 
kee. What is to be done? Go into the 



buildings with no floors laid, and nothing 
but great sleepers laid across to walk on ? 
Xo: I must have the buildings plastered with 
lime, and floors laid. Only one sawmill in 
the Territory, and that away np in the Wis- 
consin pinery and not completed. Of course 
no lumber; but there lies a pile of puncheons. 
Just build me a pen under this tree, move in 
my stove and we will crawl in there. Sure 
enough, we soon had it completed, and a fire 
built." 

Mr. Peck, the father of our subject, was 
soon elected County Commissioner and Jus- 
tice of the Peace. In 1842 he again started 
westward, and settled in that part of the Bar- 
aboo valley near Milwaukee, in Sauk county, 
where he was among the pioneer settlers, 
lie assisted in the organization of the county, 
located tlie county seat at Baraboo, and se- 
cured a tract of Government land. In 1849 
he started with ox teams for California, and 
the last heard of him was at Port Laramie. 
The mother is still living in Baraboo. Their 
daughter, Victoria Wisconsin, was the first 
white child born in that city. This was a 
great event in the new settlement, and a 
committee convened, of which Governor 
Doty was a member, to name the child, and 
the name Victoria Wisconsin was selected. 
She married Mr. Wheeler, and still resides in 
Baraboo. 

Victor E. Peck, the subject of this sketch, 
was reared to farm life. There was no rail- 
road in Sauk county, for a number of years 
after the family settled there, and for a num- 
ber of years he was engaged in teaming from 
Baraboo to Madison and other points. In 
18(52 he enlisted for the late war, in Company 
D, Third Wisconsin Cavalry. The regiment 
was organized at Janesville, and ordered to 
Fort Leavenworth, where the battalion was 
divided into four parts. Mr. Peek was 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



601 



breveted First Lieutenant, and placed in 
cliarije of one of the divisions, wliii^li !k^ 
coiumatided about tliree years. After return- 
incr home he was engaged in farininir for a 
time. In 1873 Im tooic charge of the Clii- 
cago. Milwaukee it St. Paul Railroad em- 
ployes' dininii; hall at Milwaukee, wliere lie 
remained until 188-i, with the exception of 
one year spent in Colorado. In that year he 
took charge of the emjiloyes' hotel in Madi- 
son, where he has ever since continued. He 
was married in 1879, to Mary E. Oary, and 
they have one daugiiter, Rul)y C. Tiie fam- 
ily are members of the Episcopal Church. 



-^^^^i^^i<-^i^:^ 



fAMES McCONNELL, one of the repre- 
sentative citizens of Dane county, AVis- 
"1^ consin, was horn in county Antrim. 
Ireland, December 32, 1810, a son of William 
and Sarah (Armstrong) McCounell, also na- 
tives of Ireland. The father was engaged in 
farmini;-, both in his native country and in 
America, and both he and his wife are now 
deceased. 

James McConnell, one of eight children, 
live sons and three dau<i;hters, came to Amer- 
ica at the age of three years, locating in 
Philadelphia. He received a good education, 
and at the age of seventeen years began 
driviiiu; a stage from Pittsburg to Erie, Penn- 
sylvania, which he continued seven years. 
He was then en<ra<'eil in freiirhtintf one vpar. 
In 1853 Mr. McConnell bought 160 acres of 
land of section 7, Pleasant Spring township, 
thirty-five acres of which was inijyi'oved. His 
faniily followed him to this State the next 
year. Politically, he affiliates with the lie- 
publican party, and religiously, the family 
are members of the Methodist Cliurch. 

Our subject was married at Hutler, Penn- 



sylvania, in 1889, to Salina Bean, who was 
horn in Mercer (U)unty, that State, Novem- 
ber 27, 1812, a dauirjiter of Robert and 
Elizabeth Bean, also natives of Pennsylvania. 
The father was a farmer and carpenter by oc- 
cupation, served as Postmaster of (Treeiiville, 
Pennsyhania, and botli he and his brother 
were si)i<liers in the war i>f 1S12. Mrs. Mc- 
Connell is the sec.ond of nine childrc^n. Two 
of her brothers r(^sidi> in Iowa, and one in 
Mercer county, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. 
McConnell have had six children, viz.: Rol)- 
ei't, a farmer of V^erona township, Dane 
county; William, who served in the Twenty- 
third Wisconsin Regiment and died while in 
the service of his country, in Tennessee; 
James, who has charge of the home farm; 
Sarah Elizabeth, wife of Albert Watkins, of 
Columbia, Wisconsin; Mary, now Mrs. IJcii- 
janiiu P^dwards, of Verona township, and 
Anna, wife of ('liarles Moon, of Dunn town- 
ship. 

.lames M('(Ji)niu'll, Jr., was boni SeptcMu- 
ber 14, 1850, in AllejjjIuMiy county, Pennsyl- 
vania; received a ujood education and learned 
he carpenters' t raile, at which he workt>d a 
number of years. At the age of twenty- 
seven veai-s he took charife of the old home- 
Stead, where he is engaijed in genera! farm- 
iniif and stock-raising. He affiliates wiih the 
Republican party, ami has served as I'own- 
ship Clerk two terms. November 21), 1879, 
he was united in marriaLije with Bertha Moon, 
of Dunn to\vnshi|>, and they have three 
children: Wilber C, Orin Stanton and 
Bessie May. 



^-*J- 



-e^€^ 



ijr^o^DWARD T. OWEN, of Madison, Wis- 
"iSL consin, was born at Hartford, Connecti- 
cut, March, -I, 18r)0, a son of Elijah II. 
and S\isan (^I'oardman) Owen. The mother 



603 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



was born, reared and educated in that city, 
where she was a pupil at the Catherine 
Beecher School. Tiie father was l)orn in 
Berkshire county, Massachusetts; was edu- 
cated in the public schools of that county, 
where he afterward taught, and was a mer- 
chant by occupation. 

Edward T. Owen, the youngest of five cliil- 
dren, Graduated at Yale College in 1872; 
spent two years at the University of Gottingen, 
Hanover, Germany, one year at the University 
of Paris, France, and one year at New Haven, 
Connecticut, where he took the literary, his- 
torical, physiological and linguistic course. 
He was called to the University of "Wiscon- 
sin in April, 1878, to fill temporarily the 
place of Dr. Farling. a professor of German 
and French. In 1879 he was appointed Pro- 
fessor of French language and literature; 
and in 1886 was elected to the same position 
in the University of California, at Berkeley, 
where he served one year on leave of absence 
from the Wisconsin University. In 1887 
Mr. Owen resumed his former place, where 
he has since remained, and for a number of 
years has also interested him.self in real es- 
tate. For the past fifteen years, by way of 
recreation, he engaged himself in the collec- 
tion of lithodoctra, at present located in one 
of the university buildings, and is designed 
to form a part of the university collection. In 
connection with Prof. Pasha of the Univer- 
sity of California, he donated sixty volumes 
of French classics and eighty of the French 
lan-'uage for the use of the students, pub- 
lished by Henry Holt, of New York. On 
Ills return from California ho ably introduced 
the elementary course in Spanish and Italian. 

Mr. Owen was married April 11, 1884, to 
Emma B. Pratt, a native of JJrooklyn, N. Y., 
and a daughter of Henry C. Pratt, a publisher 
of Hartford, Connecticut. A. S. Barnes, of 



the firm of A. S. Barnes & Co., was a clerk in 
his store. Mrs. Owen was educated at the 
Kenney School, of Elizabeth, New Jersey. 
Our subject and wife have had four children: 
Eniily, Gladden, Ethel and Cornelia. The 
two youngest died in 1890, at the ages of 
fourteen and ten years. 

llEDERICK LUCHSINGER, proprie- 
tor of Belleville mills, and a prominent 
"^p" farmer of Dane connty, Wisconsin, be- 
came a resident of the connty in 1885, and 
was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 
March 14, 1847, being a son of John and 
Barbara (Wild) Luchsii.ger, who were natives 
of Switzerland, where they were married, atid 
ill 1845 came to the United States, first lo- 
cating at Syracuse, New York, later locating 
at Philadelphia, until 185G, when he came to 
Wisconsin, settling in New Glarus township. 
Green county, and tliere the parents of our 
subject passed their last days, the father dying 
in 1863, at the age of fifty-two, and the mother 
in 1868, aged fifty-eight. 

The fatlier by occupation was a stonemason, 
a trade which he followed durinif life, al- 
though he became the owner of 200 acres 
of land. Both parents were members of the 
German Reformeil Church. They reared a 
family of nine children, eight of whom gi'cw 
to maturity: Nicholas is a fruit-grower in 
New Jersey, located across the Delaware river 
from Philadelphia, although he did not leave 
Wisconsin until 1892; Ursula married George 
Dittman, and resides in Philadelphia; Sabilla 
married John Ritter, of Philadelphia; Samuel 
became a California fruit-grower, and resides 
in San Jose; John is a lawyer of Monroe, 
Wisconsin; Barbara married Jacob Burgy, 
and resides in Washington, Green county, 



i)A.\'h' cor XT r, WISCONSIN: 



GOS 



Wisconsin; Catherine married Matiiias Suessy 
of New Glarus, "Wisconsin; ami (_)ur subject. 

Our suljject was bnt nine years of age 
wljen the family came to Wi8c(jnsin, and lie 
there assisted on the farm, and attended tlie 
common schools. He was married in 1S(')9 
to Miss Magdelena Dnerst, dauf^hter of John 
K. and I'arbara Duerst, born in New (irlarns, 
Wisconsin, in 1852, her parents having set- 
tled in 1847 in Green county. After mar- 
riage our subject became the owner of the 
home farm of 293 acres, and tilled it until 
he came to Belleville. After coming here 
he purciiased his farm of ninety-five acres in 
the limits of Ltelleville, and in the fall of 
1891 he purchased the Belleville mills. How- 
ever, he still owns his farm in Green county. 

The mills of which our subject is the pro- 
prietor, form one of the most valuable in- 
dustries of the place. 

Our subject and wife have had a family of 
nine children, as follows: Barbara; John, a 
telegraph operator: Fred, Robert. Maggie, 
Carrie, Mary, Daisy and Minnie. In politics 
he is a Ilepublican, and is a Supervisor of 
Belleville. In his religions connection he is 
a member of the German Reformed ('hurcli. 



.LEXA^'DER HAMILTON MAIN, an 
influential and prominent citizen of 
^^ Madison, was l>orn in Tlainfield. Otsego 
county, New York, June 22. 1824, and is 
the oldest son of Alfretl and Semantha 
(Stillman) Main. (See sketch of Willett S. 
Main.) 

Mr. Main was only nine years old when 
his parents moved to Allegany county. New 
York, and as it was before there were any 
railroads, the trip was made with one pair of 



horses and u lumber wagon. They took all 
their earthly possessions with them. Ale.\- 
ander attended school in the new country, 
and then latei- attended school at Alfred 
Academy. At the age of eighteen he taught 
school for one term, and then began the 
study of law. The lawyer with whom he 
studied, after one year, engaged in mei'chan- 
dising, and Mr. Main clerked for him. He 
clerked in Cuba and Little Genesee for four 
■years, and then encased in merchandisino; on 
his own account at Little Genesee, where he 
continued until 185C, when he sold out and 
came to Madison, Wisconsin, and engaged in 
niercliandising with his bi-other Willett until 
1860, when he removed to Sun Prairie and 
engaged in the same business, also acting as 
cashier of Sun Brairie Bank until 1862, 
when he returned to Madison, and soon after 
entered the insurance business, in which he 
has continued ever since, and now represents 
many of the largest American companies. 
Since 1882 he has been State agent for the 
Gei-man American Insurance Company of 
New York. Mr. Main has been twice mar- 
ried, the first time to Mary M. Cottrell, who 
was born in Cortland county. New York, 
daughter of John B. and Eunice Cottrell. 
This marriage occurred in September, 1852, 
and Mrs. ]\[ain died February, 1862. In 
September, 1863, he was mai'ried to Emma 
L. C'ottrell, sister of his first wife. Mr. Main 
has one child. Willett, l)y his first marriage, 
and the following by his second marriage: 
George C. Edward S.. Mary II., Royal C. 
and F'annie. ]\Ir. and Mrs. Main are mem- 
bers of the Baptist Church of Madison, Wis- 
consin. He cast his first vote for President 
for Martin Van Buren, the candidate of the 
Free Soil party, in 1848. He has been a 
member of the fiepul)lican party since its 
oriianization. In 1855 he was elected to the 



604 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



Legislature of New York by the liepubli- 
cans, and was the first member of that part}' 
elected in Allegany county. This was the 
Legislature that voted for the long-drawn 
contest over the speakership, resulting in the 
election of Lucius Robinson by a combina- 
tion of soft-shell Democrats an<l Republi- 
cans. From 1862 to 1878 he was Deputy 
Assessor and Deputy Collector of Internal 
Revenuein the Second District of Wisconsin. 



¥. 1IARR1:NGTUX, M. D., a promi- 
nent and well-known clairvoyant 
^^ physician of the city of Madison, has 
been located in this city since 1872, and 
has built up a reputation for proficiency, both 
in clairvoyancy and medicine. 

Dr. Harrington is a native of tlic Domin- 
ion of Canada, having been born in Prince 
Edward county, where he grew up. When 
only seven years old he began to be interested 
in the subject of clairvoyancy, as he at that 
early age was impressed with the power in 
that dirtctioti. When still a young boy lie 
made his way to the United States, and as he 
was very poor he had but a limited oppor- 
tunity for securing an education, but as he 
has always been a close student, he long ago 
remedied that deficiency. This power that 
was so early manifested soon developed into 
an infiuencethat was felt by all who came to 
him for assistance. In time, so great was 
the demand upon his skill, he established 
himself as a clairvo^'ant physician, and his 
aid is sought all over the United States, Can- 
ada, and even Europe sends forth her cry for 
his assistance. Very few indeed are the cases 
that refuse to be subdued by his magnetic 
power. All the diseases that " tiesh is heir 
too" succumb to him, and his practice is be- 



coming so large as to demand all his atten- 
tion, and it is steadily increasing. Of course, 
like any other person, who posesses such a 
power, Dr. Harrington is exposed to the 
jibes of the unbelieving, but the thousands 
of persons, from the best families who have 
been assisted by the Doctor in Wisconsin 
alone, attest to his power and magnetic in- 
fluence, and the number of scoffers is daily 
becoming less.' At times the Doctor travels 
by special car to those cases which require 
his personal attendance. His practice now 
exceeds §10,000 a year, and is daily increas- 
ing. Thousands of letters l)earing testimony 
to his wonderful power and skill pour in 
upon him. 

Dr. Harrington was married in this county 
to a lady. Miss Fannie Baker, who was a 
native of Dane county. She is an intellect- 
ual and intelligent lady, whose family ranks 
among the best in the State. She is the 
mother of three bright, interesting children, 
namely: Clarence E., educated in the city 
schools, aged nineteen; Charles, aged fifteen, 
in the high school; and Florence, a bright 
and accomplished child of eleven. 

Our subject is the owner of a good farm 
in Fitchburg township, where he first located 
upon coming to Wisconsin in lSfi8. In ad- 
dition, he also possesses other land, and is a 
wealthy and influential man. He thoroughly 
believes in his profession, and would scorn to 
employ any assistance from frauds of any 
kind. His power has been bestowed upon him 
from on high, and is genuine beyond a doubt. 

~-^"J-|'*- 



Oll.N D. HAYES, Alderman from the 
I'ifth Ward, and a well-known horsc- 
^ hliuer of the city of Madison, where he 
has been enjjaged in that calling ever since 
he learned the trade, fourteen years ago, is 



<l\ 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



f)05 



the popular subject of this sketch. Mr. 
Hayes learned his trade under Anthony Don- 
ovan, now the prominent Municipal Judge of 
Madison. After learninir his trade he was a 
rnendjer of the firm, Donovan iz, Hayes, for 
three years, after whicii Mr. Hayes became 
sole proprietor of the business in 1889. He 
is a skilled workman, and has a p;ood reputa- 
tion as a o'ood mechanic. In his business he 
em] Joys one helper, otherwise he attends to 
all the business himself. 

Onr subject is a native son of the soil, hav- 
ing been born here June 3, 1859. "Mr. 
Hayes was reared in the city of iiis birth, and 
received his education in the public schools 
until he was twenty, when he began to learn 
the trade he lias since followed. He is an 
active young man, taking an active part in 
the affairs calculated to benefit the city. Mr 
Hayes was elected to the office of Alderman 
on the Democratic ticket two years ago, and 
is a firm supporter of his party. 

Mr. Hayes is the son of Dennis Hayes, a 
native of Limerick, Ireland, born of Irish 
parents. His father spent his boyhood in ids 
native city, where he learned the trade of 
tailor, and in 1842 came to the United States 
on a sailing vessel. After landing in New 
York he remained for a short time in Massa- 
chusetts, but later made his way to Madison, 
Wisconsin, where he engaged as a bench 
tailor journeyman, and remained in this po- 
sition until his death, which occurred in 
1862, when he was aged sixty-two. His 
wife, Ann McOormick, a native of county 
Tipjierary, Ireland, came to the ITnited States 
about the same time as her husband, whom 
she afterward married in Madison. She died 
in Madison in 1891, aged seventy years. 
They had been members all their lives of the 
Roman Oatholic Church, being among the 
first members of the Catholic Church in 

40 



Madison, that they helped to build by con- 
tributing funds. Tiiey were honest, good 
people, who fully deserved the respect and 
esteem of all who knew them. Cur suiiject 
is the youngest in a family of three boys and 
one girl, namely: Patrick, died at the age 
of twenty- three, single; James, a night yard 
man on the St. Paul & Milwaukee railroad of 
Madison, married Anna Ingleberger; Mar- 
garet, wife of Frank liradford, railroad con- 
iluctor on the St. l^lul railroad; and our sub- 
ject. 

Mr. Hayes was marriei] in Madison to Miss 
Mary Barry, boi-n, reared and educated in 
Madison, daughter of Peter and Mary 
(Naughton) Barry, natives respectively of 
counties Limerick and Tippurary, Ireland, 
they were young people when they came to 
the United States, and were married in Mad- 
ison, and here the mother of Mrs. Hayes died 
about 1806, when only in middle life. Mr. 
Barry still resides in Madison at the age of 
seventv-one. He has been a general mer- 
chant for many years. Both he and his 
wife were ardent and devout Catholics. Mr. 
and Mrs. Hayes are the parents of three chil- 
dren, namely: Mary P., Martha J. and John 
B. Mr. and Mrs. Ila^'es are stanch members 
of the Catholic Church, and are highly re- 
spected members of society. 



^ 



> 



jEORGE M. NICHOLS, a prominent 
resident of Blooming Grove township, 
Wisconsin, is the subject of this short 
sketch. He was born in Nassau, Rensselaer 
county. Now York, June 1, 1805, and ids 
father, John, was born in Connecticut, and 
the o-randfather, as far as known, was a na- 
tive of the same State. He was a farmer by 
occupation and spent his last days in Reus- 



(iO« 



BIOORAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



selaer county, New York. When John 
Nichols went to New York he was a young 
inai), Imving been reared on a farm, although 
lie was a natural mechanic. When the first 
threshing machine was introduced into his 
neighborhood he examined it a few hours and 
then built one just like it. Buying a tract 
of land in Nassau he remained upon it for a 
few years, hut in 180(3 here moved into Cay- 
no-a county, bought land near Auburn, 
where he lived for many years. 

John Nichols spent his last days with a 
dauifhter near Rochester. Ue was one of 
the few remaining Revolutionary soldiers, 
and as such was entitled to a pension, but 
never applied, saying that he could live with- 
out it, dying in his ninety-ninth year. The 
maiden name of the mother of our subject 
was Sarah (Sorbin, born in New Hampshire, 
dauirhter of Asa Corbin. who died near 
Rochester, New York, at the age of sixty 
years. She reared eight children, two of 
these now living. 

Our subject was an infant when his par- 
ents moved to western New York. For years 
after the family removed there there were no 
railroads nor even canals, and Albany was 
170 miles distant, and that was the nearest 
market and depot for supplies. lie was 
reared on the farm where he resided until 
he was twenty-one years of age. Previous 
to this he had worked in carding mills, but 
later bought a farm in Cayuga county, but 
as his nieans were limited lie was obliged to 
go into debt for the farm. An opportunity 
soon occurred to sell at an advanced price, 
and in 1832 he went to the Territory of 
Michigan. This was at the time of tiie 
Black Hawk war and he was in Detroit at 
the time General Scott, with his army, landed 
on the scene of strife. 

Mr. Nichols located one-half way between 



Marshall and Kalamazoo. At that time the 
country was sparsely settled and much of the 
land belonged to the Government, being sold 
for §1.25 per acre. Deer, bear and wild 
turkey were plentiful, and here our subject 
built a log cabin and commenced to improve 
the place. There were no railroads then and 
Detroit furnished the pioneers a market for 
their produce. Our subject was one of 
those who voted for the Constitution of the 
State of Michigan and lived there until 1842, 
then emigrated to the Territory of Wiscon- 
sin. Ue sent the hired man with tw'o yoke 
of oxen and the household goods on to Chi- 
cago and himself and wife took the stage for 
St. Josepb, tiience to Chicago l)y lake, where 
they met the teams and went on to Dane 
county, where they located in wliat is now 
the town of Burke. 

At this place our subject took up a section 
of Government hind, where there was a log 
house, which had been built by a squatter, 
and into this family moved, and lived there 
for two years, when he built a better house. 
For some yeai-s after settlement here deer 
and all other kinds of game were yet abun- 
dant, lie was obliged to draw all of his 
produce to Milwaukee and the rouml tri|) 
would take a week. At that time he sold 
his wheat for fifty cents a bushel and the ho- 
tels on the way charged tifty cents for sup- 
per, lodging and breakfast for themselves and 
horses, and in Milwaukee the charge for the 
same accommodations was sixty cents. lie 
usually arranged to draw back a load of mer- 
chandise, receiving from this §1 per hundred 
pounds. 

Our subject improved the fann in Burke 
and lived there for ele\en years, when he 
sold it and bought in the town of Bk)oming 
Grove, the southeast quarter of section 17, 
and there resided some twenty-five years. 



BANE COUNT}', WISOONSIN. 



OUT 



then trading for the farm, where lie now re- 
sides, in section 20. In 1883 lie became in- 
terested in Florida lands and now owns an 
orange grove in Lake county, where he 
spends his winters. 

In 1835 our subject was married to Miss 
Mary Cressey, born in Cayuga county. New 
York, but she died in 1836, 'leaving an infant 
son, William, who died in his eiujhteenth 
year. In 1837 our subject was married to 
Miss Philantha Rowley, living in Austerlitz, 
Columbia county, New York, born there 
June 12, 1819. Her father, Alexander Row- 
ley, was born in the same town, and his fa- 
tlier, Daniel Rowley, was born in the same 
State. He was a farmer, who spent his last 
years in Austerlitz. The maiden name of 
the grandmother of Mrs. Nichols was Rachel 
Margown, of the same State, and she spent 
her entire life in that place. The father had 
learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, 
wdiich he followed until 1841, when he emi- 
grated to Michigan, accompanied by his wife 
and five chiWren, via the Erie canal to lUif- 
falo, thence by lake to Detroit, and then by 
team to Kalamazoo county. Some fifteen 
miles fi'om Kalamazoo he purchased a tract 
of land and superintended the improvement 
(if it wliile he followed his trade, and he died 
in that place. The maiden name of the 
mother of our subject was Miss Amy Spen- 
cer, born in the same State, the daughter of 
David Spencer, and she died on the farm in 
Kalamazoo county. 

Mr. and Mrs. Nichols have one daughter 
living, Marian, who married Charles Iloyt, a 
farmer of Blooming Grove township. A 
son, Louis, born November 10, 1858, died 
July 5, 1892; another son, George E., the 
eldest of the family, born Septembers, 1840, 
served in the late war, in Company J, Twen- 
ty-third Regiment, Wisconsin V\)lunteer In- 



fantry, and died while in the service, in his 
twenty-second year. Formerly our suljject 
was a Whig in Ids politics, and during the 
late war was a Democrat, but latterly his 
views have changed, and he is now a Repub- 
lican. 

M'OHN TURK, one of the prosperous and 
"':*:[ enterprising farmers of Black Barth 
-fi township, was born in Kent county, near 
London, England, August 29, 1817, son of 
Samuel Turk, also a native of Kent county. 
The father was a farmer by occupation, and 
five children were born to his first marriage. 
When our subject was only a year old his 
mother died, and later the father remarried, 
and the second wife took the jjlace of the de- 
parted mother to the little step-children 
jilaced under her charge, making no differ- 
ence between them and the three children 
she l)ore'her husband. The father died many 
years ago, some time after his son, our sub- 
ject, came to this country. 

John Turk did not receive a good educa- 
tion, as various duties prevented him em- 
bracing sucli opportunities as were offei-ed. 
He remained with his fathei- until twenty 
years of age, and in 1842 he left home to 
make his fortune in the New World. Sail- 
ing from London, after a voyage of Ax 
weeks he landed in New York, July 21. He 
stopped at Albany, where he remained in tlie 
brewery business for eleven years, working 
for U. Biort, at the end of whicij period he 
came to look at the tine lands in Wisconsin. 
In 1851 he bought his place here. His 
brothers, James and Charles, iiad come to the 
State in 1843, locating upon a farm in Dane 
county, and in 1843 our subject came here 
with his brothers, and on his farm made the 
most of the improvements foi' himself. 



608 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



Tlie iiiairiacre of Mr. Turk took place in 
the fall of 1854-, at Black Earth, with Miss 
Augusta Osley, who was born in Lincoln- 
shire, England, coming here when a girl. 
They have had a family of eight children, 
but three of whom are now living. The 
names of the children were: Samuel, Will- 
iam, Fred, Hiram, "Willis and Francis, with 
those who died in infancy. Mrs. Turk died 
June 25, 1888. The sons are all farmers 
here in Black Earth township. Since he 
came here in 1853 he has not been engaged 
in agricultural pursuits. lie is a Kepublicaii 
in politics, and has been in several small 
offices in the township, which he has held 
with efficiency, lu his farming and stock- 
raisin'J- he has been very successful, and has 
raised a number of the finest horses in this 
neighborhood. Mr. Turk is an excellent 
citizen, one highly regarded. 

^ELLECK TOSTENSON, a farmer of 
Dane county, Wisconsin, was born in 
Christiana townsiiip, this county, Oc- 
tober 17, 1847, a son of Tosten Liverson and 
Christie Gunderson. The parents were born 
in Flesbcrg, Norway, where they were mar- 
riei] in the spring of 1842. They came to 
this township and county in October of the 
same year, purchasing 100 acres of land. 
There were but few improvements on the 
place, but before the father's death many 
substantial buildings told of his untiring 
energy and desire to make home what it 
should 1)6. His death occurred in Marcii, 
1857, and the mother still resides on the old 
homestead. They were the parents of seven 
children, three sons and four daughters, of 
whom our subject was tiie third child in order 
of birth. 



Helleck Tostenson was reared to farm life, 
and received only a limited education. After 
the father's death the eldest brother, Levi, 
was chosen administrator, and after the lat- 
ter's death, in 1873, our subject purchased 
the interests of the surving heirs to the 
homestead, where he has since made his home. 
In 1890 he sold 165 acres, formerly the home 
of a brother-in-law, and bought ninety acres 
on section 29, which he is now improving. 
Politically, Mr. Tostenson takes an active 
interest in the Democratic party, has held 
the office of Township Assessor two terms, 
and has served as Supervisor many terms. 
Religiously, he affiliates with the Lutheran 
Church. 



|ETER J. LOEHPtER, the genial pro- 
prietor of the Egg House of Wiscon- 
sin, located at 227 State street, where 
he has done business for eighteen months, is 
the subject of this sketch. He came to this 
city in 1889, and was connected with tiie 
iirm of J. J. Loehrer Brothers, proprietors 
of the Egg House for about two years. He 
became a partner in the livery business which 
has been run for some two years by the 
brothers. For many years our subject was a 
resident of Cross Plains township. Dane 
county, where he was engaged for some time, 
cultivating a good farm, having located there 
in 1852. He was successful in his business 
as a farmer and stock-raiser. Mr. Ldchrer 
was born in the Rhine province of Frises, 
Germany, November 8, 1842, and was only 
three years of age wlien his parents started 
for the United States, sailing from Antwerp, 
landing in New York city, after a voyage of 
forty-two days in a sailing vessel. They 
then came to Milwaukee, landing there July 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



609 



4, 1846, where they lived until 1852, when 
they came with a yoke of oxen, overland in 
a farm wagon to Ma<lison. where they arrived, 
July 4, 1S52. 

The father, William Loehrer purchased 
eighty acres of good land in Cross Plains 
township, lived there for some years, 
later came into Madison, and spent his re- 
maining years with his son, dying here, 
February 13, 1892, eighty-three years and 
three months old. He had been a successful 
farmer all his life, a good German-American 
citizen and was a man who was highly re- 
spected. His wife had died in this city at 
the home of our subject, Mai'ch 1, 1889, 
then eighty years of age. Both she and her 
husband had been members of the Roman 
Catholic Church. They were the parents of 
three sons and two daughters. One daugh- 
ter, Katherine, died, after her marriage to 
Herman Wallraff, who is also now deceased; 
(lertrude married Joseph, who has been the 
proprietor of an ice trade in Madison for 
many years, and she died Janvary9, 1898, at 
the of fifty-five years. Of their ten chil- 
dren there are only three now living: Katie, 
Minnie and Lena. Hubert, a brother of the 
subject of this sketch, married Suloma 
Schleck, and has si.\ children, of whom Will- 
iam, the eldest, is now attending the North- 
western Business College at Madison; Katie, 
married Charles E. H. Baer; and Gertie, 
Josie, John and Mary are at home with their 
parents. Mr. Schleck is a successful farmer 
and stock-raiser in the township of Cross 
Plains. Mr. Loehrer's sister, Minnie Bolligby, 
has eight children: Katie, Lizzie, Gertie, 
Salome, Hubert, Willie, Minnie and Mary; 
three of these daughters are married. 

Our subject is the third born in a family, 
all of whom are now married and have fami- 
lies. After he came to Cross Plains town- 



ship he grew up a farmer by trade and be- 
came of age in this cou!ity, and was married 
in Springfield township with Miss Mary Hil- 
gers, born in Germany, there reared and edu- 
cated, and was a young woman of eighteen 
years when she came to this country with 
her father. She was married about two 
years later. She has since been a true wife 
and good molher, has borne her husband ten 
children, two sons and eight daughters as 
follows: Katie J., at home; William J., a 
clerk in his father's iiotel; Annie, Gertrude 
J. and Christina J., at home assisting in the 
management of the hotel; Casper is being 
educated in St. Francis College, Milwaukee; 
Minnie, Jnlia, Saloma and Lena are at home. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Loehrer with all of the 
children are members of the Holy Redeemer 
Catholic Church. For eight years Mr. Loehrer 
has been Superintendent of his township. 
He is a sound Democrat. He and his fam- 
ily are widely known throughout the whole 
county, and are highly respected. 



4^ 



m^ 



^ 



AMUEL H. LONGFIELD, the prin- 
cipal of the firm of S. H. Longfield 
& Co., manufacturers of sash, doors, 
blinds and general planing mill supplies, is 
the subject of the present notice. He was 
born in Cottage Grove township, Dane 
county, Wisconsin, May 2, 1847, a son of 
John and Sarah (Hallerbush) Longfield. 
I^>oth of his parents were born and brought 
up in the State of Petnisylvania, his father 
being a carpenter, contractor and joiner by 
trade. He was one of the earliest settlers in 
Dane county, coming here in 1837, and in 
1839 he located in Madison. He had been 
one of the first settlers in the county, had 



610 



BIOORAPUICAL BE VIEW OF 



witnessed almost all of the wonderful growth 
that had taken place. 

There were four sons in the family: our 
subject, Jesse, John and Frank. The father 
died in 1881, hut the mother resides in 
Madison. The educational advantages of our 
subject were few, he attending the ward 
schools in the city after coming jiere, but 
not having any further opportunities. At 
the age of fourteen years he went to work, 
doing anything that came in his way. When 
sixteen years old he went with his father in 
the business and learned the trade of carpen- 
ter. His father had become one of the best 
contractors in Madison, and with him our 
subject continued until he had reached the 
age of maturity, and then began for lumself. 
For seventeen years he worked for wages at 
S1.50 to §1.75 per day. 

Our subject went into contracting about 
1884, doing many good jobs, being very ac- 
tive in his line of work. This year he had 
erected sixteen fine residences besides a 
number of business houses. At present he is 
senior partner in tiie linn of S. II. Longtield 
& Co., one of the important business interests 
of this city. The mill employs some times a 
great number of workmen, probably forty 
are in regular employment. The plant was 
purchased last year of Olson ifc Sayle. 

The marriages of our subject took place May 
12, 1876, to Margaret llines, of Madison, 
Wisconsin, and they have a family of five 
children, namely: Genevieve, Freddie, Annie, 
Joseph and John Charles. He lost two sons 
by death, namely: Jesse and Artie, l)oth 
dying when less than two years of age. 

Mr. Longfield has educated his family, 
and his daughter Geniveve, is the bookkeeper 
of the firm in which her father is the princi- 
pal member. He is a Republican in his po- 
litical belief, but has never sought office. 



His religious connection is with the Roman 
Catholic Church, and he is regarded as one of 
the most reliable men in this city. 



fOHN WAKEMAN, a resident of section 
13, Sun I'rairie township Wisconsin, is 
"K. the subject of this notice. His grand- 
father. Abijah Wakeman, was born in Con- 
necticut, where he became later in life a sea 
captain, making a business of it, following 
the sea for a great many years and sailing to 
all parts of the world. He finally located in 
New York in what is now Schuyler county, 
where he farmed for a number of years and 
then removed to Missouri, where he died 
some years later. He married a native of New 
Fncland and four children were born into 
the family. Mary married Cyrus Beardsley 
and died leaving two children: Maria 
married Joseph West, who is now deceased, 
but she lives in Kansas cit}'; Charles was 
the father of our subject, and Harriet is 
married and lives in Kansas city. 

Charles Wakeman was born in Fairfield, 
Connecticut, in 1803 and as his father's life 
was mostly spent at sea he lived with his 
grandfather and attended the common 
schools, receiving a fair education and was 
reared on a farm. When his father quit his 
wandering and dangerous life our subject 
went with the family to the home in New 
York and there learned both the trade of 
harnessmaker and that of carpenter, following 
this latter trade many years. In 1844 he 
removed to Wisconsin and settled in Dane 
county on the farm now occupied by John 
Wakeman, our subject. 

In the State of New York, in what was 
then Tompkins, but now is Schuyler county, 
he married Lydia Mitchell, whose people were 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



Gil 



among the Pennsylvania Dutch. After mar- 
riage they remained some time in tiie East 
and then started on the journey westward. 
Of course this was before the tiine of rail- 
roads and the trip was made by team, canal 
and boat to Milwaukee, and from there the 
family of eiglit persons took a team and 
drove out to the settlement. lie bought from 
tlie Government, 160 acres in Sun Prairie, 50 
in Medina, and 50 additional at ten shillings 
per acre, and all of this was good land with 
sufficient timber for future improvement on 
the farm. The place now sliows the good 
judgment with which it was selected, being 
now among one of the best in the county. 
He built a log house and then the family 
began pioneer life in earnest. Tliis was 
hard work, as at that time the country 
was but sparsely settled, only two families 
being within four miles. They felt keenly 
the lack of churches, schools and neigh- 
l)ors. Tiieir produce was hauled to Mil- 
waukee, sixty-five miles away, with ox teams 
when no bridges had l)een built over any but 
the largest streams. In the log house the 
family made themselves as comfortalile as 
possible, until 1858, when the commodious 
frame house, now standing, was erected. The 
father of our subject was a prominent and 
useful citizen and did liis full share in the 
development of the country. lie was j)ublic- 
spirited, generous and helpful. His death 
occurred September 22, 1881, and he was 
buried on the farm, near the residence which 
he had built, not far from the site of the 
original log house. 

The mother of our subject died October 
19, 1846, and was buried by the side of her 
husband and the graves are near the south- 
east corner of section 13, township 8, range 
11, east. The father married again, liis second 
wife being Mrs. Bacon, the sister of iiis first 



wife, who is also dead, she passing away De- 
cember 10, 1878, and is buried beside the 
others. Seven children were born of the first 
marriage: Thaddeus, living in Marshall; 
James, also in Marshall; Emily, in Grand 
Rapids and married 13. F. Stevens; Amanda, 
married VI. P. Andrews and lives in Outo- 
gamie county, Wisconsin; Harriet, lives in 
Grand Rapids; John is our subject; and Sarah 
married Nelson Bacon and lives at Burke 
station. 

Our subject was liorn in Schuyler county. 
New York, February 13, 1842, and now' 
lives in the old home and on the old farm, 
liaving been here since 1844. The farm, 
consisting of 142 acres, is his. In 18G4 he 
married Martha Hatch of Dane county, 
formerly of Virginia, whither her people had 
come from New York. Her death occurred 
January 28, 1887, and he married Ella A. 
Rowe, of Dane county, whose parents were 
also from New York. Bj' the first marriage 
there was a family of four girls : Irene, Lydia, 
Nellie and Ilattie. Bv the second marriage 
another little girl lias been added to the 
family, — Ruth E. 

I'olitically Mr. Wakeman is a Republican 
and has taken an active part in the affairs of 
the county. He has served three times on the 
Town Board and has been Associate Supervi- 
sor twice and once was Chairman of the Board. 
Mrs. Wakeman and Miss Irene are members 
of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Wakeman 
is a whole-souled gentleman with many of 
the excellent traits, which made his father so 
well and favorably known here. 



--^e^ 



)NTON SGHILLINGER, a liveryman 
of Mazo Manie, was born in Alsace, 
Germany, then a part of France, Janu- 
ary 27, 1850. His parents, Anton and Bar- 



613 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



bara (Acker) Scbillinger, were also born at 
that place, and the father was a farmer by 
occupation. Our subject, the eldest of eight 
children, five sons and three daughters, cSine 
on the French steam vessel, Arago, to the 
United States at the age of sixteen years, 
sixteen days having been consumed in the 
voyage to Philadelphia. He was followed by 
his parents about six years later. Mr. Scbil- 
linger located at once in Springfield town- 
ship, Dane county, Wisconsin, where he was 
engaged in agricultural pursuits about six- 
teen years. For the following eight years 
he conducted a hotel at Vernon, this county, 
and in the spring of 1888 began dealing in 
fine Clydesdale horses, which he purchased 
in Glascow, Scotland. Since that time he 
has been engaged in the raising of fine horses, 
and in conducting a livery stable. lie also 
ships to the pineries and Eastern markets. 
In the spring of 1889 he moved his family 
to Mazo Manie, where ho has since lieen 
identified with the business interests of the 
city. Mr. Scbillinger afiiliates with the 
Democratic party, but has never sought office 
of any kind. 

lie was married in .lanuary, 1878, to Ger- 
trude Minch, a native of Montrose township, 
Dane county. They have three children: 
Frank, Anna and Irene. The family reside 
in the finest and most expensive residence in 
the city, a two-story brick, whicli was erected 
in 1892. Tiiey are membersjof the Catholic 
Church. 



fOSEPn SCHWEINEM, now deceased, 
having passed away December 9, 1882, 
at his residence, 313 West Johnson 
street, came to Madison early in the fifties 
and followed the trade of a journeyman 



tailor for several years. Afterward he en- 
gaged in the ice business, buying out Mr. 
Warn, and greatly enlarged it, making 'it 
very profitable and continuing in it until his 
death, the widow and son then succee<ling 
him. He was born in the Rhine Province, 
Germany, April 5, 1830, of good and «'orthy 
parents, who lived and died in their native 
province, when our subject was a young man. 
The latter came to this country in the year 
1853, being twenty-three years of age, sail- 
ing from Antwerp in a ship, landing at New 
York and proceeding soon afterward to Madi- 
son. 

Mr. Schweinem was an excellent workman 
and grew, soon, into great populai-ity, be- 
coming an Alderman from the First Ward; 
was a pronounced Democrat and a prominent 
member of the St. Michael's Society, the 
Turner's Society, Relief Society, and several 
others, besides being a member of the Church 
of the Holy Reedemer (Roman Catholic). 

Our subject was married in Madison, to 
Miss Gertrude Loehrer, born in Rhine Pro- 
vince, Germany, January 18, 1835, and emi- 
grated to this country, by way of Antwerp 
to New York, being then but nine years old. 
The family then proceeded to Milwaukee via 
the Hudson river, Erie canal and the great 
lakes. After a six years' residence in Mil- 
waukee, they went to Pine Bluffs, Dane 
county, Wisconsin, and there improved a 
farm; l)ut later on, removed to Madison, liv- 
ing tiiere for some time prior to the death of 
the parents. The father, William Loehrer, 
died here when eighty-four years of age, his 
wife having passed away previously, at the 
age of eighty-two, both falling asleep in 
tlie bosom of the Roman Catholic Church, 
of which body they had been consistent mem- 
bers throughout their long lives. 

Mrs. Schweinem, widow of our subject, is 



DyiNE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



613 



the third of six children yet living; was very 
carefnlly reared, receiving an edueatiun in 
the common schools of Germany and of this 
country; and after the death of her husband 
managing, with ths assistance of her sons, 
the large business he had established. It 
should be stated that her son-in-law, also, 
helps to conduct the affairs of the concern. 
This worthy lady is the mother of ten chil- 
dren, seven of whom are now dead, l;ut 
William and Joseph lived to be reared to 
manhood. The living are: Katie, wife of 
Garrett Scliulkamp, living in Madison and 
connected with the Frederickson Lumber 
Company; Minnie, wife of John Blied,of the 
firm of Blied Eros., hardware mei'chants on 
State street; Lena, wife of Frank Hilgers, 
now running the business of his mother-in- 
law. Mrs. Schweinem's children are mem- 
bers of the Church of the Holy Redeemer 
(Koman Catholic). She is a most estimable 
lady, highly esteemed and possessed of ex- 
cellent business tact. 

-.-^.^^^^^ 

)A.KSHALL M. PARKINSON, sec- 
retary and treasurer of the Miller 
Lumber Company, Madison, Wiscon- 
sin, is one of the most enterprising and 
obliging young business men of the city. 

Mr. Parkinson was born in F^ayette, La 
Fayette county, Wisconsin, September 30, 
1862, a son of John JJ. and Frances Jane 
(Gray) Parkinson. His father is a professor 
in the University of Wisconsin and is vice- 
president of that institution. Tiie family 
moved to Madison when Marshall M. was 
five years old. After attending the public 
schools, he entered the university, took a 
classical course, and graduated with the de- 
gree of 1». A. in 1884. lie served as Deputy 




Sheriff one year. Then he went to Colum- 
bus, Wisconsin, and took the management of 
the lumber yards of Farliam, Allen it Co., 
which place he filled most efficiently for seven 
consecutive years. He identified himself 
with the Miller Lumber Company of Madi- 
son in July, 1892, since which time he has 
served as its secretary and treasnrer. 

November 26, 1889, Mr. Parkinson mar- 
ried Adelaide Newcomb, of Colnmbus, Wis- 
consin. They have one child, Kathryn. 

His political views arc thoroughly in 
accord with Democratic principles, and he is 
Vice-President of the Madison Cleveland 
Club. 

fERDINAND PAPE, a farmer on his 
widowed mother's place of eighty acres 
.p in SjU'ingtield township, Dane county, 
where he was born, is a son of Frank and 
Susan (Shefhonsen) Pape, natives of Ger- 
many. The father came to America, also to 
Wisconsiif, in 1849, when a sintrle man. He 
was twice married, and by his first wife had 
two sons and three daughters. He was 
afterward married to the mother of our sul)- 
ject, and they also had live children. The 
eldest son, Peter, is now a priest in the 
Catholic Church of Kenosha, and a sister now 
makes her home with him. The remainder 
are still at home. The father died on the 
farm his widow still owns, in May, 1884, 
aged fifty years. He was an honest and hard- 
working man. He came to this country 
with little or no means, and, Ijeing of a kind 
and confiding nature, was much imposed 
upon, hence he left his property somewhat 
encumbered. But by hard work and economy 
his widow has paid much of the debt left 
upon the place, and has given her children a 



614 



BIOORAPHIGAL REVIEW OF 



good education. Ferdinand Pape is a young 
man of promise, and, like Iiis parents, is in- 
dustrious and of good moral habits. 



^ 



E^ 



jMASA PAiilvER, one of the early 
settlers of Dane county, Wisconsin, was 
born in the town of WeathersHeld, Ver- 
mont, March 15, 1843, and now resides in 
the town of Rutland, Wisconsin. His father, 
Dexter Parker, was born in the same place, 
May 29, 1799, and he was a son of Isaac and 
Esther Parker, the former a native of Massa- 
chusetts and the latter of Connecticut, but 
both passed away in Vermont. 

Dexter Parker learned the trade of shoe- 
maker and for a time worked in a woolen 
mill, also residing in Vermont until 1844 at 
which time, accompanied by his wife and 
four children, he emigrated to the Territory 
of Wisconsin. They started with a team and 
drove as far as Troy, New York, and then 
went by canal to Buffalo, then by the lakes 
to Milwaukee and from there b}' team acain 
to Rock county, Wisconsin, renting a house 
about three miles from Evansville, where the 
family resided until September. During 
that time he had visited Dane county on a 
prospecting tour, was pleased with the land 
and bought a tract of Government land in 
section 31, of what is now Rutland. Here 
he erected a log house into which the family 
moved and here he improved a farm, remain- 
ing at this place for eleven years. Then lie 
sold the first tract and bought forty acres, 
where our subject now lives and here Mr. 
Parker died May 23, 1853. He had married 
in Hancock, Vermont, January 21, 1829, 
Esther Piper, who was born August 6, 1797, 
in a town in western Vermont. She died 
Novemlx-r 10, 1808, aged ninety-one years. 



She had reared a family of children: Mary 
E., Loran D., William H. H. and Amasa. 
The father was a Whig but on the organiza- 
tion of the Republican party he joined that. 
Our subject was but one year old when he 
was brought to Wisconsin by his parents. 
At that time there were but few settlors in 
the State and the forests were tilled with deer 
and other wild game. For years after their 
location there were no railroads and no roads 
of any kind over many parts of the State. 
Milwaukee was the nearest market town. 
The father of our subject had a wagon built 
to hold 100 bushels of wheat and then would 
hitch to it six pairs of oxen and make the 
round trip in six days. Our subject attended 
the pioneer schools and always assisted on 
tli9 farm. He now owns the old hointssteal 
and had ailed to it by purchisi until his 
land amounts to 100 acres. 

The marriage of our subject to )!v pla33 
March 20, 1864, when he wedded Mrs. Sarah J. 
(Lockwood) Spear, a native of the town of 
Sherburne, Vermont, and a daughter of Will- 
iam and Hannah (15arnes) Lockwood, and 
widow of John D. Spear. She died September 
2, 1889. Her mother was born at North 
Springfield, Vermont, May 15, 1810. She 
was adopted in infancy by her maternal 
grandparents, Benjamin and Sophia Barnes, 
natives of Providence, RDck Island, and |)ii5- 
noersof Springfield, where she was reared and 
married Mr. E. tr. Loiikwool at the a^^e of 
nineteen. He vvas b )rii in Springfield, Ver- 
mont, a so[i of Abel and Anna (Ada'os) 
Lockwood. The father of Mrs. Parker was 
young when his parents moved to Chautauqua 
county. New York, and there his mother 
died when he was seven years of age and he 
returned to Vermont to live with his ma- 
ternal grandparents in Springfield. At the 
age of seventeen lie returned to Chautaucjua 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



615 



county, where he learned the trade of stone- 
mason, which he followed in addition to 
farming. He returned to Vermont and was 
married February 28, 1836, and then l)onglit 
a farm in the town of Sherburne, liutland 
county, where he resided until 1855 when he 
again returned to Chautauqua county and 
bought forty acres of land. One year later 
he sold his farm for a good price and re- 
moved to Wisconsin, settling in the town of 
Rutland, and with the exception of thirteen 
years in Rock county resided here until his 
death. The mother of Mrs. Parker married 
a second time, Joseph De Jean, and resides in 
Rutland. Two children have been born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Parker: Waterman and Jay. 
In politics he is a stanch and uncompromis- 
ing Republican. 



ai- 



*>^=3H'<® 



|l^EOR(iE SOIIERNECIIER, a farmer 
lis? '^"'^ stockman of Bristol township, re- 
^e^ siding on section 9, is the suftject of 
this sketch. The name of his father was 
Lawrence, of his grandfather, Andrew. The 
latter came to the United States in 1846 
from Germany, and set sail from his native 
country to seek his fortune in the great land 
beyond the sea. To cross this expanse of 
water in a sailing vessel required consider- 
able courage in those who had never seen any 
larger body of water than their inland lakes 
and rivers. No doubt visions of shipwrecks 
:ind various disasters visitcil their dreams, 
but these were unnecessary, for fair winds 
bore the vessel which carried them onward, 
and after thirty-six days the pleasant voyage 
ended and they landed in New York city. 
This, however, was not their stopping place, 
but via the great Erie canal they reached 
Buffalo, by the lakes they made their way to 



Milwaukee, and then drove out to what is 
now Bristol township. An old neighbor had 
met them witli his ox team, and they finally 
settled on section 10, where they bought 
eighty acres of Grovernment land, at ten shil- 
lings per acre. When this purchase was con- 
cluded they had but little money left, only 
enough to buy one cow, and they had to hire 
oxen to break the land. Thus they com- 
menced their pioneer life, a life of toil and 
privation, Ijut one which usually ended with 
the realization of their fondest hopes. Here 
a little Iolt hut was built and covered over 
with hay and brush, and this remained until 
they were able to put on a better roof. This 
pioneer grandfather is still alive, at the age 
of ninety -one years, residing with his son-in- 
law on section 2, Charlie Moreth by name. 
llis wife died about 1870, having reared a 
family of seven children, namely: Margaret, 
living in the town of Hampden; Lawrence; 
Mary, in Dakota; Valentine, deceased; Cath- 
erine, in Lidiana; Rosie and Theresa, in the 
tovvn of Hampden, Columbia county. 

Lawrence was the second child of this 
union, and was born in Germany, and came 
with his parents to this country in 1846. He 
was educated in the old country, and had a 
common-school education. He was brought 
up on a farm, where he may yet be found, 
lie was married in 1860 to Miss Mary Stro- 
menger, a native of Germany. During his 
youth he had to work, and thus formed hab- 
its of economy and industry, and worker! tor 
one shilling a day in his early youth, and 
pi'ovided money for the necessities of life, 
sometimes having to take his pay in the va- 
rious articles which his employe rs could spare, 
at one time taking a calf, which in time be- 
came an o.x, which they used on the farm, and 
thus made one-half of a team. Hejias al- 
ways lived on the old farm, which has neve 



cie 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



gone out of the family. His children are as 
follows: Andrew, married Lizzie Derby, and 
lives in Mankato, Minnesota; Fred, married 
Makena Scliey, and lives in the town of York; 
Annie, is living at home; John, married 
Josie Conrad, and lives on section 26, near 
Bristol; Charlie, lives in North Bristol; 
George and Lawrence, live at home. 

Our subject was the sixth child and lived 
at home until he was twenty-six years of age, 
working on the farm. He received a good 
common school education, which he attended 
until he was fifteen years old, standing well 
in his classes. When he was twenty-six 
years old he went on a farm on section 9, 
where he may be found, ilis father bought 
the land in 1889 at $45 per acre. George is 
livincr on the farm and has full control and 
management, and engages in general farm- 
ing. This is good land, nicely divided into 
woodland and meadow, and is fairly well im- 
proved. George brings to this'place the hab- 
its of industry and economy formed in boy- 
hood days, and will no doubt succeed in tliis 
enterprise. He is a young man of good 
habits, and will add strength to the best class 
of citizens in the county. The entire family 
are members of the Catholic Church, and are 
highly esteemed in the county where they 
have been so industrious. They have all 
been hardworking citizens, and have, one 
and all, gained the esteem of the community. 






^AJOR ARTHUR B. PLATT, of 
Mazo Manie, Dane county, Wisconsin, 
was born in Denbigh, in the north of 
Wales, in 1817, a son of William and Kliza- 
beth (Wainhouse) Rlatt, both born and reared 
in Englan<l. The fatiier wa.s a Major in the 
British army, and distinguished himself in 




the Peninsular and Waterloo campaigns, un- 
der the Duke of Wellington. Mr. and Mrs. 
Piatt wore the parents of three children, two 
sons and a daughter, and both '^re now de- 
ceased. 

.\rtiuir B., our subject, received good in- 
structions under private tutors, and was edu- 
cated for a clergyman. But the young man 
did not take to such a calling in life, and 
sought preferment in the line of military ad- 
vancement. His father had always been an 
ardent admirer of the Duke of Wellington, 
and when our subject reached his majority 
he sought to have him commissioned, which 
ordinarily cost from 700 to 300 pounds. But, 
in consideration of the gallant service ren- 
dered, the Duke replied to the request of the 
old Major. " Major, I anticipate your wish, 
and commission your son Arthur as Major. '' 
He was at once given coinniami of the Thirty- 
first Regiment, and prepared to journey to 
India, where he was to join with the army 
there, sent out in 1825. They started in June, 
1842, and four months was consumed on the 
voyage to Calcutta, which was made on the 
vessel Houghly. They were landed on the 
second day after arriving in that city, and at 
once made arrangements to march to the 
main army, 1,200 miles distant. The heat 
was most intense, the march very fatiguing, 
and soon after joining the army cholera broke 
out, the death rate then being appalling. Tiie 
regiment was accompanied by a Chaplain of 
the Church of England and a Roman Catho- 
lic Priest. Tiie former became so frightened 
that he failed to attend to the duties of bury- 
ing the dead, and this duty fell to Mr. Piatt. 
He averaged burying fifteen per day during 
the epidemic, and so great had been the death 
rate from pestilence and war that out of a 
regiment of 1,200 only three reached Eng- 
land alive. 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



617 



War siioii liroke out with the maraud- 
ing prince of that country, and a general 
struggle ensued. Five great battles were 
fought: Moodkee, Frezshah, Butlawall, Al- 
liwa, and Sobraon, in all of which the Entr- 
lish were victorious, drivincr the native back 
to his own domain. At the battle of Frezshah 
the natives resorted to stratagem. Anticipa- 
ting a charge of the British they dug trenches 
and filled them with kegs of powder, to which 
they attached a fuse, and when the British 
were crossing this death trap to charge, it was 
exploded and the regiment blown into the air. 
The second charge was ordered, and, when 
within a few feet of the enemy, they turned 
loose a storm of canister, which mowed down 
the men, and wounded Mr. Piatt in both 
limbs. He never fully recovered from these 
wounds. He was sent to Calcutta and given 
the best of medical treatment, and after mak- 
ing a tour down tlie Ganges river returned to 
that city and prepared for embarkment for 
England, disabled as he was. After waiting 
about two months for vessels large enough to 
transport his regiment, they at last embarked. 
While being towed out to sea, and while en- 
tering Hoogly bay, the vessel struck a bar, 
and was so disabled as to be sent to dry dock 
for repairs. This required a delay of two 
months more, but at last they succeeded in 
lauding at merry England, in 1847. 

Mr. I'latt next went to Manchester, where 
he did garrison duty one year; assisted in 
suppressing the Fenians at Dublin; and then 
returned to England, where he received a 
leave of absence for two years, on double pay. 
He was next sent on the paymaster's staff to 
the Bermuda Islands; returned to England in 
1853, when the Crimean war broke out; was 
sent on paymaster's staff to the Kock of Gi- 
braltar; and two years later, on account of phy- 
sical iuliraiities, resigned his commission and 



came to the United States, in 1855, locating 
in Madison, Wisconsin. Mr. Piatt at once 
began agricultural pursuits. In 18(11 when 
the war of the Kebellion l)i'oke out, he was 
commissioned by Governor Randall as Major 
of the Eleventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. 
He served in the Army of the West, under 
General Grant, and participated in the battles 
Port Gibson, Jackson,' Big Black river and 
the siege of Vicksburg. At the latter place 
he was taken sick, sent to the hospital, and 
later, on account of ill health, resigned his 
commission and returned home. His resig- 
nation took place July, 1), 1863. 

In 1870 our subject was united in mar- 
riage with Mrs. Elizabeth Tliurnber, of Mazo 
Manie, Wisconsin. Mr. Piatt is a Demo- 
crat in his political views, and has always 
been a great admirer of John C. McClellan 
and Grover Cleveland. For the past twelve 
years he has served as Commissioner of the 
poor and other minor offices. He is a man of 
firm religious principles, but is a member of 

no church. 

« 

A V I D R I C II A R D SO N , a retired 
farmer of Dane county, Wisconsin, was 
born in Windsor county, Vermont, 
February 15, 182C, a son of Josiah and Sarah 
E. (Barker) Richardson. The father was 
also born in Windsor county, Vermont, a son 
of Lemuel and Mary (Chase) Richardson, 
natives of New Hampshire. The parents 
removed to and purchased land in Vermont 
in an early day, where the father died at the 
age of seventy-five years, and the mother 
aged eighty years. They were the parents 
of seven children, two of whom still survive. 
When Mr. and Mrs. Lemuel Richardson first 
settled in Vermont they had to cut tluur way 



C18 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



and blaze trees through fourteen miles of 
dense forest. They were among the early 
pioneers of the old Green Mountain State, 
and suffered all the untold hardships inci- 
dental thereto. When they first located 
there, live families joined fortunes, settled 
side by side, there to live and develop what 
later proved to be the best part of Vermont. 
The Richardson family came originally from 
England, three brothers of that name havinfj 
first settled in the Northeastern States. As 
far as known they have been engaged prin- 
cipally in agricultural pursuits. 

Josiah Richardson, the father of our sub- 
ject, spent most of his life in Vermont, but 
died in Middleton township, Wisconsin, at 
the age of seventy-six years. His wife was 
born in Alstead, New Hampshire, a daughter 
of John Barker, natives also of New Hamp- 
shire. The father lived with his daughter, 
Mrs. Richardson, for some time, and then 
went to Michigan, where he died at the home 
of a son, David Barker, at an advanced age. 
Mrs. Richardson still resides in Madison, 
Wisconsin. 

David Richardson, one of nine children, 
and the subject of this sketch, remained on 
the home farm until twenty-two years of age, 
and then worked by the month for the fol- 
lowing two years. In April, 1852, he drove 
a team to lake Cbamplain, then went by boat 
to a small station, where they took an old- 
fashioned train to Saratoga, Now York, then 
to Buffalo, next by the lakes to Detroit, 
Michigan, then by train to New Buffalo, and 
next across lake Michigan to Racine, Wis- 
consin, where he bought ox teams and came 
direct to wJiere he now lives. Mr. Richard- 
eon immediately purchased 125 acres of land, 
and later forty acres more. lie first erected 
a Kinall dwelling, 10 x 10 feet, tiie following 
wiuter built a small frame house, 12 x 14 



feet, and in 1856 again rebuilt. He has 
since sold his land, and retired from active 
business life. Roliticallj, Mr. Richardson 
voted the Whig ticket in 1848, for Freemont 
in 1856, and now affiliates with the Prohibi- 
tion party. Religiously, both he and his 
wife take an active part in temperance work, 
and are attendants of the Methodist Church. 
Mr. Richardson assisted in the building of 
that Church here, and his wife has held the 
position of Superintendent of the Sunday- 
school for many years. 

INIr. Richardson was first married August 
3, 1852, to Lucy A. Hawes, who was born 
near Seneca lake, New York, September 15, 
1827, and died on the old farm in Wisconsin, 
May 10, 1876. She was a daughter of Sam- 
uel and Catherine Hawes, natives respect- 
fully of New York and New Jersey. Tiie}- 
came West in about 1849 or 1850, and the 
mother died in the latter year, and the father 
is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson 
had five children: Ira, was married February 
29, 1878, to Libby Martin, and tiiey have 
four children; Adrian M., born February 14, 
liS58, married Alia Miller, and has three 
children; Clara, born May 29, 1860, married 
William !^[iller, and has two children; Orrin, 
C, born Septcml)er 16, 1861, is at home; 
and one who died when only one week old. 
Our subject was again married, in 1877, to 
E. S. Plato, who died two years later. No- 
vember 9, 1882, Mr. Richardson was united 
in marriage with Mi's. Eusebia R. (Daily) 
Smith, widow of William J. Smith. She 
was born in Georgetown, New York, a 
daughter of Frederic and Betsey C. (Foster) 
Daily. The father was born in New York, 
in 1810, and died in Geogetown, tliat 
State, in 1872. He was a son of Peter and 
Lucy (Bates) Daily, who were born in the 
Northeastern States, and spent the last days 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



619 



of their lives in New York. They were tlie 
parents of three children. Mrs. Daily was 
born in I'harsalia, New York, in 1812, ami 
died in her native place at the age of forty- 
one years. She was a danghter of Renben 
and Lncinda (Barker) Foster, natives of Con- 
necticut. They removed to New York in an 
early day, locating in Greene township, Cort- 
land county, where the father followed farni- 
iniT, and was also a local iriinister in the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. They later 
moved to Georgetown, that State, where the 
mother died at the age of forty-one years, 
and the father aged eighty-seven years. 
They were the parents of six children, about 
three of whom still survive. One son, Ralph, 
died in the lare war, and his father was alsi.i 
a soldier in the war of 1812. Another son, 
Isaac C, was one of the first mitiisters of the 
Methodist Episcopal Clnirch in New York, 
and was a very able man. Mrs. Richardson's 
first husband, William J. Smith, was born in 
Cazenovia, New York, April 26, 1830, a son 
of Henry and Adella (Beardsley) Smith, na- 
tives of Germany and Connecticut, licitli 
died in Cazenovia, at advanced ages. W. J. 
Smith followed the vocation of a traveling 
salesman through life, and his death occurred 
at Jefferson, Wisconsin, June 13, 1874. He 
and his wife had four daughters, namely: 
Ida, born October 20, 1852, married J. Lay- 
cock, and has five children; Delia C, born 
June 9, 1856, married A. S. Park, has one 
child; Jettie L., born November 7, 185'J, 
married E. L. Bradbury, and died May 29, 
1891, leaving one child; and Mary E., born 
February 5, 1861, married Edward Gunsalos, 
and has a son and daughter. 

Mr. Richardson, tlie subject of this sketch, 
has suffered the privations of a piotieer life. 
During tiie first year of his married life, only 
one-fourth of a pound of tea, one-half pnund 




of coffee and six pounds of sugar was all of 
that line of groceries used. He has lived to 
sec this country bluss(jni like a rose, and his 
entire life has been one of honor and up- 
rightness. 

OIIN DELANEY is the name of a 
iier who resides upon his eighty-acre 
Tc farm on section 33, Vienna township, 
where he has resided about eleven years. He 
was born in Ireland in 1830, and his father 
was Edmond Delaney, a tVirnier in the old 
country, on one hundred acres of rented land, 
on which lie lived for many years and on 
whicli his father before him resided. He 
was 101 years old when he died. This 
tenancy cost a rental from §6 per acre 
to 3 guineas, and was paid by the father 
of our subject. Edmond Delaney was twice 
married, and by the two wives he had twenty- 
seven children, of whom Mr. Delaney of tliis 
notice is the twenty-third child and the nine- 
teenth and youngest son. Twenty-six of 
this remarkable famUy grew to maturit}'. 
(^ur subject is a child of the second marriao-e. 
Ilis mother was Mary Dailey, of county Cork, 
and she became the mother of ten sons and 
three daughters. Tlie father was ninety- five 
years of age when this son left his hcinif^ and 
native land for America when eighteen. 
Since that time he has never heard from 
home and does not know when his mother 
died. 

Mr. Delaney came to this country in the 
fall of 1848 on a large three-masted sailer 
with 300 emigrants. He shipped at Queens- 
town for Boston and made the trip in twenty- 
four days. At first he obtained work along 
the shore in lioston and then made his way to 
I'ortland, Maine. He was paid forty cents 



6.'0 



BIOGRAPHICAL BE VIEW OF 



per hour for loading and discharging cargoes, 
and in Portland lie followed this business for 
six months. lie then went to Lewiston Falls, 
Maine, where he remained working as a com- 
mon laborer, and later was in charge of a 
night watch in a gas factory. For this he had 
only a SI a day and he left this position 
to go into a cotton factory at the Hill Mills. 

In Lewiston Falls he was married, in 1855, 
to Miss Johanna Horrigen from the same 
county in Ireland. She had come over about 
four years ahead of her parents, who were 
Daniel and Johanna (Golden) Horrigen, and 
was twenty years old at that time. Mr. and 
Mrs. Delaney began housekeeping in Lewis- 
ton Falls in a house they rented, but in 
March, 1857, they came west to Madison, 
bringing two children. The first employ- 
ment that Mr. Delaney secured was to run on 
a wood train on the railroad, and then he 
had charge of an engine in a sawmill for 
Marshall Brown, and continued running an 
engine in a foundry for other parties. He 
also worked at ])ipe-laying in the gas works 
in Maine and his experience there servetl him 
well at this place, as he obtained the job of 
helping to lay the heating pipes in the asylum, 
and from this, in 1861, when he was getting 
from ^3 to §5 a day, he volunteered in the 
Third Wisconsin Cavalry to defend the stars 
and stripes. 

For four years our subject served his 
adopted country until May 20, 1865, having 
re-enlisted. He was never wounded, but liad 
nine very close calls l)y bullets through bis 
overcoat. He was in the Regitnental Hos- 
pital from tiie fall of 1861 until iiis dis- 
charge, and some of the time he acted as a 
nurse. 

In the fall of 1865 he l)ought forty acres 
of land in Westport, paying for it §1,00(1. 
He lived on this for four years, working it 



and other lands, and rented a farm of Pat 
Reddy, on which he moved and lived for 
one year, and in the fall of 1881 he bought 
eighty acres, where he now resides, paying 
5^2,500. He still owns his forty acres in 
Westport. 

Mr. Uelaney has buried two sons, Eddie, an 
infant, and John, aged twenty-six years, who 
died in Dakota, at Willow Lake. He was a 
promising] young man. who had gone to 
make a home, but was stricken with disease 
and died in three days, and his remains were 
returned to his parents and are resting in West- 
port graveyard. There are five children still 
living: Mary, wife of David Cunninghouse, 
of Madison; they have six children, three 
daughters and three sons; Josie, a maiden 
lad}' living at home; Maggie, the wife of Mike 
Cunninghouse, of Egerton, Wisconsin, who 
have two sons; Lizzie, a young lady in the 
State Street Hospital; and Daniel, at houie 
conducting the farm. 

Mr. Delaney has had poor health since he 
left the army, and lost his eye April 28, 1890, 
by a rheumatic ulcer. He lias been a suffer- 
ing cripple since the above named date, but 
he has been a very energetic and hard work- 
ing man. .Mr. Delaney votes independently- 
He and his family belong to the Roman 
Catholic Church. He does a general farming 
busines, but raises no hogs since his last ill- 
ness. They grow oats and corn, and this 
year raised forty-two bushels of oats and 817 
of corn. They keep a few cattle and about 
eight or ten horses, and raise a few colts. 

These parents had no schooling, and realiz- 
ing the disadvantage have given their chil- 
dren good opportunities of learning. Maggie 
was at the Madison Business College and 
taught nineteen terms before her marriage. 
.Mary was at the Sister's Schools in Madison, 
and Josie was at the State Hospital for five 



DANE COUNTY. WISCONSIN. 



(Wl 



ycai-s and left a position of $15 per raontlito 
care for licr invalid father. 

MOIIN W. HUDSON.— Few of the citi- 
!M zens of Madison, Wisconsin, have been 
-^^i more closely identified with the city's 
interests and enterprises, both as a promoter 
and substantial backer, than John W. Hud- 
son, the suliject of this brief biographical 
sketch. For quite forty years he has been a 
citizen of the capital city and durinrr that 
time, it is safe to say, his name has been as- 
sociated with more successful enterprises, all 
of which have redounded to the city's credit 
and contributed to its growth and pi'usperity 
than jirobably any otlier one man. 

Mr. Hudson was l)orn in the town of Gaines, 
( )rleans county, New York, January 12, 1834, 
and is the son of Daniel T. and Lucinda 
(Butts) Hudson, both natives of Chatham, 
New York, the former bavins been born 
February 11, 1810, and the latter Septeml)er 
16, 1812. Our subject's paternal grandfather 
was Elijah Hudson, who was a native of Co- 
lumbia county. New York. Thc^ maternal 
grandfather was Lewis M. Cutts, also a na- 
tive of the same county, who removed to west- 
ern New York in 1833. In 1840 he came to 
Wisconsin, settling in the town of Cottage 
Grove, Hane county, and was one of the first 
settlers at Door Creek. Thus he was a pio- 
neer of three sections of our country, first in 
New York, thence western New York and 
last in Wisconsin. The old gentleman died 
in 18G0. Daniel T. Hudson, our subject's 
father, settled at Milton, Rock count}', Wis- 
consin, in 1844, where he followed farming 
until his tieath, which resulted from an acci- 
dent, in iSltl. His widow survived him, re- 
siding at the present time with her son on the 

41 



olil homestead. Eight children were born to 
the parents, seven soris and a daughter, of 
whom 8i,\ sons an^ liviin>-, tin; eldest beincr 
our subject. Tiie otiier sons are: I^icwis I!., 
of J'loomington, Illinois; Albert C; Elijah 
15. F., of Milton, Wisconsin; and (leorge W., 
of Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Our subject was reared on the farm in 
Ivock county until his eighteenth year, and 
secured his education at the old Milton Acad- 
emy. Upon leaving the farm he begati teach- 
ing school and taught for a year and a half in 
Milton and vicinity. In liis twinitieth year 
he began business for himself by emi>arking 
in the grain business at Milton. Upon tiie 
completion of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. 
Paul railroad to Stoughton, Dane county, 
he removed to that town, and for several 
months carried on the grain business. In 1853 
however, Ifefore the above road was completed 
to Madison, Mr. Hudson removed his busi- 
ness to this city, buying and iiauling grain to 
Stoughton and from that point shipping by 
rail to Milwaukee. Pie was a piom^er of tlie 
grain business in Madison, at which he con- 
tinued from 1853 until 18r)9, with the ex- 
ception of two years during the war, when he 
was "at the front. " Closing out the grain 
business in 1809, ho turned his attention to 
manufacturing, i-eal estate and various enter- 
prises. He was one of the promoters of 
the old 'Madison Manufacturing Company. 
He was also a promoter and secretary 
of the Wisconsin Wagon Company, and was 
a promoter and pi-esident of the Ostran- 
dor Mam factiiring Company. This en- 
terprise was reorganized and retnoved to Wau- 
sau, Wisconsin, and became the Wausau P'ur- 
iiiture Company, of which he is a director 
and his son, secretary. He was one of the 
promoters of the Madison Electric Light 
Company, and president of the same until 



622 



BIOGRAPEICAL REVIEW OF 



its sale to the Four Lakes Light and Power 
Company in 1892. lie is also a director in 
the Cajjital City Mank of Madison, of wiiich 
he was a promoter and organizer, and is 
president of the Spanish Peaks Gold and Sil- 
ver Mining Company, which company is 
operating valuable mines in Colorado. Li 
connection with Mr. Moses S. Klaiiber he is 
engaged in tiie leaf tobacco bnsiness, w'ith 
warehouses in west Madison; and besides these 
enterprises has his means invested in vari- 
ous other interests, more or less prominent. 
He was a promoter and president of the 
Northwestern Mutual Relief Association, 
whose headquarters are in Madison, and was 
a promoter and tor twenty-two years, from 
1S69 until he resigned the same, director 
and treasurer of tlie Wisconsin Odd Fellows 
Mutual Life Insurance Company. He was a 
promoter and president of the Northwestern 
Building and Loan Association and vice-presi- 
dent of the Madison Land and Improvement 
Company. In 1862 Mr. Hudson enlisted in 
Company D, Twenty-third Regiment Wiscon- 
sin Volunteer, and served until mustered out 
in December, 18Gi3, on account of disability. 

Mr. Hudson became a Mason in 1875 and 
at present is a member of Madison Lodge 
No. 5, Madison Chapter, No. 3, and Robert 
McCoy Commandery, No. 4, K. T. He be- 
came an Odd Fellow in 18(35 and has since 
held his moinbership in Hope Lodge, No. 17, 
and Madison Encampment, No. 8. He has 
held the prominent positions of Grand Patri- 
arch of the Grand Encampment of Wisconsin 
in 1869, (irand Master of the Grand Lodge of 
Wisconsin 1884, Grand Representative to the 
Sovereign (4rand Lodge and an officer of the 
same body for ten years, from 1870 to 1880. He 
is a charter member and Past Chancellor of 
Monona Lodge, No. 12, K. of I'., and is a 



Past Post Commander of C. C. Washburn 
Post, No. 11. G. A. R. 

In politics Mr. Hudson has always ""eer a 
conservative Republican, though not a par- 
tisan. He was once the candidate of his 
party for Assemblyman and Mayor, and 
though running ahead of the ticket was de- 
feated, the party always being in a minority 
in the capital city. 

Mr. Hudson was married in 1853, to 
Rachel Garrison, daughter of Ezra Garrison. 
She was born at Sand Lake, in Rensselaer 
county. New York, of which State her par- 
ents were also natives. To this union live 
children have been born, one of whom died 
in infancy. The living children are: J. Ed- 
win, of Chicago; Flora B., at home; Charles 
H., in the mail service at ^ladison; and Fred 
L., Secretary of the Wausau F'urniture (\)m- 
pany of Wausau, Wisconsin. Mr. Hudson 
is a tine example of a successful self- made 
man. He began life for himself before he 
had ol)tained his majority, spurred on to do 
80 by a worthy ambition, to be independent 
and self-sustaining. Step by step, each one 
accompanied by hard knocks and a struggle, 
he has climbed the hill of life, aided only by 
his own industry and energy and splendid 
business talents. In twenty-tive years he has 
built himself np from a grain ilealer of lim- 
ited capital and business to the position of 
promoter and organizer of large manufactur- 
ing interests, and to a place among the 
most substantial citizens of a community, 
noted for its large number of men 
of aftluence and prominence, and this 
proud position has been attained by purely 
legitimate business methods. As a public- 
spirited citizen, possessed of broad and lib- 
eral views, lie has established a reputatioti 
second to none among the people of Mad- 
ison, and his friends and acquaintances ad- 



VANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



633 




mire and esteem him for his splendid Imsiness 
ability and foi' his strict integrity and unim- 
peachable honesty. 

Personally Mr. Hudson is a most genial 
and pleasant man. Of rugged stature and na- 
ture, vvith a mind well cultivated and stored 
with diversitied knowledge and experience, a 
good conversationalist, he is at once a most 
agreeable companion and valued friend. 

13. WAKEMAN, proprietorof the only 
hotel in Marshall, Dane county, Wis- 
consin, is the suliject of the present 
sketcli. His grandfather, Bijah Wakeman, 
was a native of England, and for many years 
sailed from his native city of Liverpool on 
the seas. He became the captain of a vessel 
and made many trips around the world, but 
at last he tired of the wandering life and de- 
cided to settle down to the enjoyments of 
home. Consequently he made his last voy- 
age across the ocean and with his family set- 
tled down in Hartford, Connecticut, where 
he worked at the saddlers' trade. Later he 
went to Chemung county. New York, where 
he continued working in the saddler and har- 
ness trade, and at this place he bought a 
farm of 100 acres and engaged in farming 
until 1837, wlien he removed to Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin. The long trip was made by 
Erie canal to Buffalo, l)y the lakes to Mil- 
waukee, thence to Missouri, settling in 
Booueville, where he died. He was married 
and had four children: Mary, Harriet, Maria 
and Charles. 

Charles was tlie second child in the family 
ill order of birth and became the father of 
our subject. He was born in Connecticut 
and lived at home, where he received a fair 
education in the common schools. lie 



worked on a farm, and also learned the 
coojier ti'ade. Before marriage he removed 
with the family to New York, where he 
worked in the timber anil lumber business, 
dealing extensively. While there he married 
Lydia Mitchell, who traced her lineage back 
to the Pennsylvania Dutch. After marriage 
he remained in New York, where in Chemung 
county for many years iie engaged in the 
manufactureof harness, and for sometime he 
combined a coopering business with it. 

In 1843 Charles Wakeman decitled to re- 
move with his family to Wisconsin. He 
chose the water route, coming l)y way of 
canal and lakes to Milwaukee, consumincr 
two weeks on the trip. The month was 
November and the winds over the lakes 
rough, and upon reaching Milwaukee he left 
his family there and went out jirospecting on 
foot with our subject, T. B. This was slow, 
cold work, but occasionally the bov could a-et 
a ride on an ox team, and ere long the house 
of Volney Moore was I'eached in Medina 
township. This was a small log house, and 
was the only place in that wilderness where 
there was any chance to stop. After care- 
fully looking tlie country over, Mr. Wake- 
man made a selection of land in Sun Prairie 
and iledina and here bought 300 acres. 

He then hired three ox teams from differ- 
ent ])oints of parties who had come in from 
Canaila and brouglit teams with tlieni, went 
to Milwaukee and thus l)i'ought the family 
and goods to the house of Sewall Clark, about 
one mile frotn the selected land. This was 
in the fall of 1843, and then Mr. Wakeman 
and his boys went to work. The first neces- 
sity was to go to Illinois to get meat, and he 
hired a teatn for the trip, Ijringing back with 
him eight barrels of pork. At this time 
new men came into the country, and he sup- 
plied them with something to eat and took 



624 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



it out in work, splitting rails, etc. As soon 
as possiMe a log house was built, 20 x 24, 
and at that time it was considered quite a 
building and into tiiis modest residence tlie 
family moved and began pioneer life. The 
land was to be cleared and broken, the farm 
to be gotten ready for planting, and this was 
all men's work; but no pen can sufficiently 
tell of the hardships and privations of the 
brave pioneer women of that day. 

The farm so worked is now owned by one 
of the sons. Tlie family was as follows: 
Thaddeus H., our subject; James M., now 
living in Medina township; Emily, living in 
Michigan; Harriet, at Grand Rapids; Aman- 
da married R. ('hambers and lives at Stevens- 
ville, Wisconsin; John lives at Sun Prairie; 
and Sarah lives in Burke, Wisconsin. The 
mother died in the fall of 1846 and was 
buried near the site of the old log house, 
which had been removed. The father after 
the mother's death took all of the family ex- 
cept James and Thaddeus, who remained on 
the farm, and returned to Ohio for two 
years, where he married a sister of his first 
wife and then returned to Wisconsin, but 
she too is dead. The father died in Sun 
Prairie on the farm. He was a man who 
was active in ])romoting the welfare of the 
community and did his full share toward 
the development of the country. lie was 
liberal in every enterprise, always jreadv to 
lend a helping hand to those in iiced, and his 
distributions of food among the hungry are 
well remembereil yet by those who received 
of his bounty. 

Thad<lens was the oldest in the family and 
was the first one to come to Wisconsin with 
his father. He was brought 'up on a farm 
and received his education in his native 
State, and was born December 22, 182(5. lie 
assisted his father in the clearing of the 



farm and worked there until 1850, when he 
married Miss Julia A. Nichols, who was 
born in New York of American parents. He 
had a part of the farm and built a house on 
the same and commenced married life there. 
He still owns this place, where a son of his 
lives. The old place of his father has now 
an excellent residence and has been developed 
into a fine property, showing the wide judg- 
ment of his father. 

Our subject and wife had a family of 
nine children, eight of whom are living. 
The names are: Augusta, now living with 
her brother in Medina; Francis, in Spring- 
ville, Nebraska; Edgar, living in Sun Dance, 
Wyoming; Harrison, in New Boston, Hli- 
nois; T. B. Burr, living in Spring View, 
Nebraska; Fred, in iledina township; and 
Jennie, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Our sub- 
ject remained on the farm until 1875, when 
he removed to Marshall, in ^[edina town- 
ship, where he engaged in the livery busi- 
ness for a time, and then engaged in the hotel 
business. This is the only hotel in the place 
and is well managed, our subject making it 
a success. Politically he is a Republican. 

E. L. FITZ RELTER, deceased, is the 
subject of this notice. The death oc- 
' curred at his home in this city, Jan- 
uary 14, 1882. He was born in Mecklen- 
burg, Germany, March 28, 1848, and was 
but a child of three years when his parents 
emigrated to the United States, and located in 
Madison, Wisconsin. The father of our 
subject subsequently became a soldier in the 
army, enlisting as a piivatc and ilied while 
in the service. He was then in iniiidle life. 
I and left his widow with a family of small 
I children. She continued to reside in Mad- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



625 



ison until her death, which occurred here in 
18S8, when she was about sixty years of 
age. She had been a good wife and inothei-, 
and had a large circle of friends among the 
German residents of this city, as had also her 
worthy husband. 

Our subject was the eldest of four chil- 
dren, all of whom were born in this country, 
except himself. The three livinir are as fol- 
lows: Jackson, La Fayette and Mrs. Otelia 
Larch, the latter living in tins city; La Fay- 
ette, with his second wife, lives in Ashland, 
Wisconsin, where he is engaged as a real- 
estate dealer; Jackson, a single man, is the 
first-assistant bookkeeper for the Fuller- 
Johnston Manufacturing Company, of Mad- 
ison. Our subject grew up in Madison, was 
educated in the city schools, and when quite 
a young man began clerking in the clothing 
store of Jjenjamin Kohner, now deceased. 
After close application to the business of his 
employer for a time, Mr. Renter left this 
branch to engage in the lumber business with 
his father-in-law. Christian R. Stein, under 
the firm title the C. R. Stein Lumber Com- 
pany, and was thus engaged when he died. 
He was one of the prominent German Amer- 
ican citizens of this city, botii cdramercially 
and socially; was connected with the Masonic 
fraternity, and a leader in the Turner Society. 
being a teacher in that society, and was a 
well-known athlete, having carried off the 
laurels and prizes in the State contests for his 
skill in that direction. Our subject was a 
man of pleasant, genial disposition, interested 
in the progress of the city, and was a decided 
Republican in his political faith. 

Mr. Renter was married to one of the fair 
daughters of Madison, Theckla Stein, wiio 
was born in this city and carefully reared and 
educated in both public and private schools. 
After the death of her husband, Mrs. Renter 



improved her opportunities and entered the 
Michigan State University, and took a thor- 
ough coui-se in dentistry, graduating in that 
art, June 28, 1888, and September 1, of 
that same year, opened her dental parlors in 
the Brown block, on the corner of Pinckney 
street and Washington avenue, and has since 
been in active practice. During the summer 
of 1892 she went to Chicago and took a 
post-graduate course in Dr. Haskell's sciiool 
of prosthetic dentistry. She is an enthusiast 
in her profession, and a skilled artist, at 
the same time being an accomplished lady, 
refined and intelligent. Her heart is in her 
work. She was reared in the Catholic Church, 
and still holds to that faith. As a mother 
she is very proud of her bright children, 
their names being Hattie A. and Bertha F., 
both of whom are being educated in Edge- 
wood Villa, Madison, and the oldest shows a 
marked degree of ability in music. Dr. 
Reuter is the eldest of five children, all 
daughters, and for full history of this family 
see biography of C. R. Stein. 

EORGE W. REYNOLDS was born in 
Roxbury township, in Dane county, 
Wisconsin, in February, 1857. His 
fatiier, William B. Reynolds, is a farmer of 
Dane county, now living retired. The latter 
was born in Canada in 1824, and the grand- 
father of our subject was also a farmer, who 
passed his whole life on his farm in Canada, 
where he died, leaving one son and one daugh- 
ter. William B. Reynolds was reared in 
Canada to farm life, hard labor, and had very 
limited school advantages. He came from 
there to Ohio in 1843, when in his nineteenth 
year, and one year later came to Wisconsin, 
and located at Waukesha. At that place he 




G2G 



BIOGRAPniCAL REVIEW OF 



engaged as a hotel clerk for a mau by the 
name of Putnam, and at this place he was 
married to Miss Cornelia Bowers, who was 
born in New York, daughter of Zachariah 
Bowers, who came West with his family. 
The parent had conducted the hotel for 
about one year, and then moved to Rox- 
bury township on a farm of 100 acres. He 
had ])urchase(l land in Fond du Lac county, 
but did not occupy it, as he sold it, and it was 
in 1848 that the settlement was made at 
Koxbury. They resided at that place, some 
eighteen years, during which time they were 
successful fanners, and improved the place 
by building and fencing, and also bought 
eighty acres more. About 1867 they sold 
out in Roxbury and moved to Dane township, 
where they bought and improved a farm of 
336 acres for $7,500. Here Mrs. Reynolds 
died, September, 1887, aged tifty-eight years, 
leaving four sons and one"daughter, namely: 
Alfred R., now a well-to-do farmer of Lodi 
township, has two sons; Mary A., wife of H. 
B. Knapp, of Madison; George W., our sub- 
ject; William, a farmer on the old home 
farm; and Joseph P., a farmer near by. 

Our subject was reared on the farm, and 
receive<l good common school advantages. 
At the age of twenty- four''year8 he started 
out for himself. He had worked on the home 
farm by the month after his twenty-first 
birthday. When our subject felt like leaving 
the parental roof his father gave him a farm, 
consisting of ninety-two acres in Dune 
county. 

In 1882 Mr. Reynolds sold' his home in 
Dane county, and bought '200 acres, where 
they now live, and upon this Mr. Reynolds 
carries on diversified farming, raising corn, 
oats and barley, and also horses, cattle, 
sheep and liogs. He raises about ten head 
of calves, and has kept as many as forty 



head. He now keeps from six to eight head 
of farm stock horses and about forty Poland 
China hogs, and a tine flock of eighty head of 
sheep. 

In the spring of 1880 Mr. Reynolds mar- 
ried Miss Ada M. Goddard, of Dane town- 
ship, the daughter of William K. Goddard, 
the present Postmaster of Dane. Her moth- 
er, named Clarissa Babcock, was a native of 
Now England, died in Dane county, aged 
twenty-six years, leaving three children, Mrs. 
Reynolds; Clarence E., a farmer of Kansas, 
and Eugenia, the widow of W. C. Rice, a 
farmer of Trempealeau county, Wisconsin. 
Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have one daughter, 
Clara Bell, aged ten years; and PrestoTi R., 
aged seven 3'ears, who both are bright chil- 
dren in sciiool. The family are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Rey- 
nolds is a Prohibitionist, who graduated 
from the Repul)lican ranks. 



fACOB ESSER.— Among those who have 
contributed by their industry and ability 
-v. to the substantial growth of Madison, 
Wisconsin, no one is more deserving of men- 
tion than the gentleman whose name heads 
this sketch. To his enterprise is due the 
establishing, March 2, 1892, of the tirm of 
Efser A: Dawling, successful dealers in boots 
and shoes, at No. 21 West Main street. They 
carry a high class of goods and do a flourish- 
ing business, having by upright business 
principles and uniform courtesy gained great 
popularity among their patrons. Prior to 
entering this business, Mr. Esser served 
acceptably as Clerk of Dane county for four 
years, — two terms. He was elected on the 
Republican ticket, being considered by the 
leaders of that party as the flt man for the 



UANE COUNTY, WlSCOISIlilN. 



G27 



position. Mr. Esser came to Madison in the 
early part of 1856, and since that time lias 
heen closely identified with the interests of 
the city. lie has grown to manhood in the 
city of his adoption; has received his educa- 
tion in her excellent schools, and learned his 
trade of shoe and boot maker. He followed 
his trade for some years, and then clerked in 
a boot and shoe store for a time to acquire 
practical knowledge of the business. 

Mr. Esser was ijorn near Cologne, in a 
lihine province, Germany, December 12, 
1846. He was yet a boy of ten years when 
his parents left their native land, sailing 
from Antwerp, Germany, on a three-mast 
sailer, that landed thetn in Boston, after a 
voyage of fifty-nine days. On arriving in 
this country, the family proceeded to Madi- 
son, via the lakes, river and canal to Mil- 
waukee, and thence overland to Madison. In 
the latter city the father and mother resided 
until their death. The father, Francis Esser, 
was a miller by trade, to which he devoted 
the active years of his life. The devoted 
wife and mother, whose maiden name was 
Agnes Wieland, died some years previous to 
hei- husband, at the age of sixty- Kve. The 
father departed this life at the age of sixty- 
five years, leaving many friends to mourn his 
loss. He and his worthy wife were earnest 
and useful members of the Catholic Church. 

The subject of this sketch is the youngest 
of five children, three sons and two daugh- 
ters. One of the latter, Barbara, died in the 
spring of 1892, aged fifty-two years, some 
years after her marriage to John Kessenich, 
a resident of Madison. The remaining are; 
Mathias, a farmer of Westport township, 
Dane county, who married Margaretta 
Clemmes; Sabilla, wife of Edward La Cross, 
a farmer of Vienna township; Martin, a 
farmer of Vienna township, who married 



Miss Theressa Moffet; and Jacob, the sub- 
ject of this sketch. 

Mr. Esser, of this biography, was married 
in Madison, to Miss Maria Iv. Jesberger, 
who was born, reared and primarily educated 
in North Bristol, but who finished her course 
of studies in Madison. Her parents were 
natives of Bavaria, Germany, who came to 
America after their marriage and settled in 
Bristol, Dane county, where the father, An- 
tone, died in 1881), at the age of eighty-one 
years. After his death his wife cauje to 
Madison, where she still resides in the en- 
joyment of health and mental vigor, at the 
advanced age of ninety years. For the past 
fifty years she has been a practicing midwife 
in this county, and enjoys the esteem of a 
host of friends and acquaintances. She and 
her husband were devout Catholics all their 
lives. Mr. and Mrs. Esser are also members 
of the same church, and Mr. Esser is one of 
the present Trustees of the Holy Redeemer 
Church. He is also a member of the build- 
ing board of the new parochial school of the 
Holy Redeemer, and is also a trustee of the 
school. 

Mr. and Mrs. Esser have eight children: 
Frank W., a printer in the State Journal 
office, married Catherine Vallender, and they 
have one child; Antoue S., at home, was 
educated in the city schools; Mathias J., 
George, (Catherine, Agnes, Anna and Mar- 
garet are all at home. 

Mr. Esser has been prominent in all mat- 
ters calculated to benefit his city and county. 
He is a member of the Madison Mffinnerchor, 
and takes an active part in all the meetings 
of that association. He is a live, active man 
in all local politics, as well as in State and 
national affairs, and has frequently served as 
a delegate to both local and State conven- 
tions. He is one of those men who may be 



638 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF 



counted on for aid in all good enterprises, 
one who will go out of his way to aid a 
friend, and a thoroughly honorable business 
man. 

^X^ — :@: <!■ 

fOHiS' D. GUKNEE, an attorney of 
Madison, was l)orn in Kockland county, 
JS'ew York, December 25, 1833, a son 
of Daniel I. and Abigail Gurnee, also 
natives of that county. The father was a 
capitalist. They had two children, daughters, 
beside the subject of this sketch. 

Mr. Gurnee gi-aduated at Princeton ; read 
law three years at Newburg, New York, and 
was admitted to the bar. C'ouiing to Madi- 
son in the spring of 1857, he began the 
practice of his profession, first associating 
luuiself with William 11. Ilasbrook. In his 
political views Mr. Gurnee is a Democrat. 
In 1873 he served his community as a mem- 
ber of tlie Legislature. 

In 1803 he married Miss Madeline N. Rey- 
nolds, of iladison, a daughter of William li. 
Reynolds. They have four children, namely: 
Ann Breese, who died in 1880; John S., a 
stenographer; Daniel C. and Paul D. 

fACOB SEEMANN, a prominent lawyer 
of Madison, Wisconsin, was born in 
Laurvig, Norway, June 13, 1830, son of 
Johanna 11. and Karen (Dorothea) Secmann, 
the former a native of Hanover, Germany, and 
the latter of Norway. His father was an 
architect by trade, but tlie latter portion of 
his life he was engaged in the mercantile 
business. He went to Norway at the age of 
twenty-seven. He ilied in 1855. His wife 
is also <leceased. They had ten children, 
Jacob being the second born. Some of the 



family are in America, and others still re- 
main in Norway. 

Jacob Seemaiin had e.xcellent educational 
advantages in his youth, and has been a 
student all his life, being now able to con- 
verse in many languages. In 1854 he came 
to America, and soon after his arrival at 
Buffalo, New York, had an attack of cholera 
and came near dying. After his recovery he 
came to Wisconsin, located at Port Washing- 
ton, and for one year was employed in the 
county clerk's office. He then came to Madi- 
son, and was made editor of the Norwegian- 
American paper, which position he occupied 
until the following fall. At that time he 
turned his attention to the work of translat- 
ing the first historical report of Wisconsin 
from English to Norwegian, and after satis- 
factorily completing the same was given a 
place in the public school land office, where 
he worked from 1856 till 1860. In the fall 
of 1860 he became editor of a German paper, 
known as the North Star. Next we tiiul him 
employed on a Norwegian paper for awhile, 
and afterward engaged in the real-estate busi- 
ness. About this time he was made a notary 
public, and while acting as such began the 
study of law, ju-epared himself for its prac- 
tice, and in 1883 was admitted to the bar of 
the Circuit Court of Madison, and also to the 
Supreme Court of Wisconsin that same year. 
In October, 1883, he went to Minneapolis, 
Minnesota, where he remained until Decem- 
ber, 1885. He also became a member of the 
bar of that State. Returning to Madison in 
1885, he has since been engaged in the prac- 
tice of his profession here, and in connection 
with his practice has also been loaning money 
for his friends and clients. lie was for seven 
terms elected Justice of the Peace in the 
Third Ward of Madison. When Mr. Braley 
was Judge of the Municipal Court of Madi- 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



039 



son, he made Mr. Seemann his substitute on 
the bench whenever he was absent or ill, Mr. 
Seemann being tlie oldest justice of the peace 
in Madison. 

Mr. Seemann was married in 1858, and had 
two children: Cora M., died in May, 1875; 
and Eleonore Kathinka is the wife of Ole 
Norsman. 

Politically he has been a life long Repub- 
lican; religiously, a Lutheran. lie is both a 
poet and a musician. His poems, in Eng- 
lish, Norwegian and German, are found in 
numerous magazines and periodicals. He is 
an expert violinist, and was a great friend of 
Ole Bull during the lifetime of that noted 
musician. 

tOJS. ITHAMAR C. SLOAN, e.x-member 
of Congress, and the Professor of Equity 
in the University of Wisconsin is the 
subject of this sketch. His birth took p]a'.;e 
in Morrisville, Madison county. New York, 
May 9, 1822. lie received a common school 
and academical education, after which he 
entered upon the study of law with Timothy 
Jenkins, a distinguished attorney at Oneida, 
New York, and was admitted to the liar at 
Ithaca, in 1848, at the second term of the 
Supreme Court of that district, after the adop- 
tion of the code of proceed ure of New York, 
by which the forms of action and practice, as 
established by the common law were abolisJied 
and the code of procedure, the same as now 
prevails in the State of Wisconsin, was estab- 
blished. 

From the time of his admission until 1854, 
our distinguished subject practiced law at 
Oneiila, and then came to this State, locating 
at what then seemed to be the larger town, 
Janesville, and there engaged in the practice 



of law. In 1858 he was elected District At- 
torney of Rock county, and was re-elected in 
1860. Two years later he was elected l>y the 
Republican party as their member of Con- 
gress, being re-elected in 1864. During his 
service in the IIouso of Representatives he was 
a member of the Committee on Public Lands 
and Claims and on the Expense of the War 
Department Committee, which was one of the 
greatest importance at that time. 

The career of Mr. Sloan while in Congress 
was alike honorable and useful, and he came 
out of public life at Washington City with an 
absolutely clean record. His further con- 
tinuance in Congress was precluded by the 
then iron-clad rule in his district, that a rep- 
resentative should serve only two terms. 

Returning to his law pi'actice in Janesville, 
our subject continued it with eminent suc- 
cess until 1875, when he removed to Madison, 
Wisconsin, where he became Assistant Attor- 
ney-General for a time under his brother, A. 
Scott Sloan. While acting in this capacity, 
and afterward Mr. Sloan was enirae-ed in 
prosecuting the Granger law on behalf of the 
State against the railroads, violating it in Wis- 
consin, which resulted in a complete trium|)h 
for the State. 

For many years Mr. Sloan has been an 
active practitioner of law in the city of Madi- 
son, and is accounted one of the most convinc- 
ing and eminent in the fraternity and his 
profound knowledge of all knotty points is 
acknowledged universally. He is a close 
student of the merits of the cases he under- 
takes and all evidence is sifted to the bottom 
before any step is taken. As an advocate, 
few men have the like happy faculty of pre- 
senting the points of their cases in an equally 
terse, concise, clear and forcible manner, while 
his style is courteous, dignified and con- 
vinciuiT. 



630 



BIOGRAl'UIGAL REVIEW OF 



In private life no citizen is more upright, 
courteous and public-spirited. For several 
years he has been one of the faculty of the 
law department of the University of Wiscon- 
sin. He Ijeiran in 1876 to lecture to the law 
class, and still continues this, althoutrh ho 
spends his winters in Florida. 



^ 



^ 



ILLIAM TYLP:K McCONXELL is 
■KWj'AM '' member of one of the most pros- 
l'"^»Ti perous business houses in the city of 
Madison, Wisconsin. The lirni name is Mc- 
CoiiiK'U & Son, and their location is No. 23 
JMorth Piuckney street, where they carry on 
one of the most complete grocery houses in 
this locality. The business was established 
in 1882 and has grown to large proportions, 
tlie tirni now reijuiring the assistance of si.x 
clerks and having the trade of the l)est 
people of the city and vicinity. 

The birth of our subject took place De- 
cember 19, 1835, in Montgomery county, 
<)liio. There he was reared and educated in 
tlie common schools, receiving his first in- 
struction in the little log schoolhouse, which 
was the temple of learning for so many of 
the successful men of thirty years of age or 
more. Tie grew \ip on a farm, and in agri- 
cultural pursuits has spent a great part of 
his life. His father, Thomas J. McConnell, 
was a native of Franklin, Warren county, 
Oliio, and the youngest child in the family, 
all of whom, e.xcept himself, were natives of 
Kentucky. The grandfather of our subject, 
Alexander McConnell, moved into the latter 
State at an early day and then came into the 
wilds of Ohio, where he was a pioneer of 
AVarren county. His birth probably took 
place in Maryland or North Carolina, and he 
sprang from a lino of Scotch- Irish ancestors, 



who came to this country prior to the Revo- 
lutionary war and took part in it. A sister 
of Alexander McConnell married Colonel 
liobert Patterson, who became connected 
with the early history of Kentucky. Both 
the Pattersons and the McConnells were 
warm friends of Daniel Boone, and went 
with the great Nimrod on many of his hunt- 
ing expeditions. 

After Alexander McConnell grew to ma- 
turity, he married Miss Rebecca Thompson, 
whose people were also early settlers in Ken- 
tucky, and pi'ominent in military affairs. 
Mr. and Mrs. McConnell settled in Lexing- 
ton, and in the latter part of the last century 
moved into Ohio. There Mr. McCouuell 
died, about the time of the opening of the 
war of 1812, in which struggle he bore a 
part, doing good service in many engage- 
ments, including the battle of Piqua Plains. 
The wife of Mr. McConnell survived him 
some years, and made her home with her 
sons in Montgomery county, Indiana, where 
she died in old age. Both siie and her hus- 
band were members of the Presbyterian 
Church. 

Thomas J., the youngest child from this 
union, and the father of the subject of this 
sketch, grew to mandood in Ohio, and mar- 
ried, in Montgomery county. Miss Sarah 
Tyler, who was born at Paris, Kentucky, the 
(laughter of William Tyler, a second cousin 
of President Tyler. William Tyler was born 
in Kentucky, but came at an early day to 
Montgomery county, Ohio, where he died. 
His wife was Miss Judd Mathena, also a 
Kentuckian. After marriage, Thomas Mc- 
Connell and wife began life on a farm in 
Montgomery county, and there all of their 
children were born. In 1855 all of the 
family except Alexander, who still lives on a 
farm in Montgomery county, came to Wis- 



DANE U0UNT7, WISCONSIN. 



G31 



consiD. The trip was made overland, and 
tliey settled at Madison, when the city was a 
town of about 3,000 inhabitants. It was 
here that Thomas began to buy land, continu- 
ing buying and selling for some years, until 
at last he retired from active business. lie 
died at Madison, January 23, 1893, in his 
ninetieth year; his wife, in her eighty-sixth 
year, survives him. Both of them were for 
many years stanch members of the Presliy- 
terian Church. 

Our subject, William T., is the fourth 
child in a family of two sons and four daugh- 
ters. He was married, after coming; to 
Madison, to Miss Mary Turville, who was 
born in England in IS-iO. She came to this 
country when she was eight years of age, 
witli her parents, Henry and Mary (Kent) 
Turville, who settled for two years near Co- 
lutubus, Ohio, and in 1852 came* to Madison, 
where the father died in 1871, when fift}'- 
seven years of age. 

Mr. and Mrs. William T. AlcConnell are 
the parents of two sons and one daughter: 
George K., of the firm with his father; 
Frank T., a doctor of <lentistry; and Anna, 
living at home. Mr. and Mrs. McConnell 
are valued members of the Presbyterian 
Church. He has not been an active poli- 
tician, but lias been County Treasurer, has 
been connected with the post office for three 
years, and has held the office of Under 
Sheriff'. The political faith of the family, 
which has descended from the grandfather, 
is that of the Democratic party. The family 
is one greatly respected in Madison, and Mr. 
McConnell has business as well as personal 
Irierids by the score. 



fOHN MASON, a farmer of section 28, 
Verona township, has been a resident of 
Dane county ever since 1850. He was 
born at Lincolnshire, England, December 28, 
1824, a son of Thomas and Mary (Willertoti) 
Mason, both natives of that shire, the father 
a farmer. The subject's mother died in En- 
gland. Their six children were: Thomas, 
who resided in the old country until his 
death; Elam is still living, in England; the 
next in order of birth is the subject of this 
sketch; Maliala, the next, married first Mi'. 
Lee, and subsequently Mr. Gray, and still 
resides in the old country, as also does Char- 
lotte, the next, a music teacher. Their father 
emigrated to this country in 1852, settling in 
the township of Middleton, this county, 
where he died in 18G0. 

Mr. Mason, whose name heads this sketch, 
learned the trade of miller in his native land, 
and in 1850 came to the United States, locat- 
ing in Dane county. He first purchased 
eighty acres of land in that township, which 
he occupied until 1869, when he sold the 
place and moved to Verona township, where 
he now lives. The present jilace was some- 
what improved when he bought it, but he has 
added many other improvements and made 
the farm a valuable one. He still devotes all 
his attention to farmintr, in which he has 
averaged good success. 

In his political views of mattei-s in tlii.s 
country lie is a Democrat. He has been ac- 
tive in political matters, having been delegate 
to county, district and State conventions of 
his party. For seven years he was Chairman 
of his Township Board of Supervisors; has 
been Assessor ten years. He and his wife 
were lu-oiight up in the Protestant Episcopal 
Church, but are not meml)ers. 

He was married in March, 1850, in Lin- 
colnshire, England, to Miss Emily, dau<)-hter 



632 



BWGRAPniCAL REVIEW OF 



of Robert and Hannah Dawson, born March 
13, 1832. ill that country. She was the only 
member of the family to come to America. 
After marriage Mr. Mason tirst visited this 
country, to look at various localities with a 
view to settlement, first thinking of Ohio, 
but finally selecting the place mentioned in 
tliis county, and then returned to his wife. 
They have had eight children: Charlotte E., 
wife of M. A. Doyle, whose sketch is given 
in this work; Agnes, who married William 
Ogilbee and died, in Verona township, leav- 
ing live children; Victor E., a farmer in that 
townsliip; Emily Maud M., who married R. 
II West; and Maliala A., a teacher in the 
public schools. The eldest child died in in- 
fancy, and Mary Ann died at the age of ten 
years. 

|AMUEL FIELD, a farmer and stock- 
raiser on section 23, in Sun Prairie, 
Wisconsin, is the subject of our present 
sketch. His father, Thomas Field was born 
in Sussex, England, and there carried on the 
occupation as farmer. He had five children; 
Sarah, who became Mrs. Golden; George, 
James, Thomas and Samuel. Three of the 
boys went to Australia, attracted there by 
the oifer of government land and obtained 
some 4,846 .icres. Two of the brothers were 
married before they left England, and all 
went together, quite a colony settling tiiere 
at one time. James died there one year 
after arrival. 

Our Bulgect, Samuel, was born in 1821, 
and attended private schools as there were no 
public schools near. When fourteen years 
of ago he started to America witii anotlier 
boy who had told him tales of the wonders 
of America. He paid five pounds for his 



passage, and when he reached CFtica, New 
York, had only a dollar. Seven weeks and 
three days had been spent on the ocean. 
When he reached Watcrville he found work 
in a factory for the manufacture of springs 
and was engaged to handle the sheets of 
which the springs were made, at 812 a month, 
but during his time of service the firm failed 
and thus he lost a year. He had brought 
with him plenty of clothing from his English 
home and so manajjed to o;et alons. altliough 

o o o o 

he never recovered anything from the firm 
even after engaging a lawyer to press his 
claim. 

Then our subject learned the carpenters' 
trade and soon displayed ability. He first 
was given $13 a month but some months 
later hired out as apprentice at §100 per 
year. He was very apt, and before long 
earned §18 a month, and at that time it was 
considered high wages. As he was very in- 
dustriou.s and worked without losing a day, 
saving his earnings, he ere long had a little 
capital. He remained in New York State 
until 1846, worked for several employers and 
making sometimes as high as S20 a month, 
wiiich was then considered an expert's wages. 
At this time he married Miss Mary Cornes, 
a dauffhter of Georrre Cornes. Slie was a na- 
tive of England, l)orn in Smarden, Kent 
county, England, and after coming to this 
country settled in Waterville, Oneida county, 
New York. 

After marriage our subject and wife re- 
moved to White Water, Wisconsin. The trip 
was made by canal to I'ufi'alo, by lake to 
Milwaukee, and from there to White Water 
by a team and wagon. They remained one 
night in Milwaukee but journeyed on to 
White Water as fast as possible, as Mrs. 
Field had a brotiier living there. Here they 
lived ten years, when uiir subject jiurciiased 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



63:i 



a tract of ciglity acres of land; borrowing 
$100. lie paid §'50 as the first payment, 
and soou became prosperous enougli to pay 
the remainder. In Wliite Water he engaged 
with tiie brother of his wife in the ciotliing 
and jeweh-y business. Wliile in business 
here a man who owned seven forties of Gov- 
ernment land came and wished to trade for 
the store. Mr. Field went to Sun Prairie 
and looked at the land. There was no im- 
provements on the land but its location was 
fine, and in connection with another brother- 
in-law he finally decided to locate there, liv- 
ing in a loy house. 

Energy and perseverence will aecomplisli 
wonders, and as Mr. Field was a good me- 
chanic and carpenter he soon made improve- 
ments and has now all his land paid for. Af 
ter two years' time he built a new house, 
which was very comfortable and was built as 
he could Und time from his other labors. In 
the meantime he had done considerable car- 
penter work. In Madison he bought the old 
soitliers' barracks, which he utilized for stab- 
ling, and one of the first improvements made 
on the place was that of fencing it, altliough 
he had to go to a place ten miles away to get 
the rails. He had the best yoi<e of cattle in 
the county and with these he was able to ac- 
complish much. Now there are 103 acres 
in the home farm and it is well imj)i-oved 
and pleasantly located. 

Mr. and Mrs. Fiehl have had five children, 
three of whom are yet living: p]mma, mar- 
ried Henry Phillipa, who is a successful 
dairyman and has si,\ children ; George grad- 
uated from a Chicago medical college and 
passed si.v years in the State University, 
graduating in the class of 1872, and speaks 
Norwegian, (lerman and French; he is now 
a physician in Iowa. He married Miss Code 
and has three children. M'ss Hattie, a young 



'ady of many accomplishments, is at iiome. 
Her artistic talent has been cultivated and 
she is producing some work, of which much 
older and more experienced ai'tists might 
not be ashamed. 



^ 



^ 



g^RASTUS E. DOTY, a well-known and 
highly respected farmer of Burke town- 
ship, was l)orn in the town of Grove, 
Allegany county. New York, March 20, 
1834. His father, Edward Doty, was, it is 
thought, a native of Connecticut. Put little 
ib known of the early life of the grandfather 
of our subject. The father u'as reared to 
agi'icultural pursuits, and he gave his atten- 
tion to fanning in Allegany and Livingston 
counties, New Y'^ork, until bis removal to 
Illinois, in 1864r, from the latter county. He 
purchased a farm in McIIenry county and 
passed his remaining years in the Prairie 
State, his death occurring at a ripe a^^'c in 
1SC6. He was twice married. Tiie father 
of our subject married for his second wife, 
Permelia (Lombard) Button. He was a 
Presbyterian, true to the faith until the end. 
A Whig in politics in early life, he was a 
steadfast Pepublican after the formation of 
the party till his death. 

Our subject was very young when his par- 
ents removed to Livingston county in his 
native State, and there he was reared and 
educated. He resided there until he was 
twenty-three years of age, and then began his 
independent career as a farmer by working 
land on shares in J^looming Grove township 
for two years. At the expiration of that 
time he purchased twenty acres of land in 
the town of Jbirke, upon which he located, 
and which he cultivated in connection with 
his brother-in-law's farm of one IGO acres. 



3o 



e;u 



BlOGIiAPHlCAL REVIEW OF 



/9 



Two years later he bought eigljty acres of 
land (Til section 14, Burke township, of which 
sixty aeres are includeil in liis present farm, 
which now comprises 150 acres of well ini- 
jiroved land, provided with a good class of 
huiidings, and everyihing about the place is 
kept in line order. 

Mr. Doty was married in 1858, to Amanda 
ilelissa Hill. She is likewise a native of 
-New York, born in Livingston county, in 
September, 1835, and a daughter of Samuel 
and Fanny (Chittenden) Ilill. Mr. and Mrs. 
I)iity*.s pleasant marriage has been hallowed 
to them by the birth of four children: Flora, 
Frank, Alice and Maxwell Dorr. The latter 
is a lad at schoool, and Alice is a student at 
the White Water Normal School. The two 
elder have also been liberally educated and 
are engaged at the profession of teaching: 
Frank, a graduate of the State University, is 
principal of the schools at Las Vegas, New 
Mexico; Flora was educated in the city 
schools of Madison. The family are all 
members of the Episcopal Church, and are 
of hieh social standing in the communitv. 

Mr. Doty is a Republican of unshaken 
principles and has borne an honorable part 
in the public life of his township, which he 
has served as Assessor. Ke was also a mem- 
ber of the Town Board six years, acting as 
Chairman three years. lie is a man of 
sound character and exemplary habits, who is 
straightforward in his dealings, and enjoys 
the full confidence of his neighbors and 
friends. 

^1 )11 N WALL, a retired business man, of 
'^^\ I'.lack Earth, Dane county, was born in 
^^ ('luitham. Kent county, England, June 
24, 1S07, a son of John and Sarah (Friday) 
Wall, the former a native of Chatham, and 



the latter at Boghten, near Canterbury, Eng- 
land. The father, a miller by occupation, 
died in 1857, and the mother in 1801. They 
were the parents of sixteen children, thirteen 
sons and three daushters, four of whom are 
now living, and all reside in England but our 
subject. One son, Richard, is a fine scholar, 
and a clergyman. 

.fohn Wall, the tifth of his parents' sixteen 
children, learned the trade of a miller in his 
native country, lie began life for himself 
on the London Board of Trade, where he re- 
mained about twenty years, and while in that 
city was also employed as a clerk in a bank. 
In 1848 he came to America, settling in Mil- 
waukee, Wisconsin, where he was engaged in 
the tlour and grain business two years. He 
then followed the same occupation in St. 
Louis, Missouri, one year, and in 1852 bought 
the flouring mill of Mr. Sweet in Black 
Earth, Dane county. After operating this 
mill about fifteen years, Mr. Wall sold out to 
Stanford, Logan & Goodland. He is en- 
gaged in taking care of what he has accumu- 
lated; takes but little interest in politics, vot- 
ing with the Democratic party, and he never 
sought or held office of any kind. Relig- 
iously', he is a member of the Congregational 
Church. 

Mr. Wall was married in London, Eng- 
hmd, in 1S36, to Mariah E. Bennett, who was 
born reared and educated in that city. She 
died January 7, 1892. 

,EV. S. G. WOELFEL came to East 
Bristol, Wisconsin, from Farmersville, 
Dodge county, Wisconsin, November 7, 
188(5, to become priest in charge of St. 
Joseph Congregation. He was born at Elm 
Grove, Wisconsin, of Bavarian parents, who 



C_ 



DANE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



935 



came here in 1844, being pioneers of tlie lo- 
cality. Tile tatlier bought a farm at Frank- 
lin, near Elm Grove, Wisconsin, and there he 
died October 11, 1S89, but his mother re- 
sided with our subject. Tiiere were three 
children in the family: Cornelia, of Frank- 
lin; John, a farmer of Franklin; and our 
subject. The father was a very industrious 
man, his means were small, but he labored 
on with the gi-eat desire of educating his chil- 
dren. Thirteen acres were all he owned at 
Elm Grove, but by dint of the closest econ- 
omy, he managed to save enough to enable 
liim to take his little family to Milwaukee 
and educate them. 

The grandfather of our subject, Oldrich 
Woelfel, was a Bavarian, who, after the death 
of his wife, decided to come to America. He 
started to America in a sailing vessel, landed 
in New York, came by way of the Erie canal 
to Buffalo, by lake to Milwaukee, and after 
some investigation, bought eighty acres of 
land at Elm Grove for $150. His son 
George now owns the place, which he could 
sell for $250 per acre. Here the grand- 
father bought land and built a log house in 
which were sheltered six persons, and there 
cointnenced a pioneer life in earnest. Jt was 
a life of toil and jirivation, which is remein- 
bereil with amazement by many who passed 
safely through those days of discouragement 
and danger, and which is read of by a younger 
generation almost with incredulity. Fifteen 
years passed away here, things growing bet- 
ter and more comfortable every year. Wheat 
and potatoes were raised on the farm and 
hauled to market to Milwaukee, some miles 
distant. The family then removed to Charles- 
l)urgh, in Calumet county, where a few years 
later the grandfather died. He had a family 
pf seven children as follows: Frederick, a 
large farmer at Elm Grove; Conrad, who was 



drowned in Milwa\ikee I'iver in 1840; the 
father of our subject; John, who went to Cal- 
ifornia in 1850 and was never after heard 
fr(_)m, pi-obably dying of yellow fever; George, 
a larire farmer of Elm Grove; Georije, a 
farmer, of Charlesburgh, Wisconsin; and 
Catherine, who married John Woelfel. 

The father of our subject was the tliii-il 
child in the family, and was born in liohl- 
dorf, in Bavaria, and was married in 1844, 
in the month of Decemljer. All the family 
have been identitie<l with the Roman Catho- 
lic Church. Father Woelfel was thoroughly 
educated at St. Francis Seminary in Milwau- 
kee, and was ordained at that place. His 
first pastorate was at Caledonia, Wisconsin, 
where he remained four years and had two 
congregations. Then he went to Orockie, 
where he remained four years more, thence 
to May ville, in Dodge county, and from there 
to Farmersville, where he remained four 
years, and then came to his present charge. 

At this place Father Woelfel has a con- 
{jrecation of 125 families. The old church 
was built in 1864, at a cost of $6,000, but 
when the present incumbent came he soon 
found it inadequate, and the old building was 
used in part construction of the new, being 
used in the basement. The new church 
erected in the three years of our subject's pas- 
torate cost $19,000, but it is not yet com- 
pleted, perhaps the whole cost will be as 
much as $34,000. The school bnihling was 
erected in 1866 at a cost of §4,000. There 
are about 100 children in attendance here, 
with three sisters from Milwaukee as teachers. 
No doubt Father Woelfel is doing a grand 
work here. He is a genial, pleasant gentle- 
man, who exerts a great influence for the 
betterment of not only his own community, 
but for the people at large. The citizens 
owe him a debt for the wise way he has man- 



030 



BIOGRAPaiCAL REVIEW OF 



aged affairs, and his own people are to be 
congratulated that they have secured so good 
and coin])etent a man to look after their spir- 
itual matters. 

T||ROF. DAYID 13. FKANKEXBUR" 
'-I W ^E^v ^- ^^-j LL. B. now occupying 
*^ the chair of Rhetoric and Oratory in 
the Wisconsin University at Madison, well 
know in literary circles as a poet, historian 
and essayist, was born in Edinburg, Lawrence 
county, Pennsylvania, October 13, 1845. 
Ilis parents, Lewis and Elizabeth (Kale) 
Frankenbnrger were born, the former in 1817 
in Pennsylvania, and the latter in 1818, in 
Columbiana county, Ohio. As the name 
signifies, the original possessor was a burgher 
of North Germany. The paternal great- 
grandfather of Prof. Frankenburger came to 
America when a youth, about the year 1760, 
and served in the Revolutionary war. This 
ancestor afterward settled near the boundary 
line of the three States of Virginia, ^Larvland 
and Pennsylvania, and his descendants have 
since lived first in the Old Dominion and 
later in the Keystone State. In consequence 
of the custom of inter-marriage in the 
country, the German characteristics are now 
mingled with tiiose of the French, Scotch and 
Irisli, and the Professor may justly lay claim 
to a kinship with the world. Prof. Frank- 
enburger's father was in early life a merchant, 
but in 1855 removed to the frontier, as the 
Territory of Wisconsin was then called, and 
settled on a farm in Green county, which he 
cultivated fi»r many years. lie eventually 
remiived to Iowa, settled on a farm near 
Clarksville, in Butler county, where the 
<levoted wife and mother departed this life in 
IS'.ll. There the father still resides in the 



enjoyment of universal esteem. This worthy 
couple had four children: two sons and two 
daughters, of whom the subject of this sketch 
is the youngest. The other son, Henry, is a 
successful educator in Fort Scott, Kansas. 

Prof. Frankenburger, of this biography, 
was a youth of ten years when his parents 
came to Wisconsin. lie was for nine years 
engaged in working on the farm, attending 
the district school during the winter. He 
prepared for college at Milton Academy, and 
at the age of twenty-one years he entered the 
Wisconsin University, at which institution 
he ijraduated in 1869 with the degree of 
Bachelor of Philosophy. He then attended 
the law department of the same school, where 
he graduated in 1871. He was subsequently 
engaged for seven years in legal practice in 
Milwaukee, this State. It was while thus 
occupied that he was offered the chair of 
Rhetoric and Oratory in his alma mater, which 
he accepted, hoping in a professor's chair to 
find that leisure for a literary career denied 
him in the more active pursuit of the law. 
For, while in college and in the ten years 
succeeding his graduation, he had often 
successfully dallied with the muses. In the 
decade of 1870, '-80 he was frequently called 
upon to enliven with verse the gatherings of 
the Alumni, he occupying the position at 
the Wisconsin University that Dr. Holmes 
held at Harvard, that of college poet. His 
poems are filled with chaste and exquisite 
imagery, and pervaded by touching pathos 
and delicate humor. Those which appeal 
most powerfully to the popular taste are "My 
( )ld Home," «'The Bells of Bethlehem." and 
■Our Welcome Home." He also contributes 
to various magazines, and is preparing a 
History of the University of Wisconsin for 
the World's Fair. The correction of quires 
on qnires of manuscript, amounting to folio 



DASK <:<ir\r)\ ir/.sc o.v.s/.v. 



e:^^ 



volumes eacli term, lias left him no Ifisure 
for verse. In 1882 he strengtliened iiis 
acquirements as a teacher of oratory l)y a 
course of instruction in Boston. J'y nature 
an energetic and conscientious worker I'rof. 
Frakenburger has been uns]iaiing in iiis 
etibrts to raise the stan(hiril of literary culture 
in the university. 

I'rof. Frankenburger was mariied June 24, 
1880, to Miss Mary S. Storer, an intelligent 
and cultured lady, and a native <>f Portland, 
Maine, who was educated at the ]\Iilwaukeo 
Female College and tlie Wisconsin University. 
They have two children, — ilargaret and 
Dorothy. 

The Professor is an able and scliolarly man 
of unremitting industry, and the uni\'crsity 
may be congratulated on his acquisition to 
its corps of teachers. Following is the jioem 
referred to: 

OUU WKLCO.MK Ilo.Mi:. 



TO TIIK AI.IMNI. 



Fi'ciin 111 ieCs and sermons, trade and books, 
Fioni kitchens, parlors, baljies, cooks. 
We come when Alma Mater calls 
Her children to her homestead halls. 

AVe see she has prospered, we joy in lier Joy, 

And her future we paint with the faith of a boy. 

But changed is the homestead; we're pained all the 

while 
At the old places filled with new faces, though wp 

smile. 

The old rooms we loved other lovers have won, 
And their walls echo back the frolic and fun, 
Or hold secret tryst with some deep, silent soul, 
That is born with a purpose and strives for a goal. 

The world loves the East, the birthplace of Moni, 
And we hallow the walls where Liberty's born, 
And where pleasure or good comes through endeavor, 
That place we hold dear in our hearts forever. 

How we dreamed in tho.se days of honor and fume, 
JIow easy in fancy to carve a great name, 



When the ijnds seemt^d alioui us to help us along, 
.\nd the world was jusi wailing with garlands and 
song. 

Our purpose how royal! we longed for the strife, 

To U|iliold the right in the battle of life. 

And loyal to truth and virtue we'd be 

And stand like a rock in the break ot the sea. 

As preachers we'd practice the precejits we taught. 
As merchants we'd sell as good as we bought, 
As lawyers we'd preach the divineness of right, 
Nor practice at bars where the spirits grow light. 

And politics, too, shoiihl face right about. 
And reform should not mean to jiut the ins out ; 
And Justice should sit in no partisan gown 
To uphold the wrong or |)ull the right dowu. 

Brave dreamers were we on the shore of life's Sea, 

With the tide flowing out to eternity: 

And a haven of promise was seen from afar, 

If we sailed by the law of the sun and the star. 

Have the brave dreams all vanished, like mist in the 

morn y 
Has the high-soaring soul of its pinions been shorn V 
Doomed to flutter along where the carrion falls,. 
Do the ghosts of these dreams ever haunt these old 

halls'/ 

Does a vaulting ambition our manhood discrown '? 

Dim the young sight and turn the eye down v 
' Put round men in s(|Uare lioles, and sciu.ire men in 
j round ' 

Take tinsel for gold '? barter substance for sound 'f 

I As we enter the door of the college hall 
I We stumble, and start in surprise at the tail 
I Of the foot below the line of the tloor, 
I And we turn and look at the sill of the door. 
] An inch or more below the line 
j Th.at marked it square in the early time, 
When Chancellor Barnard reigned serene 
And pastured his cow on the college green. 

'I'he old stone sill is worn aw.ay 
I By the constant tread, day after d.ay. 
Of a thousand feet that have danced along 
To the rythmic measure of hope and .song. 
As though from the base of some wild cascade, 
The rock had been cut that the door-sill made. 
Where the waters had pounded and bubbled in glee, 
As they danced and foamed on their way to the sea. 

There is nothing dead in this world of ours; 

The rock has life, as well as the flowers; 
I The atoms are prisoned, but living still, 
1 Are waiting the call of a forming will; 

.\nd the humble place they hold this hour, 



638 



BIOGRAPHICAL ItEVIEW OF 



Shall be i-hanged in the next to one of power, 
ralocked by the tread of our hiisty feet, 
In the bloom of flower and fruit shall meet. 

For back of rock, and bird and tree. 

Throbs the same great heart of Deity. 

Delights the God of the universe, 

His ancient miracles to rehearse; 

And the atom marches in time and sings, 

As it did at the genesis of things. 

The old stone sill, with equal joy. 

Has welcomed the feet of maid and boy. 

It welcomes, with promise of a man, 
The country lad with his cheek of tan; 
With his muscles of iron, forced iu the field, 
A\iih a light in his eye that will not yield 
To the baser shows of citj' and town, 
With a purpose grand, that will not down. 
Though poverty stares; born of heat and cold. 
On prairies wide and in forests old: 
In whose cheek the morning blushes, 
And the mounting life-blood rushes 
Through his veins like the sap in the tree; 
\Vhose spirit rises, bold and free. 

.\> the floating cloud unvexed by rain, 
U'alching its shadow across the plain, 
The fresh-turued earth from the polished share, 
\ui\ the joy of the early morning air, 
Has woo'd this boy through every sense, 
\\'ith all the love of the elements. 
From forest and field comes that tuition 
That culture brings to best fruition. 

^\ lien the time had come for the great account, 
When the nation travailed in pain at the fount 
Of sorrow, and wearied with groans and teaiij 
And the burdened wrongs of a hundred yeai>, 
The God of battles had risen in might 
To break the chains and end the night. 

Then the door-sill kissed the hurrying feet 

<Jf the student boys as they rushed to meet 

Their country's foe, and left unlearned 

Tlie tasks assigned; from the blackboard turned. 

And left the problem half e.xplained, 

And in far battle.fields they gained 

\ soldier's fame. In remembrance sweet 

It holds the tread of their vanishing feet. 

' Tis an entrance way to the temple of thouglil, 

To a good to be had, but not to be '.bought. 

And worn away by the rhythmic tread 

Of the feet in love with the heart and head, 

'lljis old stone sill our God holds dear 

As the temples grand, that the faith and fear 

Of the peoples have built His name to adore; 



Dear as the consecrated floor 
Of Peter's holy church at Kome, 
Beneath the shadow of whose dome 
Father and son for a thousand years, 
W'ith bated breath and falling tears. 
Have knelt at the altar-side to pray 
Till their knees have worn the floor away. 

This old stone sill is a tie that binds. 

While the love of home or learning finds 

A place in our breast, a wider realm 

Than creeping ivy or branching elm. 

Brother and sister of mine shall ye be 

If your feet have trodden this stone with nie. 

It shall always hold its counsels deep 

.\nd the memories of the past shall keep, 

Xor harken in vain for the coming feet 

When your sons and daughters here shall meet. 

A homestead indeed it shall be for you then 
When the old names are called in the college again, 
And glad shall it be when the old places 
Shall see in the new the older faces. 

Changed are they who by counsel wise 
! Vaulted the arch in our mental skies, 
And the eldest one, best known to all, 
Who cradled this school when college hall 
In the brain of the architect quietly slumbered, 
l'\)r his hours of patient toil unnumbered 
Our gratitude holds. With his stately tread 
.\nd the silver sheen of his old gray head. 
With his sturdy faith and outworn creed 
.\nd his heart beating quick at every need, 
Shall live in our minds iu the years to come 
W ith the mystery of the pendulum. 

I What a royal greeting salutes our eyes, 

} Standing beneath the soft June skies 
On yonder hill, that an artist unseen 
lias draped in robes of royal green. 
We answer the welcoming nod of the tree. 
And clap the birds for their minstrelsy; 
The cranesbill lifts its purple head 
Half in welcome and half in dread. 
And holds a council in joy and fear 
With a shooting star that is bending near, 
As to whether we come with book and knile 
To cut and carve and stab its life 
.\9 we did in our jolly years ago. 
Before we learned what the wiser know ; 
That a higher use of tree and flower 
Is to wake to ecstasy and power, 
The slumbering soul, with a resting dreim 
Of the spirit that hides in the flashing gleam 

I Of the beautiful. 



7^.1. V A- oouyrr, ir/.scvLV.sv.v. 



fi;i:» 



The linsy ail' 
*Ti) our eai'S a tlidusand welcomes lieiir; 

Kven Ihe lake flies' breezy tone 
<.;ir<;l)ng Ibe lake with a choral /.one 

iiiings back a memory nigh forgot. 

Tiny one! Thou animated dot ! 

VSorn to play under skies of June, 

Singing thy life away in rune, 

Keeping time with ihy delicate wing, 

Tliiiu symbol of ibe vanishing, 

rs'ative in climate of high degree 

Our day of hoary century. 

Filling thy place in the infinite plan. 

Teaching this lesson unto man. 

That's joy in the moment and cycle is furled 

And there's joy in Atom and in World. 

I'lie beautiful lake in its olden tone 
iliids the wanderers welcome home, 
Laughing waters, welling up 
To the emerald brim of a royal cup 
'Quailed by gods when Time was young. 
And the song of the morning stars was sung ; 
We look again and our eyes are met 
By a flashing diamond in emerald set ; 
'Tis a mirror now for star and sky, 
Now a mighty cyclop's dreadful eye. 
It is kissed by the loving air of June 
And its waves leap up to meet the moon, 
3s glad in the early morning light 
And counsel holds with day and nighl. 

•itchangUngl Wise shall the poet be 
That guesseth the heart of thy mystery ; 
The secret has never been foretold 
And thy bosom throbs with its burden old. 

"Wanting this diviner sense, 
■Our weakness and incompetence. 
We hide in the poet's jingling rhyme, 
•Or legend born in some older time, 
"I'houtravaileth for one who in preseni tense 
Sliall speak thy grand significance. 
We lay our ear to the pebbled shore, 
And hark to the mighty rush and roar 
'<')f the ancient centuries. 

It sings 
•«)f formless matter and birth of things. 
Of light and life and human faces, 
<)f primal faiths and forgotten races; 
Hut our ears are dull and its finer tone 
Is caught by the pure in heart alone. 
We iiunger for fitness, the meaning we crave, 
'f)f Ihe lid<e and the tree, of death and the grave. 



ISack of all lies the spirit, foviiig and free, 

(.'lianling the song of our destiny. 

We stammered in youth to utter the strain 

And O, woe! in manhood we stammer again, 

Spirit, be est thou God or Pan, 

Keveal thyself to worshiping man. 

.\iid when the sunset glories fall 
I In lake and hill and college hall 
And the life of Diety is shed 
In waves of beauty on each head. 
We bend us low and the tongue is still, 
.Vnd a Pisgah's mount is College Hill. 
Nor dream what potency and power 
C'omes to us in such happy hour. 
For the spirit is full of poems then 
That the tongue can never tell. Again 
Comes back the dream of moral might. 
And honors and wealth sink out of sight; 
We bathe us in the evening breeze 
And hark to the vespers of the trees; 
From laughing earth to the azure dome 
All nature bids us welcome home. 

Oh, walls! to the tread of years be proof. 

Let the ivy climb to thy lofty roof. 

And the graceful elm its branches throw 

And a hundred annual circles grow. 

Thy benefits shall ever fall 

Free as the air we breathe on all, 

And willing feet shall hurry down 

From the farm and from the town 

To bear away with glad acclaim 

The wine of thought, in heart and brain. 

And song shall come from the northern pine. 

And this be the home of the sisters nine, 

And into every eye and face 

Shall pass new light and finer grace 

Caught from the cloud and waving tree 

And the strains of the old lake's melody. 

As the generations pass along 

Tutored in beauty and bred in song. 

In some glad tiiue, some primal morn, 

A new man Adam shall be born. 

Who shall see quite through the fame of things 

And sing the song the old lake rings 

Hid in thy heart, O, loving powers. 

Hold safe this darling school of ours. 



->^Vt->e-V5:7^^^ 




"^J 



